Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Dave Corliss, Charles Soules, Dena Mezger, Tom Orzulak

FROM:

Matt Bond

Date:

September 24, 2007

RE:

Kansas River Levee Accreditation

 

The following provides a time line for the progress of the accreditation of the Kansas River Levee, also known as the Lawrence Unit by the US Army Corp of Engineers.

 

HISTORY

 

Ø      January 23, 2006 RECIEVED letter from FEMA dated January 18, 2006.  Letter requested documentation for meeting requirements outlined in 44 CFR 65.10.  Verification that the levee system has been maintained in accordance with an officially adopted maintenance plan and any deficiencies that were noted have been corrected.

 

Ø      February 17, 2006 SENT a letter to FEMA confirming the maintenance of the Kansas River Levee.  Included the following information with the letter.

1.   Copy of joint maintenance inspection reports by the Army Corps of Engineers for the last 10 years.

2.   Copy of the Operation & Maintenance Manual developed by the Corps of Engineers.

3.   Copy of the plans for the levee construction.

4.   Provided the City web link for the North Lawrence Drainage Study.

  http://www.lawrencepublicworks.org/N_Law_Drainage_Study_2005/N_Law_Drainage_Study_2005.htm

 

Ø      February 17, 2006 SENT a letter to US Army Corps of Engineers requesting required documentation meeting the 44 CFR 65.10 requirements.

 

Ø      September 20, 2006  Annual levee inspection with the US Army Corps of Engineers

 

Ø      October 5, 2006 RECEIVED Letter dated October 3, 2006 from US Army Corps of Engineers stating that the Kansas River Levee in “very good condition”.

 

Ø      March 7, 2007 Meeting w/ FEMA, US Army Corps of Engineers & Douglas County to discuss Kansas River Levee.

 

Ø      March 23, 2007 RECEIVED letter dated March 19, 2007 from FEMA officially requesting that the City sign a Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) agreement and return before June 18, 2007.

 

Ø      May 3, 2007 SENT a copy of the executed PAL Agreement to FEMA approved by the City Commission and signed by the City Manager.

 

Ø      September 10, 2007 RECIEVED letter from FEMA dated August 30, 2007 acknowledging the receipt of the signed “Letters of Agreement and Request for Provisionally Accredited (PAL) Designation”, regarding the levee known as the Lawrence Unit, for the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Jefferson County and Leavenworth County.  As detailed in FEMA Procedure Memorandum 43-Guidelines for Identifying Provisionally Accredited Levees, the Lawrence Unit has now been designated a Provisionally Accredited Levee.  This designation will remain in effect until June 18, 2009 unless otherwise rescinded.

 

Ø      September 19, 2007  Annual levee inspection with the US Army Corps of Engineers

 

CURRENT PROCESS

 

Ø      Although confident that all the Design Criteria listed in 44 CFR 65.10 will be met staff is currently evaluating the proceeding topics.

        Checklist for Design Criteria:

1.         Embankment Protection

2.         Embankment and Foundation Stability Analysis

3.         Settlement

 

Ø      After determining to what extent formal documentation is needed for each of these topics all documentation will be submitted to FEMA to reclassify the levee from Provisional to Accredited.

      

FUTURE DEADLINES

 

Ø      June 18, 2008 progress report must be provided to FEMA Region VII to document progress toward obtaining 44 CFR 65.10 data.

 

Ø      June 18, 2009 deadline for submission of 44 CFR 65.10 data.  If adequate documentation is not received by this date, the area landward of the levee will be remapped as flood prone, which may require the purchase of flood insurance for affected property owners.