Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Toledo area

WASHINGTON D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) discussed the status of the Blanchard River flood mitigation project with members of the Blanchard River Flood Reduction Project Coalition (BRFRPC) on Thursday.

"In 2007, flooding of the Blanchard River caused approximately $70 million worth of damage to homes and businesses in Ottawa and Findlay," Sen. Brown said. "There's no denying the importance of this flood mitigation project—which is why these communities have demonstrated a strong financial commitment to it, and why I have continually pushed the Army Corps of Engineers to work quickly and thoroughly to advance subsequent steps of the project. This was a productive and positive meeting, and I will be sure to relay the Coalition’s concerns to the Army Corps of Engineers."

Brown has worked with the BRFRPC to encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to move quickly on the Blanchard River mitigation project. In November, he met with officials from the Army Corps of Engineers' Buffalo District, which encompasses northern Ohio.

Brown met with Deputy District Commander Martin Lewton, Deputy for Programs, Planning, and Project Management Thomas Switala, Chief of Programs and Project Management Ron Kozlowski, and Chief of Planning Major Martin Wargo. In that meeting, Brown pressed for a faster timeline on the Blanchard River Flood Mitigation Study.

Last May, Brown announced $1.4 million in funds for the Blanchard River flood mitigation study. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Brown has worked to protect the funding for this and other critical watershed management and harbor dredging projects throughout Ohio.