Flood prevention
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Effects can be local, limited to a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.

Most flooding occurs from changes in the landscape as the community develops. As communities grow, new roads, homes, businesses and parking lots mean less open space to absorb rainfall. Stormwater runoff surges into storm drains, fills creeks—sometimes to overflowing, putting more buildings, roads and residents at risk of flooding. Floods in October 1998 caused several million dollars of damage to businesses and public property as well as a loss of life in Lenexa. At the same time, new water quality and stormwater management requirements from Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) were being developed by the federal government as part of the Clean Water Act.

Lenexa’s staff and leadership used these situations to develop Rain to Recreation, a proactive, watershed-based, stormwater management program that works to reduce flooding, protect water quality and wildlife habitat and provide recreational and educational opportunities.

Flood reduction efforts
Rain to Recreation addresses flooding through projects that target site- or neighborhood-specific problems. Lenexa utilizes stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) prohibit development in floodplains and on streambanks to promote development that minimizes the volume of stormwater created. These practices reduce the volume of runoff and the pollutants it carries.

Lenexa’s Stream Setback Ordinance determines setback distances that create riparian buffer zones that alleviate flooding and water quality issues. Rain to Recreation staff also works to restore and maintain 26 miles of streams in Lenexa, increasing the stability of stream channels from excessive flow and damaging erosion. The program also uses wetlands, swales, detention ponds and other BMPs to capture runoff from roads, building and parking lots and reduce the risk of flooding.

Help for citizens
Citizens can obtain flood insurance at a reduced rate through the National Flood Insurance Program, (NFIP) based the national Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The current maps are based on evaluations from June 17, 2002.

If you think your house is in a floodplain, contact the city’s Community Development Department at (913) 477-7733 for assistance with floodplain boundaries.