Location
Upper Mississippi River Basin
Description
Currently, there is no systemic flood risk management plan for the UMR as exists on the lower Mississippi River as a result of the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project. Lack of a systemic flood risk management plan for the UMR results in levee districts, communities, and others, taking actions in an uncoordinated manner in response to flood concerns. This uncoordinated flood response ultimately transfers risk to other areas, often without their knowledge.
The watershed assessment will collaboratively develop an FRM strategy for UMR basin with an interagency team (Federal & 5 states). This collaborative interagency team will work to lower the risk and consequences of flood and drought related damages through identification of potential structural and non-structural measures. This collaborative interagency team will also work to identify management techniques for erosion and sediment processes occurring in the watershed.
The UMR Watershed Assessment will align goals and objectives of the interagency team and various stakeholder groups, building on those identified in the Mississippi River Report Card, and to establish metrics which describe favorable and unfavorable economic, social and environmental outcomes.
Background
The Great Flood of 1993 caused catastrophic damages throughout much of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) basin. The 1993 flood resulted in 47 deaths, over $15 billion in damages, 72,000 damaged homes and 74,000 people were evacuated. Today, citizens remain concerned about flooding, given recent floods in 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Citizens continue to call for Federal action to develop a systemic flood risk management plan based on a watershed approach. The watershed assessment study area comprises the 185,000 sq. mile UMR basin above the confluence of the Ohio River, excluding the Missouri River Basin (see map).
Status
This project requires identification of a cost share partner and is a potential new start project.
In FY18 the team advanced work on development of the strategic communication plan through an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) pilot effort through the Institute of Water Resources. In addition, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA), the potential project Sponsor who serves as the representative for the 5 mid-western states covering the UMR basin, signed an agreement to serve as Sponsor for a Planning Assistance to States effort to advance stakeholder collaboration on a potential Watershed Study. In 2019, this scoping portion of the watershed study was advanced through a series of public listening sessions to capture the concerns of the landowners and stakeholders within the basin. The Planning Assistance to States effort concluded in December 2020 with a UMRBA developed report.
Additional Information
Authority
Section 729 of WRDA 1986
or Section 1206 of WRDA 2016
Summarized Project Costs
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Estimated Federal Cost
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$ 2,250,000
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Estimated Non-Federal Cost
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$ 750,000
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Estimated Total Project Cost
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$ 3,000,000
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Allocations Prior to FY 2024
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$0
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FY 2024 Allocation
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$0
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FY 2025 President’s Budget
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$0
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FY 2025 Total Capability
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$500,000
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Major Work Item Current Year
FY 2024: No work was performed on this project in FY 2024 due to an absence of a cost share partner and funding.
Major Work Item Next Fiscal Year
FY 2025: Awaiting identification of a cost share partner, new start, and funding. If partnered and funded, progress will be made in establishing interagency team and information will begin to be collected and evaluated to inform the current state of the watershed.