Evans recently annexed the land known as Ishiguro Farms, which constitutes about 250 acres on the south side of 49th Street. Developers want to use the land for "a variety of residential, commercial, civic, agricultural and open space uses," according to city documents.

Several people neighboring the land, including Roni Bell and Chuck Sylvester of La Salle, warned council during meetings that the development could be at risk, and any alterations to how the river is managed could affect landowners along the river.

"We don't mind that they're trying to put a development there," said Roni Bell Sylvester, who along with her husband owns a ranch bordering the annexed land. "We were just there simply to make sure that they were warned about the possibility of a devastating flood."

The development has not yet been approved, and the city only recently approved the annexation. Both City Manager Aden Hogan and Earl Smith, the director of public works and planning, assure that the city would not allow a development to be built if it put new residents or neighboring residents at risk.

Hogan said all developments must have precautions such as retention ponds and drainage systems to make sure homes and businesses are protected against potential floods. Smith also said that any developer must provide a study of the river a mile upstream and a mile downstream of the development to ensure neighbors won't be affected. Some people near the development already are at risk for floods, Smith said.

"What we have to do is ensure that their situation isn't worsened by this activity and that each development meets the regulations," Smith said.

Still, Sylvester said she isn't convinced it will be enough. She worries that the city has overlooked potential dangers noted by people who have lived nearby for years — particularly the inability to predict the unusual, such as events along other parts of the river.

And she's not convinced the city will be able to prevent new flood conditions, worrying that current levies could be altered.

"They don't listen to the natives that can give them a tremendous amount of history with respect to mother nature," Sylvester said.

Hogan assured, however, that the city has a flood plan and that any major alterations to the river would require a lengthy process of study.