by Richard G. Lanzara

Created on: July 07, 2008   Last Updated: July 10, 2008

Let's put up an "Edison Shack" in order to invent better ways to fill sandbags rapidly. Having so many people working so hard to fill sandbags to protect their homes and property at the very last minutes, makes one think that there has to be a better way. Surely there's a way to mechanize this process and develop better flood control strategies. There already exist such technologies to fill sacks with grain or rice. Developing a machine to fill sandbags shouldn't be too difficult. The Edison Shack could serve as a research resource for these activities and attract additional tourists to the area as an added benefit to the region.

Perhaps a green solution to better securing the existing levees should also be researched. Although St. Louis is protected with concrete flood walls instead of earthen levees and the floodgates have been closed, secondary green levees could protect other areas of the city in case of unusual flooding conditions. Such alternatives as growing certain types of plants or trees to provide a more secure structure to the current levees is a green solution that could be considered. Creating an hydraulic research area with the Edison Shack could serve as a testing station for these green technologies and be an interesting site for tourists. This might be one of the better "earmarks" that could be slipped into some future congressional bill.

In addition, an artist workshop to create sculptures would also enhance the tourist trade to the region around the Arch. Tourists are already attracted to the top of the Gateway Arch and there's also additional tourist activities such as the Gateway Arch Riverfront, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the Historic Old Courthouse (see - http://www.gatewayarch.com/Arch/info/arch.todo.aspx) . An artist sculpture workshop would offer further attractions for tourists that would also entice them to explore the city beyond the Arch. Perhaps the artists could develop new, artistic ways to divert flood waters around essential areas. Don't discount artists, they've creatively developed many areas of the world...

Lastly, it may be time to face up to the fact that some areas along the Mississippi River should be moved to drier regions or have redesigned levee systems. Ironically, the levees that failed upstream prevented a worst flood downstream in St. Louis. There have to be some areas set aside for the water to overflow. Otherwise more downstream areas will see higher and higher levels that their current levees may not be able to handle. As Robert Criss wrote in the Beacon in "How high must rivers rise to top out business as usual?", "river constriction is probably the single biggest cause of increased flooding of the huge Mississippi River at St. Louis." (http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues_politics/region/con stricted_river_forces_higher_water). Too many want to build levees on the river so that land that used to be flood plain becomes land to develop. This can't continue indefinitely.

In order to live harmoniously with nature, we sometimes need to get out of nature's way. Often we rebuild with the knowledge that within the next several years, there will be another flood that will devastate us. We need to be smarter about where and how we rebuild. This applies to other high risk areas as well. Natural forces will continue to shape our land and for those of us who live in these areas, we need assistance in picking the best sites to build. Perhaps something like a Google Maps for past disasters might help people locate the best building and development sites. At least this would be a resource for people to consult before they build their retirement dream homes on the waterfront.

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