LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District and the City of Russellville hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Prairie Creek Reach of the Russellville Flood Management Project, June 5, 2025.
The Russellville Flood Risk Management Project began in 2010 at the request of the City of Russellville under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities Program Section 205 authority. The goal of the project is to reduce frequent flooding in the downtown Russellville area.
“This project is a testament to what long-term partnership and determination can achieve,” said Col. Damon Knarr, commander of the Little Rock District. “The City of Russellville’s leadership never wavered in their commitment to protecting their community from flood risk, even through funding challenges and delays. We’re proud to stand with them today as construction begins on the Prairie Creek improvements.”
The Prairie Creek Reach construction is expected to begin in early fall 2025 and will widen the main stem of Prairie Creek anywhere from 20 feet to 50 feet from Boston Place down to Arkansas Tech University. The project will involve demolishing and rebuilding the Commerce Street bridge and the West Parkway bridge to increase flow capacity through the bridges.
“This project, over 15 years in the making, is the culmination of a great partnership between the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I want to acknowledge former Mayor Bill Eaton, an original champion who understood the vital importance of flood mitigation for our citizens,” said Russellville Mayor Fred Teague.
According to Teague, the Prairie Creek Project offers far-reaching benefits: it will provide crucial flood mitigation, drive economic development and enhance the community's quality of life.
“My sincere thanks go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our dedicated Public Works and Engineering teams for making this happen,” Teague said.
The project is expected to lessen the frequency of flooding and save the City of Russellville around $2.5M for each 2-to-5-year flood event. In addition to the cost savings, the project will protect more structures and provide additional benefits for larger less frequent floods in the future.
“This groundbreaking is the first step in more than a decade of collaboration to improve flood resilience in downtown Russellville,” said Jaysson Funkhouser the project lead for the Prairie Creek Reach project for the Little Rock District.
“This work will help Russellville mitigate future floods, reduce risk to homes and businesses, and deliver ongoing value to the people of Russellville, and the nation for years to come,” Funkhouser said.
More information about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be found on the Internet at http://www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/littlerockusace and on the USACE Little Rock water level mobile app at http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Home/water-control-app/.