Lower Missouri River - Public Assistance to States

Purpose

To investigate conceptual measures and strategies to lessen flood risk vulnerability to damages and improve flood risk resilience for the future. The four states (KS, MO, IA & NE) will prioritize areas between Sioux City Iowa to St. Louis Missouri along the on the River that will allow for better system management. Goals of the PAS:

Analyze vulnerable problem spots on the Lower Missouri River
Conduct stakeholder outreach to better understand recurrent problem areas, impacts and potential solutions
Assess effective options to provide better protection and function
Conduct an initial assessment of flow changes and changes to stream profile

History

This stretch of the Lower Missouri River drains thousands of square miles of rural and urbanized areas, and contains numerous Federal and nonfederal projects that provide varying levels of flood protection.

The basin has experienced 4 of the 6 highest runoff years in the period of record in the last decade:2010 (6^th highest), 2011 (highest), 2018 (4^th highest) and 2019 (2^nd highest). Severe to catastrophic flooding from these events has caused extensive damage to property, infrastructure, and natural resources, as well as several fatalities. With the state of Missouri and Kansas holding a common border it was only natural that these two states enter into a PAS agreement with USACE Kansas City District. On November 13, 2019 the PAS was signed with the hopes of state collaboration, public involvement and improved system management.

Current Updates

A group of stakeholders along the Kansas side of the Missouri River were contacted and have participated in a couple meetings identifying priority areas. The areas of highest priority are at Atchison with the flooding of Hwy 59 limiting essential traffic in and out of the town. The second is just south of White Cloud Kansas where Hwy 7 was compromised by the topping of a federal levee. Multiple other areas along the Missouri River are impacted with approximately 12,000 acres inundated by the 2019 flood which lasted nearly 280 days.

NOAA forecasting plays a role in management of the Missouri River system. Find the current forecast/simulations.

Leading Together: Long-Term Flood Risk Management Solutions for the Lower Missouri River

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Timeline

This PAS has both near term (6 months) and longer term (2-3 year) priorities, with an expected completion in 2022.

Funding

The Kansas Water Office (KWO) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have agreed to share the estimated $400,000 of the study. The USACE will provide 50% of this with KWO and DNR responsible for $200,000 on a 25-75 split. KWO is responsible for $50,000 towards the project with in-kind and cash contributions.

Upcoming meetings

TBD

Past Meetings

Please note: Due to COVID-19 concerns some meetings were held vitually and some were in-person with a virutal option. These meetins were inteded to inform participants and collect feedback on a partivular focus area along the Missouri River.

Thursday, July 16, from 1-2:30 pm- USD 409 Meeting Room Atchison, KS
Thursday, August 27, 2020, from 3-5 pm- Holt County Focus

Feedback

The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings. Even if you cannot participate, we want to hear your feedback concerning flooding issues along the Missouri River in Kansas. As we continue discussions amoung the states and the USACE, we will try and incorporate all the feedback we receive. Please provide any Missouri River flooding issues to KWO-INFO@kwo.ks.gov or at the other contact information listed below.

Additional Information

Project Manager

Kirk Tjelemland

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