Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	David P. Cronin, P.E., City Engineer
FROM:	Matt Bond, P.E., Stormwater Engineer
CC:	Charles Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
Date:	June 10, 2015
RE:	City Managers Report Kansas River Levee - Flood Emergency Operation Procedures

Please include the following item on the City Commission City Managers Report for consideration at the June 23, 2015 meeting.

In the event of a rising water surface elevation on the Kansas River, the Levee Crew of the Public Works Department follows the procedures outlined in Chapter 8 of the Operations & Maintenance Manual  for the Kansas River Levee Unit.

Careful attention is given to the following two internet web sites.  The National Weather Service, National Ocean & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website provides river level forecasts and the Kansas City District of the United State Corps of Engineers (USACE) web site provides gage date, an 8-day river report as wells as both a 3-day and 8-day reservoir reports and forecasts.

NOAA -	http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=top&gage=lwrk1
USACE -	http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/WaterManagement.aspx

Data and forecast from these websites as well as existing river conditions observed in the field help to determine which gates are left open or are closed.  The monitoring of the upstream conditions at Topeka and Lecompton are also factored into the decision process.  When the river reaches action stage the Levee Crew begins 24 hour monitoring of the levee which is  usually done in three eight hour shifts.  Their duties include the monitoring and recording of river levels at all gatewell structures, examine drainage ditches and remove obstructions, search for imminent or potential sand boils, slides or scours and take corrective action if necessary.  These patrols will be continuous for the during of the flood threat.