The Rockford Register Star’s story Sunday on the Labor Day Keith Creek flood examines whether vegetation overgrowth and debris in the man-made channel contributed to flooding. The city says that 8+ inches of rain would have caused the flood – debris or not.

It’s a nice reaction story to observations by neighbors. But the real culprit is not debris or the rain. It’s a lack of land use planning.

The Four Rivers Environmental Coalition says flooding took place in an area that has experienced some of the highest development in recent years. Parking lots, roads, rooftops and other artificial services don’t hold rain as well as greenways with native plants and wetlands, which hold water and release it slowly.

Here are some more great points made by the Four Rivers folks.

  • An adequate system of protected green space and functioning natural ecosystems is the best flood insurance possible.
  • New development needs to follow conservation design principles to minimize negative impact.
  • Invest in creating an interconnected system of quality land, rather than going to the government for millions of dollars in funding for built infrastructure to handle flooding created by poor land use decisions.
  • Watersheds need to be developed only to their carrying capacities. Limit development (impervious land cover) to no more than 10% in each of the four major watersheds. Research demonstrates that stream health is destroyed when 15% of land in a watershed is developed.
  • Benefits of a green landscape in appropriate quantity and locations:
  • Improve overall quality of environment
  • Reduce flood damages
  • Improve water quality by reducing runoff contamination
  • Provide areas for aquifer recharge
  • Reduce erosion
  • Increase property values
  • Protect rivers and streams
  • Protect wildlife habitat
  • Improve recreational opportunities

These are all great ideas. But unless people concerned about land use issues are heard, there will never be any change. So here’s an opportunity. Winnebago County is working on a long-range plan for land use and zoning in unincorporated areas. The county is taking a survey. Take a half hour to let your feelings be known.