Manitou Springs works on flood mitigation

The City of Manitou Springs continues to try to make itself more prepared for flooding in the years ahead.

Last week, city council hired an engineering firm to design a system to reduce the chance for more flooding.

To do that, the city needs top acquie land at the top of Williams Canyon.

Council agreed to buy one piece of land that had already been cleared on Canon Avenue and might acquire others.

Mike Casey is a real estate agent who is working as an intermediary between the city and land owners. He said, “the next big house that we’re working on is…611 Canon Avenue. And that house is the first house at the top of the canyon.”

The city and Wright Water Engineers are hoping to have the project done by May, but Casey says there’s no deadline to close any deals forproperty.

The money for the project is coming from FEMA as part of its disaster relief package.