MILTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” A partnership agreement was signed on Monday that brings Milton residents one step closer to flood relief for the community.
Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined state and local officials at the Milton Community Center to take a step forward on the Lower Mud River ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Milton, WV Flood Risk Management Project, which has been in the works for years.
The project, expected to cost over $400 million, consists of an approximately 6,800-foot earthen levee and a 1,500-foot concrete floodwall, for a total of an approximate 8,400-foot alignment.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWhen the water rises, gets out of (its) bank, this will create a barrier to keep the water from entering the central business district of Milton,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Brian Lowe, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Lowe said the project design is 60% complete. The partnership agreement allows the Corps to finish the design, he said, and the project is slated to begin in 2028 and wrap up in 2032.
Lowe, who has been working on the project for about six years, said he is grateful the Corps has made another step toward construction.
Once complete, the project is expected to provide protection to approximately 600 structures, including residences and businesses, along with public structures, personal property and critical infrastructure, according to the Corps of Engineers website.
Two pump stations with ponding areas and a stop log gate closure are also part of the projectÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s design.
Project in the works for 25 years
The CorpsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ involvement started in 1999 with a study conducted on the Lower Mud River. Study efforts were completed in early 2000. Lowe said he is anxious to get the project started.
The project cannot guarantee that there wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t be a destructive flood in Milton; however, Lowe said the project is designed to provide a 250-year level of protection. This means that after the project is complete, there will be a 0.4% chance of flood in any given year.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe project will significantly reduce the chance of flooding compared to what exists today,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said.
The next steps for the project include acquisition of real estate for the proposed floodwall/levee location, Lowe said. While the real estate is being acquired, the design will be completed. Once construction is completed, the Corps will pursue a construction contract, he said.
Lowe said the Corps will consider how the project construction will impact the community when putting together the construction contract.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want to do everything we can to try to minimize any impacts to homes and businesses to the greatest extent we can,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said.
Pathena Burgess, 85, was in her 60s when the floodwall project was first brought up. On Monday, Burgess said while she would love to see the floodwall built, the 25 years already spent talking about the project had her saying, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll believe it when I see it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The Milton community has wanted a floodwall since she was young, Burgess said. As far as her house is concerned, Burgess said she has not had flood water come into her home, but some came into her garage in 1997.
Milton has a history of flooding dating back to the early 1900s. One of the most damaging floods on record was the March 1997 event, where 8 inches of rain fell on the Lower Mud River Basin from Feb. 28 to March 3. The 1997 flood ended in more than $23 million in total damages, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news release.
Dennis Dunlap, 75, said he is happy to hear that the project is making progress. Although he has not had flooding in his house, which he has lived it for almost 18 years, he said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s been waiting on the floodwall for years and hopes to see the floodwall put in in his lifetime.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been to all the meetings,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Dunlap said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve never really seen action on anything.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Flooding continues in Milton with most recent flood events in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. A flood risk management solution was authorized for implementation in Section 3170 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, the Corps of Engineers release said.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜You have to mitigate riskÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™
Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the public will be updated in the coming years on what to expect with disruptions the construction could bring to the community. Morrisey said he expects a number of public announcements to come out next year about timelines.
Morrisey said the agreement is a substantial step in ensuring people feel safer.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou have to mitigate risk,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe know that in West Virginia, sometimes you canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t control Mother Nature, but if there are things that you can avoid, you try to avoid those by setting up a floodwall and putting systems in place, so youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re dealing with 250-year style floods instead of 25-year floods.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said it feels great to see the project make progress, despite how long it has taken up to this point.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think the Corps and the community and the state ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” we want to make sure we get it right,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Capito said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œGovernment moves slowly, too slowly in certain times, but I think the project that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve landed on is going to be permanent. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to have the desired effect and save lives and property. While itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s frustrating, I think weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re now at the point, particularly in the partnership that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve formed with the state, to make sure that we have the funding, which is a critical part of this.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Capito said sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s been able to change the funding formula to make it more advantageous for the state to move forward.
The project was provided federal funding for construction through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. In addition, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 established a 90% federal, 10% non-federal share for all remaining costs.
