Damm is sure it will work. It worked after the floods in 1993. It needs cleaned out, but should be serviceable. But the regulations are different and Damm worries he will be required to install new systems.

He feels local authorities are holding that threat over him, but he doesn’t blame them. He blames the federal regulators, who he says are threatening the states and counties.

Damm said the new regulations could cost flood victims thousands of dollars per household. Multiply that by the number of homes flooded up and down the Des Moines, Cedar, Iowa and Mississippi rivers and you have a major windfall for companies that do septic installations and a major hit to people who need them.

“This is going to affect a hell of a lot more people than just Rabbit Run Road,” he said.

Bob Miller, one of Damm’s neighbors, is cleaning up as well. He had a county inspection scheduled last week, but a couple nights of storms put the water back across his property. He also plans to rebuild once the inspectors tell him what he needs to do.

“We’re gonna put it up on stilts. There’s a lot leaving though, I’ve heard,” he said.

Residents up and down the river say they accept a flood risk by living close to the riverbank. It comes with the location. But they almost universally blame the Army Corps of Engineers for putting recreation at Lake Red Rock and other reservoirs above flood control.

“They keep that lake for a lake. That’s not what it’s for,” Damm said. “It’s economics that drive that.”

“That reservoir is for flood control and it should have been empty this spring,” Rupe agreed. He said proper management of the reservoirs would have meant some flooding, but nothing like what residents saw.

River levels in Ottumwa remain above flood stage and will for the foreseeable future. The newest prediction shows the river falling below the 10-foot flood stage next Wednesday. But the predictions have anticipated that step several times, only to be set back by rains.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com

Flood debris pickups

Wapello County has established six Dumpster sites for use as residents remove wooden flood debris from their properties. The locations are:

• Rock Bluff Road at the Schlump landing entrance