The US Army Corps of Engineers held a meeting to collect public input on the proposed White River levee project south of 56th Street. The first two phases of the levee project are complete. Those phases protected Broad Ripple Village and Warfleigh. The 3rd phase is to continue south to Butler, where the potential flood area for the White River ends due to land elevation.

The released proposal from the Corps shows the levee wall constructed along the White River near the Rivera Club, then turning east and crossing the canal. The remainder of the levee wall would run between the canal and Westfield Boulevard, obscuring the canal from view and, more importantly, leaving the approximately 700 residents of Rocky Ripple on the "wrong" side of the wall.

The August 23rd, 2012, meeting and open house at Meridian Street Methodist Church was an opportunity for the public to view the current proposal and to officially register comments on the record to the Corps about this levee plan and also about the tree removal along the levee. The Corps was represented by Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District Commander Col. Luke Leonard. Leonard is the one responsible for making the final decision on the levee. Leonard stated that the window for public comment has been extended until September 28.

Participants were given three minutes for comment. Many people spoke and most received rousing ovations from the audience. All of the comments were to become part of the public record and should be available for review. Most of the comments were in support of the proposal that includes the Town of Rocky Ripple on the dry side of the levee. This proposal would have the levee follow the White River rather than the canal. Estimates from the Corps shows that the construction would cost $14.4 million to follow the canal, leaving Rocky Ripple unprotected, and $50.3 million to follow the river. Several commenters suggested that the 14.4 estimate is likely low and the 50.5 estimate high, and followed that it is difficult to check the estimates because the Corps was asked repeatedly by residents for the details behind the estimates but did not receive them.

Other comments expressed surprise that any plan by the Corps would not include all residents and structures in the affected flood area. Dennis Falkenberg of Butler-Tarkington stood up for the Central Canal, "[My wife and I moved to this area,] drawn into this neighborhood by the very feature you are out to destroy, the Indianapolis Central Canal. The incredible beauty, nature and history of this neighborhood we were drawn to are all under attack by this plan you promote."

For plan details visit www.indy.gov and search for levee.