Watershed Dams Protect Kansans

by Paul Gallagher, Agricultural Economist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Salina, Kansas

In rural Kansas, flooding can be a frequent scourge to farms and small communities alike. Excessive rain can turn a docile creek into a torrent of water that inflicts widespread damage to homes, roads, and agricultural land. Lives and livelihoods can be affected, and rebuilding efforts can drain both private and public coffers. After extensive flooding in the early 1950’s, rural Kansans looked for help in protecting their communities, and found it at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 1954, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 83-566 (P.L. 566), the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. The law authorizes USDA to provide local groups financial and technical assistance for flood prevention and other watershed based activities. Flood prevention measures include small floodwater-retarding dams, which prevent severe flooding to agricultural land, roads, and urban areas from heavy rains by capturing (then slowly releasing) excessive runoff. Typically located in small drainages, the diminutive reservoirs (20 to 200 surface acres) can also provide water supply and recreational opportunities to rural communities and have also been effective at improving downstream water quality.

The P.L. 566 legislation also authorized land treatment as a flood prevention measure. Land treatment involves the installation of conservation practices—such as filter strips, waterways, terraces, or rangeland management—on agricultural land. These measures keep raindrops closer to where they fall, resulting in more infiltration into the ground and less runoff into streams. Other results include reduced soil erosion and improved stream water quality. Generally, land treatment is required on agricultural lands (especially cropland) above floodwater-retarding structures to prolong the life of the structure.

A distinctive strength of P.L. 566 is that it is a locally led program that focuses on small watersheds. In Kansas, planning leadership comes from local organized watershed districts, which have taxing power and a board of directors. Districts identify resource concerns, lead public meetings, and examine potential flood-prevention measures. They also accept, or reject, the final plan and work with landowners, local communities, and the USDA to implement approved measures. Sixty-three of Kansas’ 86 watershed districts have an approved P.L. 566 plan.

Since 1954, Kansas’ approved P.L. 566 plans have resulted in 777 small floodwater-retarding dams built. These dams, and the corresponding land treatment, annually generate an estimated $34 million in benefits, including flood protection, municipal water supply, water quality, reduced soil erosion, wildlife habitat, and recreation. For every $1 spent installing these structures, which have a design life of 50 to 100 years, $1.75 has been returned to the local economy.

In addition to dams already completed, another 200 remain to be built. Those dams will provide an estimated $8 million in annual flood protection. This year, two dams—both in the Whitewater River Watershed District (Harvey and Butler counties)—are under construction. New planning projects are also underway in three more Kansas watershed districts.

Now in its 50th year, P.L. 566 continues to be active in enhancing the economic and social development in rural Kansas. The locally led program, aimed at addressing resource concerns, helps protect communities’ investments in infrastructure and well-being. With new planning and construction projects started every year, P.L. 566 will continue to be a valuable program for rural Kansans for years to come.

For more information about the P.L. 566 program in Kansas, visit your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service, and talk to the Natural Resources Conservation or conservation district staff. For more information about the watershed program in Kansas, go to the Web site www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs, scroll to Watersheds P.L. 566 Program.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Watershed Dams Protect Kansans (DOC; 43 KB)

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Last Modified: 09/04/2008