Flood risk in the metropolitan area of Topeka, Kansas, the state capitol, is managed by a Federal levee system which began construction in the late 1930’s and was expanded in the mid-1960s. This system consists of six separately authorized units and is a component of a larger system of levees and reservoirs that provides flood risk management benefits to the Kansas River basin. The study area includes significant industrial, commercial, and residential areas, public facilities and transportation infrastructure, and agricultural property.
The Feasibility Study began in 1998 to evaluate the existing project and determine alternatives for possible improvement. Section 216 of the 1970 Flood Control Act provided the study authority. The study evaluated various alternatives including the no-action plan using a risk-based analysis. During the analysis, it was determined that the levee height was sufficient, but that there was a risk of levee failure at less than the design flood due to structural and geotechnical concerns. The recommended plan includes corrective action to address identified weaknesses in the geotechnical and structural features of the existing project units.
The Final Feasibility Study was approved by the Civil Works Review Board in January 2009 and the Report of the Chief of Engineers was issued in August 2009. The Design Phase of the project began in September 2009.
Additional information about the project can be found in the documents available for download from this website.