Flood-protection work at Indiana park runs into costly snag

VINCENNES, Ind. (AP) - A plan to provide better flood protection at George Rogers Clark National Historical Park has run into some costly problems in southwestern Indiana.

Workers discovered a pipe, an old surge tank and a portion of an old street on the site, The Vincennes Sun-Commercial (http://bit.ly/2rDvGx6 ) reported. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the material must be removed because it could potentially allow water to leak through the levee.

Hunter Pinnell, the Wabash River levee superintendent, told the Vincennes Redevelopment Commission about the discovered debris on Thursday. The Corps said removing the material could add about $87,500 to the project, increasing the cost to more than $300,000.

The additional work shouldn't affect the project's timeline because the work will fall under current permits already secured from the National Parks Service.

The project is part of $1 million worth of repairs that the commission agreed to fund to improve flood protection. Construction to raise the south lawn began last year, but the projects has faced a series of unexpected roadblocks. Pinnell noted that because the park is a historical site, much is unknown about what may be on the property.

The park honors Col. George Rogers Clark for capturing Fort Sackville. Visitors can find murals and sculptures at the site, which is on the banks of the Wabash River.

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Information from: Vincennes Sun-Commercial, http://www.vincennes.com