TOPEKA (KSNT) – Recent heavy rainfall has prompted federal engineers to closely monitor reservoir and river conditions across northeast Kansas.
Officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) and local storm spotters recorded several inches of rainfall across northeast Kansas this week. Many areas reportedly received between two and four inches of rain on Thursday, Oct. 1.
The Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages multiple reservoirs across Kansas for flood control purposes. A spokeswoman said the agency is monitoring reservoir and river conditions following the rainfall.
“While northeast Kansas has received significant rainfall, no significant impacts are expected,” said Public Affairs Specialist Christine Reinhardt with the USACE. “Our reservoirs are in good condition, we have plenty of storage capacity available, and all system infrastructure is performing exactly as designed to manage flood risk.”
Reinhardt said the Big Blue River is experiencing moderate flooding from the area of Lincoln, Nebraska, to Blue Rapids. She said pumping operations are expected over the next several days in Blue Rapids.
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“We remain in close contact with both the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) and the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA),” Reinhardt said. “Neither agency has activated a flood emergency, and USACE has received no requests for supplemental emergency assistance at this time.”
The conservation pools at Melvern, Tuttle Creek, Milford, Perry, Clinton and Pomona reservoirs are currently full, while their flood-control pools retain additional storage capacity, according to data from the USACE. The conservation pool consists of the normal operating water level at a reservoir while the flood control pool contains excess water in temporary storage.
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