In 1993, Des Moines businesses and residents lost $300 million in damages when the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers flooded. The City of Des Moines and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are in the fourth year of a five-year study to investigate the feasibility of flood damage prevention for the two rivers.
"The floods of 1993 left businesses and residents with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and this study will help make sure it doesn't happen again," Grassley said. "The prevention project will help restore investor confidence in Des Moines and boost economic development for the city."
Grassley's letter was sent to Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada and Pete Domenici of New Mexico, who as chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development are responsible for drafting the federal government's spending plan for energy and water related projects in the next fiscal year. The appropriations process begins each spring and is typically completed at the end of each congressional session.