A feasibility study was conducted under the Continuing Authorities Program, Section 205 Authority. Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, as amended by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) authority to plan, design, and construct small flood control projects that have not been specifically authorized by Congress. The study addresses flood risk in the Blacksnake Creek basin, located in Andrew and Buchanan Counties, Missouri. The study was sponsored by the City of St. Joseph, Missouri.
St. Joseph, Missouri (City) is the county seat of Buchanan County and the eighth largest city in Missouri with 76,780 residents (2010 Census). The City encompasses approximately 44 square miles and intersects eight basins, including the Blacksnake Creek watershed. Historically there have been several major flood events within this watershed that have caused major damages to developed property.
The study report which has been approved, focused on identifying, describing, and offering a recommended plan to reduce the damages incurred by flooding within the Blacksnake Creek watershed. The reduction in damages would be accomplished by construction of a proposed detention basin to be located in the vicinity of St. Joseph Avenue and Karnes Road. The proposed detention basin provides reduction in flood damages to properties located downstream of Northwest Parkway and St. Joseph Avenue.