USACE Dismisses Petersburg Claims After Flooding Crisis

The Ongoing Debate Over Flooding and Responsibility in Petersburg

Flooding struck the City of Petersburg on Monday, July 14, causing significant damage to homes and businesses. In the aftermath, city officials quickly placed the blame on the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). However, the Corps has pushed back, suggesting that the city itself must take more responsibility for the situation.

City leaders are still operating under a state of emergency, but the USACE Norfolk District has emphasized that they have not ignored the city’s needs. According to Keith Lockwood, Chief of the Water Resources Division, and civil engineer Stephen Powell, there are specific steps the city must take before the Corps can provide assistance.

The Corps has repeatedly stated that they have been working to maintain navigation in the Appomattox River for decades. Mayor Samuel Parham has voiced concerns about the lack of proper dredging over the past 50 years, but the Corps argues that the city has not reached out for help, both recently and historically.

“We have been asking the Corps of Engineers to do the proper dredging that needs to be done,” said Mayor Parham. “But it seems like the Corps hasn’t taken the necessary actions.”

According to Lockwood, the Corps has attempted to maintain the navigation channel for many years. However, he noted that the city is responsible for initiating contact and providing the necessary resources. Powell explained that the city must first offer an area for the containment of dredging materials before any evaluation process can begin.

Until this step is completed, the Corps cannot provide a cost estimate or timeline for any work. In an ideal scenario, rainwater from Petersburg would flow into the harbor channel and then into the Appomattox River. However, the mayor pointed out that excessive silt buildup has caused water to flow back into the city, worsening the flooding issue.

City officials are advocating for dredging to remove sediment and debris, which would help deepen the channel and prevent future flooding. However, the Corps believes that the solution lies not just in dredging but also in managing water runoff through natural methods such as trees and vegetation.

“We’re the federal partner,” Lockwood said. “We have a responsibility to maintain the navigation channel, but the non-federal sponsor, the City of Petersburg, has a responsibility to provide the lands, easements, and rights of way.”

A 2004 report revealed that the Corps began a dredging project in 1993, with Powell as the project manager. However, the project was halted due to the discovery of contaminated materials, which posed health and environmental risks. “You could smell it,” Lockwood recalled. Since then, there has been no maintenance, and no full dredge has occurred since 1949—over 76 years ago.

Despite these challenges, city officials have discussed the idea of deepening the harbor channel. However, Powell suggested that this may not address the root causes of the flooding. He emphasized the importance of slowing water runoff through natural means.

The Corps has expressed a desire to collaborate with the city once again. City Manager John “March” Altman believes that a resolution will be in place by August. The situation highlights the need for cooperation between local and federal authorities to address the ongoing issues of flooding and infrastructure maintenance in Petersburg.