Watertown accepts state grant for feasiblity study on flood control (Audio)

February 25, 2022
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–With spring just around the corner, it’s the time of year where communities that are along, or divided by a river, begin to pay attention to flooding potential.

Watertown, which has experienced flooding from the Big Sioux River several times in the past, is one of those cities.

But a flood control study by the federal government has been slow to come to fruition.

Seven years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approached the city about sponsoring a feasibility study for an updated flood control plan.

Fast forward to Tuesday night’s city council meeting, where the city was asked to accept a state grant that would cover half of Watertown’s cost to get that study to the finish line.

Councilman Bruce Buhler says it’s a study that has to be done…

The council voted to accept the state grant for just under a quarter-million dollars.