LANSING — The first dam to hold back storm water from rushing into Austin has been completed, giving Austin a little bit more protection from periodic flooding.
The work on land owned by Ken Trom northeast of Lansing was the first flood control work done by the Cedar River Watershed District that formed in 2007 because of Austin's two worst floods in 2000 and 2004. It's working to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
The project expects to hold back four tons of topsoil and four tons of phosphorus from entering the river annually, according to Justin Hanson, district resources specialist.
The district has done several other projects, but they aimed more at water quality, he said. Hanson hopes the new project will be the first of several more similar projects to help the river and Austin without taking farmland out of production.
The project cost $130,000, with $97,500 in state funding along with $32,500 from the conservation district.
