The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified Manhattan City officials that $18,494,400 will be awarded to fund improvements to Manhattan’s levee system in fiscal year 2019. The total cost of the project will be nearly $26 million, and City officials have several options to cover the remaining $7.5 million.
“We would especially like to thank Senator Moran’s office for working with us to achieve this funding award. The Manhattan community will be stronger and more protected because of this effort,” said City Manager Ron Fehr.
The Manhattan levee system provides fortification to 1,600 acres of land, 7,600 residents and protects a total economic impact estimated at $1.2 billion.
The intent of the project is to raise the levee along the Big Blue River from the intersection of Casement Road and Hayes Drive, south to the confluence of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, and wrap around upstream to just west of the Wastewater Treatment Plant facility.
When completed, the levee project will increase the level of protection from flooding events along both the Blue and Kansas rivers, as well as replace several structures and equipment along the levee that were installed with the original project in the early 1960’s.
Construction of the project could begin as soon as 2020 and is estimated to be completed by 2025. Linear Trail will remain on top of the levee and access to certain portions of the trail will be restricted during the construction phase.
“The USACE project will increase the reliability of the levee system to protect our only water and wastewater treatment plant facilities. Those facilities service not only the City of Manhattan but many other customers in Riley and Pottawatomie Counties. Updating and replacing gate well structures, increasing levee height, adding new relief wells and reinforcement berms only adds to the level of protection for future events that would threaten Manhattan,” says Manhattan Public Works Director Robert Ott.
A study conducted by USACE in 2014 confirmed the need for improvements to the levee system in order to provide protection for a 100-year flood event.