Natural Security: Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin
Moving Out of Harm’s Way
Challenge
Originally settled on the banks of the Kickapoo River in the 1850s, the community of Soldiers Grove thrived due to southwestern Wisconsin’s abundant forests and fertile soils. However, starting in the late 1800s, extensive logging, agriculture and urbanization stripped the watershed of its vegetation, and the Kickapoo began to flood the communities that had sprung up along its banks. Flooding soon became a serious and permanent problem, inundating Soldiers Grove in 1907, 1912, 1917, 1935 and 1951. Nearly the entire business district was located within the floodplain, making floods especially disastrous to the community. The Corps of Engineers created plans for a flood control dam and levees to protect the town, but they were subsequently canceled when it became apparent that the project was not economically viable, would endanger rare plants and would cause water quality problems.
Meanwhile, the community of Soldiers Grove was slowly dying. Small family farms that once kept the village’s businesses running had been declining since the end of World War II. The railroad through town was discontinued in 1939 and the major highway, US-61, was moved to bypass the business district in the 1950s. By 1975, the local economy was failing, and 36 percent of families in the village earned less than $3,000 a year, far less than the regional median income of over $12,000 at the time.
Soldiers Grove’s Approach
After the Corps of Engineers project was canceled, residents turned to relocation as the only viable alternative. That choice was reinforced when a record flood struck in July of 1978, leaving two dead, inflicting a half-million dollars in damages and destroying several buildings. Due to a state law passed in 1975, new development and major repairs on buildings within floodplains were prohibited, leaving the village with few options for recovery. The town spent years planning relocation and securing the necessary funding, completing the relocation process in 1983. The business district, made up of 39 businesses, was moved a half-mile to the south to ground 55 feet above the old town center. The new business district once again borders U.S. Highway 61. In addition, 10 families moved to homes outside of the floodplain, and 12 homes were elevated to protect them from high water. Other residential neighborhoods remained outside of the floodplain. The vacated area was planted with native vegetation and converted into a municipal park. It now houses basketball and tennis courts, picnic areas, baseball fields, a skateboard park and a playground.
Benefits
The Soldiers Grove relocation has rescued the town from the recurring floods that threatened residents’ lives and the town’s existence. In August of 2007, more than a foot of rain caused the Kickapoo to crest at over 19 feet. While floodwater inundated the park located on the site of the old downtown, the rest of the town sustained little damage beyond a partially collapsed road. Just 10 miles downstream, the town of Gays Mills sustained damage to 75 homes. Many residents lost cars, furnishings and other belongings. Electricity and gas services were out for days. Ten months later, while the region was still recovering from the previous year’s disaster, a new flood record was set as the Kickapoo crested near 21 feet. None of the relocated homes in Soldiers Grove flooded. Floodwaters overwhelmed an old levee, damaging the riverside park and 30 homes that had been flood-proofed, but not relocated in 1978. Elsewhere the damage was far worse. Approximately 175 homes and businesses were damaged in Gays Mills alone. Some residents of the town have given up following the 2008 flood, and 30-45 homes remained vacant months later. Thirty years and several devastating floods later, Gays Mills is now starting the relocation process that Soldiers Grove chose in the 1970s.
The relocation of Soldiers Grove has also helped revitalize and stabilize a community in decline. By the time relocation was completed in 1983, the town had added several new businesses and gained 47 jobs relative to 1978. The town center is once again adjacent to the state highway, which is a source of economic activity. Since 1983, the population of Soldiers Grove has stabilized at roughly 600 people and 75 percent of surveyed citizens consider the relocated village to be as good as or better than the previous location.
Adapting to a Changing Climate
The relocation of Soldiers Grove helped correct historical flooding problems and is essential to ensuring a viable future in a changing climate. Severe precipitation events in southern Wisconsin will become 10 to 40 percent stronger by the end of the century. If the floods of 2007 and 2008 foreshadow future conditions, the relocation will save lives and prevent the repeated loss of homes and businesses. The importance of preserving floodplains in a changing climate is not confined to the immediate reduction in flood damages, however. Large floods also undermine community cohesiveness, drive families away and weaken the local economy. Following the 2008 flood, Gays Mills is in disarray and many residents have not returned. 87 percent of the town’s businesses suffered direct economic losses from the 2007 flood, while 62 percent lost money due to the 2008 flood. Instead of halting economic activity and spending scarce financial resources on clean-up, Soldiers Grove has been able to continue life as normal. In a future defined by floods like those that struck Wisconsin in 2007 and 2008, Soldiers Grove will be more a resilient community because of its capacity to limit damages and recover more quickly. Rather than leaving themselves at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns, the relocation project has allowed Soldiers Grove to determine its future, and it will reap the benefits for years to come.
