Listen to this week’s radio piece here. It discusses the potential loss of some of Iowa’s crucial flood prevention tools. Read the transcript below:
Towns consumed by water and left in ruins – we’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again. Despite the threat of devastation that floods pose for Iowans, surveillance of these natural disasters could soon be jeopardized.
This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.
Over the next two years the U.S. Geological Survey may face significant budget cuts. This could cause the loss of six of the 30 water gauges located on waterways in central and eastern Iowa.
A lack of gauges can lead to delayed responses, and misguided action in combating floods.
If the budget cuts take place, communities will be left to figure out how to replace the gauges. This is no easy task as they cost up to $15,000 a year to maintain.
USGS has hosted informational meetings around Iowa regarding the possible loss of the gauges.
I’m Jerry Schnoor from the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.