The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, awarded a $12 million contract last week for a second initial breach repair to Levee L575 to protect critical infrastructure along the Missouri River near Hamburg, Iowa.
The purpose of the breach repair is to provide temporary flood protection at the specified breached area of the levee, said USACE. The contract was awarded to Newt Marine Services, Dubuque, Iowa.
According to USACE, this particular stretch of levee has suffered extensive damage during this year’s high runoff event.
“This is one of four priority sites identified for initial breach closures,” said Jeremy Szynskie, project manager, Omaha District System Restoration Team. “The initial repairs will stop the flow of water through the levees so repairs can be made to areas behind the levee such as I-29 and the City of Hamburg, Iowa. The repairs will also reduce the risk of flooding during normal storm events before the rest of the levees can be evaluated and repaired.”
In parallel to repair efforts, the Omaha District has begun planning of the permanent levee repairs to bring the levees damaged by the March flood to the same level of authorized flood risk reduction that the systems had prior to the flood.
According to their release, USACE expects that the majority of the breach repair fill material will be dredged from the riverbank near the site. The work is anticipated to be completed by 80 calendar days after Notice-to-Proceed.
Photo: Aerial view of overtopping levee L575 near Nebraska City, Iowa, March 16, 2019, resulting from a major runoff event, photo by USACE, Omaha District