The levees protecting Great Falls and Vaughn residents from flooding should remain visible for years to come, but if they don't get re-certified, then they'll essentially disappear in the eyes of insurance companies and the federal government.

"Congress can act fast enough if they choose to. The question is whether they will do that" explained Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs.

It appears now that all hope is with Congress to keep the official protection of a levee in Great Falls and in Vaughn. But if nothing happens, then new flood maps will be drawn up and the levees would be left off and hundreds of homes would be considered part of a flood area."

"That can impact their ability to add on to their houses, get flood insurance, do any sort of new construction" said Cascade County Planning Director Brian Clifton.

Wednesday was the deadline for the levee districts and the local governments to decide whether to sign an agreement with FEMA. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is drawing up new flood maps and wants the levees certified.

It's a costly requirement for the small districts, and would potentially set them and local governments up for problems that crop up a later date.

"If we make that warranty by signing off on that agreement it's possible we can be put in the chain of liability if a flood event does happen" commented Acting Great Falls City Attorney Chad Parker.

That has been pointed to as one of the reasons both the levee districts rejected signing the agreements, and local officials blame federal agencies for leaving them high and dry.

"It's patently unfair to the citizens over there because they have purchased homes, made investments in homes based on the levees being there and not being in the 100 year flood plain, and fundamentally they have done anything to change that" Briggs commented. "The government has changed the rules on them."

Officials are are now hoping another rule change comes before high water. Cascade County officials say the new maps won't come out until next spring and that public meetings will be held before they are adopted.

(from October 7, 2009)

Wednesday marks the deadline for four area groups to decide if they'll enter an agreement to take on more responsibility for the two levees built to protect homes from flooding on the west end of Great Falls and in Vaughn.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is requiring the levees be re-certified, and are asking local flood districts and local government to pick up the hefty tab for that certification.

The city of Great Falls is choosing not to take on responsibility for the levees, fearing they could be held responsible in the case of a flood.

"It's as if we make a warranty to the people that live in that area that says 'Yeah, the levee's going to do what it's supposed to do'," explained Acting Great Falls City Attorney Chad Parker. "We don't know if we can meet all those needs, and if we make that warranty by signing off on that agreement, then it's possible we could be put in the chain of liability if a flood event does happen."

Without an agreement, the levees could likely lose their certification which would list more than 1,100 properties in a flood plain. That move would severely limit future construction in the area and homeowners could also be required to get flood insurance.

City officials say they'll turn to Montana's Congressional delegation to seek help in keeping the levees certified.

(from the archives)

Folks who depend on area levees to protect their homes from flooding around the Great Falls area are awaiting a major decision on certification.

The groups that oversee the levees have just months to decide whether to sign an agreement with FEMA. It's upgrading its maps and wants the levees officially certified and the agreement would give the West Side and Vaughn levee districts two years to have them certified.

"And to come in and be expected to sign a contract with another federal agency just totally blows us out of the water. I don't know how else to say it. Very scary. We actually don't know what we're getting into." Said Sandy Mares with the West Great Falls Flood District.

The cost of certifying the levees would be extreme for the districts and if they don't sign the agreements then hundreds of homes would be considered in a flood plain. That would mean that building would be limited and homeowners might have to buy flood insurance.

Many area residents are hoping that Montana's Congressional delegation can find money to pay for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do the certification.

(from July 29, 2009)

The clock is ticking for hundreds of people in the Great Falls area who depend on levees to protect their homes from flooding.

The groups that oversee the levees now just have months to decide whether to sign an agreement with FEMA, which is upgrading its maps and wants the levees officially certified. The agreement would give the West Side and Vaughn levee districts two years to have them certified.

Sandy Mares of the West Great Falls Flood District said, "And to come in and be expected to sign a contract with another federal agency just totally blows us out of the water. I don't know how else to say it. Very scary. We actually don't know what we're getting into."

The cost of certifying the levees would be extreme for the districts. If they don't sign the agreements hundreds of homes would be considered to be in a flood plain - which means that future building would be limited and homeowners might have to buy flood insurance.

Many are hoping the congressional delegation can find money to pay for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do the certification.

Two earthen levees protect homes on the West Side of Great Falls and in Vaughn from potential flooding, and now FEMA has sent letters that could require the local levee districts to take more responsibility for the levees. It could mean folks living in the districts would have to pay money to have the levees certified or possibly face the levees losing their official protection status.

Cascade Commissioner Peggy Beltrone said, "Until we get this straightened out it could really impact people financially or how they want to put improvements on their home. So we're taking it seriously and we're going to work with the residents to get a better understanding for everybody about this issue."

FEMA is giving the districts up to 90 days to sign the agreement and take responsibility. The districts and local political leaders are hoping to meet with congressional staffers to see what options are available. Signing the agreement would give the districts two years to have the levees certified

The future of levees around Great Falls remains unclear tonight. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says they will continue inspections of local levees. The West Side Great Falls levee was built after the 1964 flood; it protects about 1,000 homes from flooding of the Sun River. The day-to-day operations are now under the supervision of the levee district.

The district says that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is re-mapping the area and that FEMA is requiring it to have to the levee actually certified. The district says they are hoping the Corps, which supervised the construction of the levee, certifies what is their work. Local officials are concerned the cost and responsibility of certifying will be passed to the levee districts.

If the levee is not certified, the area could be considered a flood area. It would require homeowners to buy flood insurance and possibly not be allowed to build on their property.