$529-Million KC Levees Mega Project Breaks Ground
Published on October 13, 2021
On October 13, 2021, Local Officials joined together for a Ceremonial Groundbreaking for the KC Levees Program, a $529-million investment scheduled to be completed in 2026.
The finished mega-project will improve 17 miles of levees along the Kansas and Missouri Rivers and protect 32 square miles of residential, industrial, and commercial areas containing 100,000 jobs, 7,000 structures, and $25 billion in investments.
“Bolstering the levee system in Wyandotte County and surrounding communities is critically important,” said David Alvey, Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, KS. “These improvements have and will protect the safety of persons who live and work near and behind the floodwalls and levee system, protecting homes, businesses, and billions in property and infrastructure. Improving its reliability and resiliency now ensures these systems perform in future flood events, minimizing the impact on life and property. Moreover, levee enhancements can also act as a catalyst to connecting people, providing new bike and hike paths along the river that expand recreation opportunities and improve quality of life in our communities.”
More than 27,000 residents and 2,700 businesses and structures benefit from the reduced risk of potential flooding produced by approximately 32 miles of existing levees and floodwalls along the Kansas and Missouri Rivers in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.
This system of levee units, which protects the safety and economic vitality of the Argentine, Armourdale, and Central Industrial District (CID) levee units, among others, will be further strengthened by improvements that began construction in 2019.
The Levee improvements stem from a 1993 flood event during which water crested near the top of many local levees and floodwalls. This highlighted the need to improve flood infrastructure and reduce risk throughout greater Kansas City.
Levee improvements already have taken place in three of the seven local levee units: Fairfax-Jersey Creek, North Kansas City, and East Bottoms. Additional improvements will be constructed through 2026 in the Argentine, Armourdale, and CID levee units.
Local stakeholders and owners of these levees – the Kaw Valley Drainage District, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri – worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify potential solutions and funding sources.
This collaboration ultimately led to the $529-million in improvements funded to completion by Congress through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
What is the Kansas Citys Levees Project?
The Kansas Citys Levees is preparing to make $529 million in improvements to approximately 17 miles of existing levees and floodwalls along the Kansas River in Kansas City, Kansas. and Kansas City, Missouri. The project improves the overall resiliency and reliability of the Argentine, Armourdale, and Central Industrial District levee systems and reduces the risk of flooding to the homes and businesses located behind the levees.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been making improvements to the seven levee system along both banks of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers in the Kansas City Metropolitan area for the past 15 years. The Kansas Citys, Missouri and Kansas Levee program consists of seven levee units (Argentine, Armourdale, Central Industrial District, Fairfax-Jersey Creek, North Kansas City, East Bottoms and Birmingham), totaling 60 miles of levees and floodwalls. Improvements are complete for the Fairfax-Jersey Creek, North Kansas City and East Bottoms Units. No improvements were deemed necessary on the Birmingham Unit.
What improvements will be made?
The Kansas Citys Levees program represents an opportunity for reducing flood risk in leveed areas that include nationally important, economically vibrant residential, business and municipal areas. It will use a broad range of risk-reduction strategies, including improving infrastructure by:
- Raising nearly 90,000 feet of levees and floodwalls by up to four to five feet;
- Replacing 18 closure structures;
- Repairing or modifying dozens of drainage structures;
- Installing nearly 130 relief wells; and
- Modifying or replacing 19 pump stations.
The final phase will focus on the Argentine, Armourdale and Central Industrial District (CID) levee units along the Kansas River. These improvements will complete nearly 15 years of construction on the system. Improvements are complete for the Fairfax-Jersey Creek, North Kansas City and East Bottoms Units. No improvements were deemed necessary along the Birmingham Unit.
Where is this project located?
The remaining project to be constructed is located along the Argentine, Armourdale and Central Industrial District levee units. These levees are located along the Kansas River – beginning at the confluence of the Missouri River and extending past the Turner Memorial Bridge (Hwy 32) in Kansas City, Kansas.
To view an interactive map of the project location, click here.
What is the schedule?
Funding has been received to begin design and construction on the proposed improvements. Design began in early 2019 and construction is anticipated to begin in 2020. All construction is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
To view the project's status, click here.
Why are the improvements necessary?
The Kansas Citys Levees withstood the Great Flood of 1993 but were nearly overtopped and experienced underseepage issues. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re-examined the existing project and its performance during the 1993 flood event and determined that improvements to the existing project were economically justified. Subsequently, Congress authorized and appropriated funding to complete the proposed improvements.
How will the region benefit from the improvements?
When completed in 2026, the Kansas Citys Levees Program improvements will reduce the annual risk of overtopping by nearly 200%, improve the reliability and resiliency of the levee and floodwall system as well as:
- Improve deteriorated infrastructure;
- Strengthen infrastructure to ensure performance during future floods; and
- Improve levee safety and flood awareness.
The completed project will reduce the potential for loss of life, economic consequences and environmental impacts. Levee systems reduce the chance of flooding, but they cannot eliminate all flood risk. That's why program benefits are maximized when local governments and stakeholders understand and act on their shared responsibility for flood-risk management by:
- Managing floodplain uses and choices to help limit flood-related damages;
- Putting in place effective safety, evacuation and continuity plans and processes; and
- Educating the public about steps they can take to reduce flood-related risks and impacts.