Two senators from low-lying states are pushing back on the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to shun various flood-control tools deemed ineffective by the Trump administration.
Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced legislation Monday that would direct the agency to pursue nonstructural solutions to flooding, overriding a pause the administration announced in September.
Nonstructural flood projects seek to reduce the costs of floods, in contrast to dams, levees and seawalls that aim to prevent floods altogether. Examples include home elevations, basement filling and property buyouts.
The “Enhancing Long-Term, Efficient and Viable Alternatives to Empower (ELEVATE) Flood-Prone Communities Act” would require the Army Corps to give “equal consideration” to nonstructural features when working to reduce storm and flood risks nationwide.
