Professor calls for flood mitigation in Duluth

Duluth flooding
A car navigates flooded streets in west Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
MPR Photo/Conrad Wilson

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has formally requested federal financial assistance for individual home and business owners affected by June's torrential rains and flooding across the northland.

Dayton sent President Obama an official request for help last week for residents of Aitkin, Carlton, Crow Wing, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties, as well as the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

In the aftermath of the Duluth flood disaster, officials are rebuilding ruined streets and other infrastructure. But a University of Minnesota Duluth professor sees an opportunity for his community to rebuild more than roads.

Tom Beery, an assistant professor in the Center for Environmental Education at UMD, says there should be efforts to revegetate urban areas in order to absorb more rainfall and slow runoff. He made his case in a recent op-ed piece in the Duluth News Tribune, and talked about it with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.

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