New retention pond alleviates flooding problems

TRUMANN, AR (KAIT) - Mulberry Street in Trumann used to flood every time there was heavy rain. Kevin Mitchell has first-hand experience with flooding after living on Mulberry for ten years.

He said, "You couldn't drive four-wheel drive trucks through here. They would have to block the streets off where it would flood."

The water would first pile up in the streets and at times it would even creep into homes.

"It came into my brother's room. He lived in the front of the house there," said Mitchell.

However, the flooding problem has been alleviated thanks to a retention pond completed last year.

Scotty Jones, Manager of Trumann Water Works said, "We've added probably close to a million gallons right now more capacity in the storm water system and that's allowed for Mulberry to stay a lot more in the dry."

Now construction is underway on phase two of the retention pond.

Jones said, "The larger we get our capacity for storm water run-off, the more we will be able to capture and help pull off the streets."

Mayor Sheila Walters said phase two will double the width of the current pond, but as of right now, a completion date has not been set.

Walters said, "We'll see how the weather works and see how it cooperates and we'll re-evaluate because we do have plenty more room to expand the pond if we need to."

Right now, though, Mitchell couldn't be happier with the results.

"Its been the first time I've seen anybody try to do anything to help it and it has helped a lot," said Mitchell.

Mayor Walters said since the retention pond has been in place, the water has gone down and the real estate value of homes on Mulberry Street have gone up.

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