FOUR days of rain!
Never have I experienced so much rain. We didn't get cloudy skies and a few shattered showers .. we got intermittent downpours, thunder and lightning, and wind for [4] consecutive days. I now can relate to Noah and his family, although their rainy days lasted 40 days and 40 nights .. there were times after a long downpour that we might could actually row ourselves in a small paddle boat across the yard. Our community is surrounded by wetlands and that doesn't always mean, "swamp area" in the sense of mosquitos, snakes, and slime, actually, wetlands are very beautiful and enchanting. But, flooding is a concern for us human land dwellers, so .. consideration takes that into account. This land is very close to my home and I think it displays the reality of wetland beauty.
By Aaron Sudholt
Suburban Journal
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:40 AM
A deal to keep a portion of swampland along Horseshoe Lake Road near Collinsville and Pontoon Beach could help protect the area from flooding, officials said this week.
Mascoutah-based Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development on Tuesday purchased about 86 acres of land near the northwestern corner of Horseshoe Lake and Arlington roads in Pontoon Beach.
The deal gives the nonprofit, which handles environmental and planning issues for the region, control of the land from the trust of Charles F. Stone, who owned the property.
Officials aren't releasing the value of the land, a grassy parcel that includes patches of bogs and brooks. Dave Eustis, the group's executive director, said the arrangement is a win for the area. "Few opportunities exist like this anymore," he said. Eustis said the deal helps preserve the land from development and create an effective buffer from flooding. Because wetlands consist of high amounts water-absorbent plants and soil, any set aside for protection can help alleviate flooding. That's especially important in the flood-prone American Bottoms area, which includes Granite City, Pontoon Beach, western Collinsville and other low-lying communities near the Mississippi River.
The wetlands are near the eastern intersection of the curving Arlington Road at Horseshoe Lake, Road which cross twice in Pontoon Beach. Plans call for the agency to manage the land, with the Collinsville Area Recreation District and the Madison County Stormwater Office expected to purchase portions.
The county last year bought about 70 acres near Interstate 255 in Pontoon to help control flooding. The effort is part of a regional push to bring flood control devices up to new federal standards put into place following Hurricane Katrina.
Eustis said the region needs the attention."(It's) in an area that is urbanizing," Eustis said. "We're just trying to find locations that would be suitable to store storm water in the future."Eustis said that the land was a part of a "remnant meander" of the Mississippi River, meaning the river had actually run through that area about 5,000 years ago. Once the river diverted away to its present course, it created Horseshoe Lake and some of the wetlands that are included in the plan.
"Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development looks to conserve open space within the region," Eustis said. "We also work to provide more sustainable communities."CARD spokeswoman Elizabeth Lehnerer said that the agency is prepared to manage their portion of the property but wouldn't elaborate. Officials have previously announced plans to possibly develop a wetland interpretive center. CARD also already owns the Arlington Greens Golf Course nearby. "We don't want to put the cart in front of the horse," Lehnerer said.
The Resource Conservation and Development group previously worked on an open space plan for Edwardsville and trails around Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. It also bought about 32 acres near Interstate 55/70 and Illinois Route 111 for flood control.
By Aaron SudholtSuburban Journal
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:40 AM
A deal to keep a portion of swampland along Horseshoe Lake Road near Collinsville and Pontoon Beach could help protect the area from flooding, officials said this week.
Mascoutah-based Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development on Tuesday purchased about 86 acres of land near the northwestern corner of Horseshoe Lake and Arlington roads in Pontoon Beach.
The deal gives the nonprofit, which handles environmental and planning issues for the region, control of the land from the trust of Charles F. Stone, who owned the property.
Officials aren't releasing the value of the land, a grassy parcel that includes patches of bogs and brooks. Dave Eustis, the group's executive director, said the arrangement is a win for the area. "Few opportunities exist like this anymore," he said. Eustis said the deal helps preserve the land from development and create an effective buffer from flooding. Because wetlands consist of high amounts water-absorbent plants and soil, any set aside for protection can help alleviate flooding. That's especially important in the flood-prone American Bottoms area, which includes Granite City, Pontoon Beach, western Collinsville and other low-lying communities near the Mississippi River.
The wetlands are near the eastern intersection of the curving Arlington Road at Horseshoe Lake, Road which cross twice in Pontoon Beach. Plans call for the agency to manage the land, with the Collinsville Area Recreation District and the Madison County Stormwater Office expected to purchase portions.
The county last year bought about 70 acres near Interstate 255 in Pontoon to help control flooding. The effort is part of a regional push to bring flood control devices up to new federal standards put into place following Hurricane Katrina.
Eustis said the region needs the attention."(It's) in an area that is urbanizing," Eustis said. "We're just trying to find locations that would be suitable to store storm water in the future."Eustis said that the land was a part of a "remnant meander" of the Mississippi River, meaning the river had actually run through that area about 5,000 years ago. Once the river diverted away to its present course, it created Horseshoe Lake and some of the wetlands that are included in the plan.
"Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development looks to conserve open space within the region," Eustis said. "We also work to provide more sustainable communities."CARD spokeswoman Elizabeth Lehnerer said that the agency is prepared to manage their portion of the property but wouldn't elaborate. Officials have previously announced plans to possibly develop a wetland interpretive center. CARD also already owns the Arlington Greens Golf Course nearby. "We don't want to put the cart in front of the horse," Lehnerer said.
The Resource Conservation and Development group previously worked on an open space plan for Edwardsville and trails around Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. It also bought about 32 acres near Interstate 55/70 and Illinois Route 111 for flood control.
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