NASHVILLE – House members voted 94-0 today to approve creation of a two-year task force that will study and offer solutions to flooding and other land-use issues affecting creeks in North Hamilton County and Rhea County.
Senate Joint Resolution 306 creates the North Hamilton-Rhea County Creek Management Task Force. The panel will study land-use practices to manage long-term flooding, “including the root causes of flooding and emergency responses to such flooding, and develop workable solutions for implementation by all affected citizens and governmental entities in the area.”
The resolution, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, previously passed the Senate and was handled in the House by Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga.
Rep. Floyd recently said it was intended to help communities dealing with flooding from nearby creeks. Officials hope to foster better communication among the state Department of Conservation and Environment, federal agencies and residents and officials of Hamilton and Rhea counties, he said.
One of the major problems affecting streams such as North Chickamauga Creek is the buildup of rocks in creek beds over time, Rep. Floyd said.
The legislation calls for the task force to include representatives of the cities of Soddy-Daisy, Dayton, Spring City and Graysville, as well as the mayors of Hamilton County and Rhea County or their designees. It urges state lawmakers who represent the areas to attend meetings.