Flood Control--Who Should Pay

Two items in the Orange County Edition (Sept. 22) are of great interest to those of us who suffered tremendous psychological and financial damage due to the March 1, 1983, floods in the Huntington Beach area adjacent to the Santa Ana River.

In the recap of Orange County bills that received legislative attention--some helpful and some not so helpful--was the mention of the bill that would have made Orange County cities along the Santa Ana River share in the costs of some minor flood-control measures.

We hope next year’s legislative agenda will include that bill again and that more effort will be expended to help legislators understand that cities along the river contribute to flood dangers because of the runoff from their developments.

They should pay part of the costs of flood protection, as should the City of Huntington Beach.

Last year we requested that Huntington Beach contribute $5 million for its share of the matching funds Orange County will owe when the Army Corps of Engineers finally starts construction on the Santa Ana Mainstem Project.

We believe that if the cities pay part of the costs, the congressional representatives will be more inclined to speed the Santa Ana Mainstem Project to its very necessary conclusion.

The other item was in Richard Buffum’s column. He quotes Allan A. Schoenherr, a Fullerton College zoology and environmental science professor who wants the Santa Ana River left alone to meander at will.

Never mind the $12-billion loss if a flood of the magnitude of the one that hit Huntington Beach in 1983 swept the Santa Ana River flood plain.

We recommend the professor do some additional studying of the flood dangers we face.

Speaking for the Flood Prevention Group: Huntington Beach/South, we hope that taxpayers all over Orange County will agree with us that it is wiser and more humane to “pay up front” and protect our lives and property with adequate flood-protection measures.

CHAUNCEY A. ALEXANDER

Huntington Beach

Alexander chairs the Flood Prevention Group: Huntington Beach/South.