PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A proposed federal project that would have a transformative effect on flooding issues in Pike County is one step closer to reality, as the public comment period on its impact draws to a close.
The Pike County Levisa Fork Basin Damage Reduction Project is aimed at preventing a repeat of a 100-year flood, like the one that struck the region in April 1977.
The project calls for:
- A floodwall to protect the north end of Pikeville, including Pikeville High School.
- A combination of floodwall and levee to protect a large portion of Coal Run Village.
- A ringwall to protect Millard School.
In addition to the flood barriers, the project has also identified roughly 2,000 structures eligible for potential floodproofing or acquisition. Those include:
- 520 residential acquisitions
- 967 residential floodproofing structures
- 443 nonresidential acquisitions
- 28 nonresidential floodproofing structures
- 26 public structures potentially eligible for protect-in-place
Construction of the project could begin in 2021, if an agreement is reached and funding is approved.
On July 17, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a finding that the project would pose no significant environmental impact. At that time, the Corps began accepting public comment on that finding for 30 days, which ends on Monday.
Comments on the project’s environmental effects are being accepted by mailing:
Ms. Rebecca Rutherford
Chief, Environmental Analysis Section
Planning Branch
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District
502 Eighth Street
Huntington, WV 25701
