River on wheels offers education
Brad Fuqua/The Western News Lisa Oedewaldt adjusts a "river bank" last week during a flood plain presentation in the Rolling Rivers trailer.
Purchasing a piece of property on the banks of a river or creek to serve as the perfect spot for a home is not an uncommon dream. Scenery in all directions, wildlife of every type and the relaxing sounds of a nearby stream sound pretty good to a lot of folks.
But come high water, the site of a dream home can quickly turn into a nightmare. Still, those that do build in a flood plain can save a lot of heartache by doing their homework, asking questions and understanding the river.
“When talking about flood plains, the best thing to do is take someone to the river,” said David Martin of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. “But we usually can’t do that so we bring the river to them.”
Martin was in town with one of the state’s Rolling Rivers trailers on Friday to illustrate what can happen to homes situated in a flood plain. The educational tool on wheels provided a clear understanding of stream dynamics and watershed principles.
The county’s Lisa Oedewaldt was on hand to set up scenarios and explain what could happen.
“I learned more in the trailer than in class,” Oedewaldt said. “If you live near a creek, come and ask us questions. If you want to build, we can tell you how safe it is.”
The Rolling Rivers trailers feature several hundred pounds of sand and a self-contained tank for pumping and re-circulating water. A meandering river could be seen going from one corner of the trailer to the other along with representations of homes, wildlife, trees, rocks, vehicles and other items along its banks.
When the water is turned on, it flows through the river to demonstrate various impacts.
For example, Martin said, “ripping out riparian vegetation causes problems.” Oedewaldt illustrated such to onlookers through use of the model and included various other tidbits, including the effects of riprap on a riverbank. Riprap stabilizes shorelines and helps control erosion.
One of the primary messages that Oedewaldt wanted to get across was that resources exist for people who need information.
“Lincoln County won’t say no, you can’t do it,” Oedewaldt said. “We’re here to help you build, help you protect your property. There are flood plains all over Libby.”
The Rolling River trailer was part of the county’s Flood Safety Awareness Week. Other public events were also staged last week, including a “Flood Plain 101” event that attracted about 20 realtors.