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McLean Bottom Levee Restoration Information

Background: The McLean Bottom Levee System was damaged during the May/June 2019 Arkansas River Flood Event, leading to the Levee Sponsor submitting a Public Law (PL) 84-99 Rehabilitation Assistance request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Little Rock District (SWL).

This McLean Bottom Levee system is divided into three segments:

  • McLean Bottom Levee District No. 3 (Locally operated and maintained by the McLean Bottom Levee District No. 3)
  • Six Mile Diversion Levee (USACE operated and maintained)
  • McLean Bottom Levee and Pumping Station (USACE operated and maintained)

National Levee Database Information: https://levees.sec.usace.army.mil/#/levees/system/3705000011/summary

Current Action:  Engineering and Design funding has been received to begin work on the McLean Bottom levee repair project.  The purpose of this rehabilitation project is to repair the levee system to its authorized level of flood risk management.

Status Update

16 July 2021 - Project is substantially complete, pending establishment of turf 

11 January 2021 - Upstream and downstream breaches substantially repaired and awaiting vegetation establishment

16 May 2020 - Contract Award for final Repair

28 May 2020 - Cultural Resource Concurrence

10 April 2020 - Initial repairs providing 25-year level of protection, completed.

16 March 2020 - Initial repairs and E&D work for final repair continue.

11 March 2020 - Final level repairs design plan complete

24 February 2020 - February 2020 - USACE Memphis District begins initial repair (25-year level of protection) on downstream breach.

17 February 2020 - Design for setback levees completed.

14 February 2020 - USACE Vicksburg District begins initial repair (25-year level of protection) on upstream breach.

28 January 2020 - Rights of Entry for construction obtained by levee district.

16 March 2020 - Initial repairs and E&D work for final repair continue.

24 February 2020 - USACE Memphis District begins initial repair (25-year level of protection) on downstream breach.

17 February 2020 - Design for Setback Levees completed.

14 February 2020 - USACE Vicksburg District begins initial repair (25-year level of protection) on upstream breach.

28 January 2020 - Rights of Entry for construction obtained by levee district

09 January 2020 – E&D work continues.

20 December 2019 – Topographical surveys completed for breach area. These surveys will allow the E&D team to better define quantities needed for construction.

11 December 2019 – Initial repair approved and funding received. The initial repair consists of two setback levees constructed around the landside of the two breaches in the levee.

05 December 2019 – Rights of Entry (ROE) obtained. E&D work continues.

December 2019 – The Cooperation Agreement between the local sponsor and the Little Rock District Corps of Engineers was signed. Rights of Entry are being obtained.

22 November 2019 – Engineering and Design (E&D) work continues for rehabilitating the Faulkner County levee system. The team is still anticipating to be done with the E&D process by early 2020.

21 November 2019 – Levee Stakeholder Engagement Meeting held in Paris, AR. Meeting included local sponsor and affected farmers impacted by the flooding. The attendees were informed of the P.L. 84-99 process and updated on the status of the project. 

13 November 2019 - Cooperation agreement between USACE and McLean Bottoms Levee District No.3 signed.

07 November 2019 – Project kickoff meeting with local sponsor – McLean Bottom Levee District No. 3. Meeting conducted to review the rehabilitation process, cooperation agreement, cultural resource and real estate requirements.

21 October 2019 – Project Delivery Team (PDT) kickoff meeting conducted with design team members. E&D work is ongoing for rehabilitating the McLean Bottom County Levee District No. 3 system. The team is anticipating to be done with the E&D process by early 2020. Once E&D is completed, a construction contract will be advertised and awarded to repair the system.

16 October 2019 – E&D funding received. 

09 October 2019 – The Project Information Report has been approved by the USACE Southwestern Division Commander, BG Owen. Engineering and Design (E&D) funding has been requested.  Once funding has been received, the USACE team will coordinate with the Levee Sponsor on the design of the overall levee repair project.

17 June 2019 – An initial site damage assessment and economic analysis has been completed by the USACE Little Rock District (SWL) team.  From this initial assessment, the team has determined that there are damages to the levee system that are eligible for Public Law (PL) 84-99 Rehabilitation Assistance.

McLean Bottom Levee

McLean Bottom Levee Map