Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David Corliss, City Manager Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
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FROM: |
Matt Bond, Stormwater Engineer
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Date: |
4-25-2007
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RE: |
May 1, 2007 Agenda Item
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Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the May 1, 2007 meeting:
Lawrence Unit levee (Kansas River Levee) PAL Agreement:
Signing and submission of The Provisional Accredited Levee (PAL) agreement will allow the Kansas River Levee to remain on the FEMA floodplain maps. The levee will be labeled a PAL during a 24-month period to convey to map users that levee certification verification is underway.
Project History: The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of producing a countywide Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) for Douglas County. This effort is being undertaken as part of FEMA’s Flood Map Modernization program.
Project Status: Completion and submittal of the PAL agreement will officially request that FEMA label the levee as a Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) on the DFIRM and will serve as an agreement that, to the best of our knowledge, the levee meets the requirements of 44 CFR 65.10. This will allow the maps to be published but only provides for the two year period. The completed agreement must be submitted before June 18, 2007, for the levee to receive the PAL designation.
Project Details: The Lawrence Unit is roughly 11.45 miles in length. The Mud Creek levee is approximately 4.36 miles in length. The levee was last inspected by the US Army of Corp of Engineers on September 20, 2006. For FEMA to continue to accredit the Lawrence Unit levee with providing protection from the base flood, the levee must meet the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Section 65.10, entitled “Mapping of Areas Protected by Levee Systems”. It is the responsibility of the community to provide the data defined and outlined within the regulation. Staff is researching these requirements and working with FEMA and the Corps to commute the PAL conditions.
Project Funding: There are no costs to execute the PAL agreement. By endorsing the agreement, it is agreed that the City of Lawrence will provide all the necessary documentation to comply with 44 CFR 65.10 before June 18, 2009.
Action Requested: Public Works Department staff requests the endorsement and submission of the PAL agreement to allow FEMA flood insurance maps to reflect protection from the 1-percent-annual-chance flood also referred to as the base flood.
Att: Letter from FEMA