Let The Channel Wander!

Some people might disagree with the approach taken by the engineers. Instead of trying to stop a river channel from wandering across its floodplain, why not just stop people from building on the floodplain?

As obvious as this solution seems, it's a hard one to implement. Once structures have been built on a flood plain, it's very difficult to tell their owners to move them (or move out and leave the structures behind). Besides, big floods--the ones that fill the entire floodplain--don't happen very often.

In your social studies class, hold a town meeting to debate the idea of allowing the floodplain in your town to return to nature.

Brainstorm with your teacher the different roles that you will play and the positions that different interest groups might take.

After the debate, vote on this ballot question:

"Resolved... no structure may be built on the floodplain of the Town River; and, within one year after passage of this resolution, all structures currently existing thereon must be removed."