Reduce flooding with watershed approach

Larry Stone and Bob Watson's column (“Take watershed approach to reducing flood risks,” Jan. 22) advocating a watershed approach to flood reduction is right on. I've been saying this publicly since the 1993 flood.

One problem with levees, flood walls and dams is the false sense of confidence they create, encouraging investment in flood plains, while upstream land management practices are ignored. To be effective, protective measures must be combined with watershed stewardship that allows more water to sink into the soil and stay out of rivers.

The Cedar Rapids City Council should send a powerful message to Iowans by requiring antirunoff development

within the portion of the watershed it controls, such as permeable paving, bioswales, rain gardens and other techniques, while advocating passage of a vote to fund flood protection.

Rich Patterson

Cedar Rapids