The search for a solution to chronic flooding problems across the City of Wichita took a major step forward this week with the announcement of a $550,000 federal grant for a Wichita area drainage master plan.

The grant was announced Tuesday by 4th District U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, who submitted the appropriations request on behalf of the City of Wichita. The drainage plan request was among the top five federal funding requests submitted last March by the Wichita City Council.

The grant is the latest development in an ongoing effort by the City and Sedgwick County to mitigate flooding problems throughout the area. On Sept. 18, City officials joined with Congressman Tiahrt and representatives from Sedgwick County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dedicate the newly-constructed Cowskin Creek Local Flood Protection Project. The Cowskin project also benefited from a federal grant and will significantly reduce flood risks in west Wichita.

“This project will help us find new solutions to reduce and eliminate the flooding of homes and businesses throughout the Wichita community,” said Tiahrt, “Just as the Cowskin Creek project has averted flooding in Wichita this year, we hope to implement even more solutions in areas prone to floodwaters with the resources provided under this federal grant. It’s been a privilege working with the City to fight for resources on a federal level that lowers the financial burden for local taxpayers.”

Mayor Carl Brewer echoed the Congressman’s sentiments, and also praised the multi-level partnership with county and federal governments.

“This is great news for the economic future of our community,” Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer said. “Flooding problems continually limit the city’s growth and cause tremendous economic and personal harm. By working together with Sedgwick County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Congressman Tiahrt, we can use this comprehensive study to develop an effective plan to manage and control the problem throughout Sedgwick County.”

Engineers with the City of Wichita Public Works Department will now meet with the U.S. Corps of Engineers to develop a prioritized project list funded by the grant.

The project will analyze the most economic solutions for flood prone properties, which could include buyouts or drainage projects, Lindbak said. The process will also allow for water quality improvements within the watershed areas in compliance with state and federal standards.

The full text of the City of Wichita appropriations request is as follows:

Appropriations Request Form for Federal Legislation – FY2010 Priority Project

Project

Wichita Area Drainage Master Plan

Goal

Funding will be used to conduct a drainage master plan for the Wichita area. Development of a Wichita Area Drainage Master Plan will ensure the economic well being of the Wichita area by providing a comprehensive plan for addressing drainage issues. Such a plan will define flood prone areas in greater detail, suggest ways to prevent or reduce flooding, provide guidance for floodplain management, and suggest methods to maintain or improve water quality within major channel reaches. This will allow agencies in the Wichita region to identify and adequately address flood prone areas in a comprehensive manner, and ensure that all communities are informed of the situation and contribute to the solutions.

Background

The City of Wichita is located in the Middle Arkansas/Slate River, Gar/Peace, and Lower Walnut River drainage basins, with two other drainage basins located within three miles of the City boundaries. In the past two decades, Wichita and surrounding communities have grown significantly both in population and size. Much of that growth has involved urban expansions into previously undeveloped drainage basins. This has increased the frequency and severity of flooding, resulting in the evacuations of citizens from their homes and millions of dollars in damages. Losses sustained to public and private investments resulting from flooding in the Wichita area threaten the economic well being of the City and Sedgwick County. The ability to attract and retain businesses, industry, and new residents depend on the ability to ensure adequate public services, and safety of both lives and property. Without the ability to effectively provide for the safety of either, the Wichita area finds itself facing the physical and economic consequences of flooding, events similar to the Halloween flood of 1998.

During the weekend of October 31 to November 1, 1998, six to ten inches of rain drenched the Wichita area. This induced record flooding on the Arkansas, Cottonwood, Walnut, and Whitewater Rivers, as well as major flooding on the Chikaskia, Cottonwood, and Ninnescah Rivers. The flooding extended to the tributaries as well, most notably the Cowskin Creek, which flooded a significant area of west Wichita. The historic flooding resulted in one fatality, two injuries, the evacuation of 5,300 people and an estimated $32 million in damage to highways, businesses, private property and crops.

In March 2003, the City of Wichita completed a stormwater master drainage plan for the Cowskin Creek basin. This plan allows the City of Wichita to better provide for well being of west Wichita by ensuring that public and private investments are made in areas not susceptible to flooding and suggesting methods to lessen the dangers of flooding in the area. Similar studies are necessary for the rest of the Wichita region, as true solutions for flooding require a regional scope approach to ensure that one community’s policy does not have negative consequences for communities downstream.

Proposal

The Wichita Area Drainage Master Plan will allow Wichita and surrounding communities to comprehensively define flood prone areas, suggest ways prevent or reduce the flooding, provide guidance for floodplain management, and present methods to maintain or improve water quality within the major channel reaches. The Wichita Area Drainage Master Plan will enable all communities to realize and address flooding issues at a regional scale to maximize the potential for cooperative solutions.

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