Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Dave Corliss, Charles Soules, Mark Thiel, Tom Orzulak, Shoeb Uddin

FROM:

Matt Bond

Date:

March 16, 2009

RE:

Kansas River Levee Certification

 

The following provides a time line for the progress of the accreditation of the Kansas River Levee also known as the Lawrence Flood Protection 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.  (CFR – Code of Federal Regulations)  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 a 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

 

Ø      June 18, 2008 progress report SUBMITTED to FEMA Region VII documenting progress toward obtaining 44 CFR 65.10 data.

 

Ø      September 17, 2008  Annual levee inspection with the US Army Corps of Engineers

 

Ø      September 26, 2008  Meeting with the US Army Corp of Engineers to discuss Levee Certification and potential Mud Creek streambed degradation issues.

 

Ø      December 19, 2008 RECEIVED a letter dated September 26, 2006 from US Army Corps of Engineers stating that the Kansas River Levee received an "ACCEPTABLE" maintenance rating.  The USACE implemented a new rating system for levee maintenance thus the "ACCEPTABLE" vs. the "very good condition” rating in previous years.  The "ACCEPTABLE" rating is the highest rating achievable on the new rating scale.

 

Ø      February 12, 2009 Conducted TV video inspections of outfalls within the Kansas River Levee.

 

Ø      March 13, 2009 RECEIVED letter from FEMA dated March 11, 2009 reminding the levee sponsor (City of Lawrence) that the complete 44 CFR 65.10 data submission is due on or before June 19, 2009.

 

CURRENT PROCESS

 

Staff anticipates submitting all requested data to FEMA by the end of April or early May, thus allowing time for any possible requested changes or additions.  Two of the design criteria are currently under analysis: "Embankment and Foundation Stability" and "Settlement".  Upon completion of the analysis, some outfall inspections and data collection a completed report will be submitted to FEMA.  The US Army Corp is also reviewing a profile of the Mud Creek streambed to resolve issues discussed in the September 26, 2008 meeting.  Staff expects the levee to be reclassified from Provisional to Accredited once FEMA reviews the formal documentation submitted.

 

 

Attachment: FEMA letter reminder