OMAHA, Nebraska - Two outlet breaches on the Missouri River Levee System were closed on Saturday. These are the third and fourth breaches to be closed on the L-594 system, providing an initial level of flood risk management to the area behind this downstream portion of the levee, located west of Thurman, Iowa. The USACE team and Contractor will continue finalizing repairs at these breach locations while also focusing on the one remaining outlet breach.
“Even with the recent winter weather the team has remained steadfast in their commitment to restoring the L-594 levee system. This team is comprised of companies that are often times direct competitors but have come together under the common goal of repairing the damaged levee system that is vitally important to the communities and land owners behind it. Closing these two breaches is a direct reflection of the field team's leadership and problem solving mentality,” said Corina Zhang, USACE Resident Engineer for L-594 Project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District also awarded a $4.7 million construction contract to Blade Masters Ground Maintenance of Bennington last Friday. This contract will repair the Salt Creek Levee systems in Lincoln, Nebraska.
There are more than 500 miles of levees on the Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn rivers, and tributaries that experienced significant flood damage since March 2019. Due to the magnitude of damage along these levees, repair of the levee system efforts will take an extended period of time to complete.
Photo courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers.