by J. Lee Kenser

Created on: July 27, 2007

I think this is more about developing the land that used to soak up rain water. With more droughts and fewer areas for natural absorption it is inevitable.

In Michigan where I live Grand Rapids, Michigan has major flooding with any rain over 3 or 4" of rain. It floods the sewer system and causes overflowing sewage almost once a year. I personally believe that this can be caused by the amount of pavement and parking lots in that area.

There is so much pavement and with a combined sewer system this can only increase the flow rates to above capacity within a short time. So many big cities have this issue because they have not kept any idea of "Green Zones" within their limits. I don't mean having so called "Green Homes."

Environmentally safe homes will obviously have no affect on rainwater's. However, the more natural filtration areas there are the more can be absorbed. With more and more land being developed there is greater run off into rivers and streams which will increase flows and levels temporarily.

Some streams are dammed up in way too many spots for smaller man made lakes. This can increase flow and overflow issues in many areas. With flat land areas being farmed and fewer and fewer fence rows there is nothing to slow or stop erosion allowing flowing water to overtake everything.

Many areas the trenches along the sides of roads are not properly cared for and are so small there is no way they are going to aid in controlling rainwater either. I lived in a farm area where the ditch system to control flooding had not been worked on or trenched in over thirty years. During the winter a major rain system came in and almost flooded my home as the ditch system rain through my land in the middle of a swampy area.

I truly think that man has made a lot of these issue worse for themselves and are now looking for someone or something else to blame. Stop blaming and fix the issues or plan on continuing to suffer each year when the heavy rains come.

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