PL 566 Structures Spare Farmers Wrath of Historic Storm

In early September, fifty PL-566 floodwater-retarding structures prevented extensive flooding and related damages from a 500-year rain event that struck North Central Kansas. The predominantly agricultural region was inundated by up to 13 inches of rain in a 12 hour period that caused flash flooding on all streams. However, much of the excessive runoff was captured (then slowly released) by the PL-566 structures, located in Salt Creek and Spillman Creek watershed districts (Mitchell and Lincoln counties). Those structures provide an estimated $2 million per year in flood protection.  Protection that proved invaluable to the farmers who were preparing for harvest (corn, soybeans and milo) and planting (winter wheat) when the massive, early September storm hit.

Salt Creek Watershed, Mitchell County, Kansas