The Austell City Council voted Monday to contribute to Cobb County 5 percent or $120,000 - whichever amount is lower - for the Sweetwater Creek Basin Flood Risk Management Study and Watershed Management Plan.
The cost is expected to be $2.4 million with the U.S. Corps of Engineers paying half and the county, Austell and possibly Powder Springs and the state paying $1.2 million.
In March, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the U.S. Corps of Engineers to develop this study of flooding in the Sweetwater Creek Basin.
Officials hope to avert future flooding, particularly in the Austell and Powder Springs areas that were overcome by the September 2009 floods from the creek’s overflow.
Costing $150,000 for the local share, the second phase of the study will evaluate six options defined in the $50,000 first phase of the study.
Those options will include floodplain purchase, provision of additional retention capacity, channel modifications and flow diversion, according to Cobb County Water System Director Stephen D. McCullers.
