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John Hollenhorst ReportingJust over a year after flooding devastated the St. George area, a massive effort to protect residents from future floods is entering the home stretch. The result is a river system that isn't exactly natural, but should be a lot less threatening to its neighbors.
The fury of the flooding won't easily be forgotten. Churning rivers gobbled up two dozen homes. Since that disaster 13 months ago, machines have been going full-tilt to tame the Santa Clara and the Virgin Rivers.
They've cleared out a half-million cubic yards of sediment and debris. They've deposited close to a million tons of rock. A rock wall is supposed to lock down 14 miles of riverbanks and keep them from meandering.
Blake Walbeck, Project Coordinator: "It will withstand a lot of damage just by sheer wait and mass, but it could very easily overtop."
The rivers would spill over if the fabled 100-year-flood ever hits. Last year's event is now thought to be a 25 or 50-year-flood. Planners decided against bigger, more imposing rock walls for two reasons.
Blake Walbeck: "Not socially acceptable, and two, the cost of doing that."
It's pretty clear that all this work is changing the rivers from what nature put down here, and that people are paying a price for their security from flooding. The next priority is planting vegetation.
Blake Walbeck: "A little barrier between the harsh rock wall and the homes and the views that we have."
Re-vegetation will also restore wildlife habitat.
Karen Fullen, Biologist, Natural Resources Conservation Service: "In a few years when the trees grow up, you won't be able to see the rock anymore. And it will look very natural to most people looking from the bank."
People want those views. That's why so much investment is required in flood control.
Karen Fullen: "In a perfect world, people wouldn't build cities on flood plains, but we have been since the very first cities were built."
Blake Walbeck: "I think this has been a huge eye-opener for the local entities of government, as to their zoning rules and regulations."
It's a story of nature and humans still struggling for the right balance. The flood protection work has cost about 60 million dollars in federal funds. Officials hope to finish the project in May.
