Decorah levees receive failing grades

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a report critical of the levee system in Decorah.

An inspection of the two levees by the Corps of Engineers resulted in the Corps giving an "unacceptable" grade to the right bank levee and a "minimally acceptable" grade to the left bank levee.

The "unacceptable" grade for the right bank levee, which protects south Decorah, means the levee system is not eligible for federal assistance if the levee is damaged in a flood or a storm.  The Corps of Engineers says it gave the grade because it spotted problems that might prevent the levee from performing as intended.

The City of Decorah has hired a private engineering firm, Mead and Hunt of Minneapolis, to do its own inspection of the city's levees for FEMA accreditation.  Their report should be ready by the end of the year.