At the October 13 City Commission meeting, the City’s Floodplain Manager, Chad Bunger, shared some of the ideas developed by the Resilient Wildcat Creek group, which was formed to encourage collaboration, study the impacts of flooding, and devise ways to create a more flood-resilient community. The effort is guided by the Citizen Advisory Team (CAT) and City and County staff.

The group proposes that the City of Manhattan adopt an ordinance that requires property owners in floodplain areas to notify renters of the flood risk before a lease is signed. This document would be separate from the lease and would apply to both residential and commercial properties in flood prone areas.

They would also like to install signs in flood prone areas to inform the public. These signs could provide a variety of flood information, such as past flood heights, properties impacted, along with photos and other informative graphics.  An example of this sign type was created and installed in Florence, Kansas, by the City of Florence, the State of Kansas, and USACE.

Bunger also shared an idea to install additional emergency warning signs in flood prone areas to help notify the public immediately before and during a flood event. This type of sign is currently installed at the Scenic Drive Bridge over Wildcat Creek. The signs include warning lights that are activated by the Riley County Emergency Manager during a flood threat. 

The City has also been actively mitigating flood-prone properties through buyouts, investing in advanced floodplain mapping software, adapting requirements for new developments and property improvements, and collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies.

Find more information about Resilient Wildcat Creek plans, and floodplain management online at https://cityofmhk.com/2982/Resilient-Wildcat-Creek