HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65
(By Delegates Browning and Staton)
[Introduced March 2, 2004; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Urging the United States Corps of Engineers and the West Virginia
Conservation Agency to address the issue of flooding in
Wyoming County by dredging all flood prone waterways.
Whereas,
Heavy rainfalls in Wyoming County have caused
widespread flooding with consequent property damage and human
tragedy; and
Whereas, The waterways of Wyoming County are regularly reduced
in capacity by natural processes such as stream bank sloughing and
the accumulation of natural woody debris, as well as refuse
dumping; and
Whereas, Those waterways whose channels have been reduced in
capacity are primary contributors to the frequency, extent and
severity of flooding; and
Whereas, Many citizens who live near or adjacent to these
streams live in fear of flood waters inundating their homes and
businesses; and
Whereas, During every heavy rain, elderly, frail and isolated
Wyoming County residents fear that clogged waterways will leave
them vulnerable to property damage which could have been prevented by dredging; and
Whereas, Scientific hydrologic studies have established that
the combination of extraordinary rainfall on saturated soil,
combined with a reduction in stream channel capacity, determines
the extent and magnitude of flooding in urban, suburban and rural
landscapes; and
Whereas, Individuals and businesses are no longer permitted to
clean and clear impediments from natural watercourses; therefore be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the United States Corps of Engineers, whose primary
mission is the prevention of flooding, and the West Virginia
Conservation Agency, who has taken the initiative in charting a new
course of flood damage reduction and floodplain management in West
Virginia, are hereby requested to address the issue of flooding in
Wyoming County by dredging all flood prone waterways; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the United States Corps of Engineers,
the West Virginia Conservation Agency and the West Virginia
Congressional delegation.