It talks about the ten “Most Endangered” rivers of 2006, and how bad flood control projects are an ongoing problem across the country.

My rant is directed at the hypocrisy of it all. These folks are having Limberger with their whining and it stinks to high heaven. Their basements are dry, but their belfry’s are full of bats.

If Eagle is so prepared, then why are the citizens whining?

The interior of not one house was flooded during the recent episodes where dikes were breached on Dry Creek and the south fork of the Boise River because the developments were designed to allow water to accumulate and flood the lowlands, back yards and streets instead of the structures themselves — which are required by Eagle to sit at least two feet above the highest flood level recorded in the past 100 years.

Even when the unusually high water levels were encountered when Dry Creek and the Boise River flowed outside their normal channels, water got as high as the foundations in two cases, but didn’t get inside where damage could be done. (Those who decided to build fish ponds, decks, a gazebo, fences or other “enhancements” in the flood plain shouldn’t legitimately complain about the damage received when water comes through those areas — although they still do).

Eagle may be getting the publicity right now for its flooding streets, playgrounds and yards when dikes unexpectedly break, but no one will be paying much attention to what happens down river when “the big one” arrives and many of the homes in much of Garden City and large portions of Boise start filling with Boise River water. Eagle sure isn’t perfect, but at least its previous planning avoided what could have been a much worse scenario — one that is more and more likely elsewhere along the Boise River as this year’s much desired snow pack begins to melt and flow.

As for Mayor Merrill, you only gave her half the credit she deserves. Not only does she know as an old timer about things like this coming, but she’s been one of those insisting that strict flood plain ordinances be developed and followed in Eagle to minimize the potential damage. And, in addition, she hosted a town hall meeting to warn residents how to respond to potential Boise River floods — holding it the night before the south channel dike was breached. (That’s why so many people were prepared to help with moving dirt and sandbagging in response).

In fact in one development between Star and Eagle, they are adding up to 4 feet of fill to get out of the floodplain and get a better handle on foundation seepage. The only problem is when the developer does that, it just diverts the natural flow of the flood waters and makes it someone else’s problem.

These folks expect to have it both ways. They want to criticize their government – state, local and federal – for not doing an adequate job on the flooding all the while damning that same government for all sorts of crimes and misdemeanors.

I say, they should have known about this flooding possibility. If they don’t like it, then they should sell their properties and move to higher ground.

I just cringe every time I see a new shining window reflecting the sunset’s sun up on the foothills and new houses on the way to Bogus Basin. How is it really any different from the folks who build in floodplains when affluent people build in a fire zone? when a few people are allowed to build up there because of their real estate slush funds for exploitation I think it is against everything Boise stands for.

Boise is supposed to be taking a different direction than other past boomtowns. No growth makes sense to me, repair what we already have, rebuild in Boise don’t ruin the little open space that we have.

Since I live on the Bench I look out upon the foothills everyday. Boy are they ever greening up!!! As soon as the clouds part and the river drops and there is a bright day you may wish to turn your camera to the beautiful green of the Boise Foothills. Go on up there and shoot the long green grass. Get some great “before” shots of this summer’s fuel for possible summer foothill fires. This may help to alert people to some of the responsibilities and dangers of living in the foothills.

I do know a few people, foothill dwellers, who go out with their teenagers each summer and do hard physical labor to dig safe zones between their property and the dry grass of the foothills. This is hard digging, but they don’t want to force the firefighters to have to choose between saving their homes or stopping the spread of the fire in the grasses of the Boise front. These folks are not new comers to the valley. They love this area and do not want to see the surrounding areas burnt off.

So all of this spring rain is not just today’s flooding of rivers and creeks, it is also fuels this coming summer’s fire season in the hills and mountains of Idaho.

ED NOTE–The official term for homes in the foothills is “Urban Wilderness Interface.” You gotta love bureaucrats!