SALINA, Kan. — The Salina City Commission has approved an $800,000 contract amendment with Diehl Enterprises to remove the log jam in the Smoky Hill River. The city had originally in late July approved a contract with Diehl to remove the log jam resulting from an extreme rain event in June. There have been three other major rain events since, two in July and one in September, that Utilities Director Martha Tasker added 550 linear feet to the original 350 feet to the original jam.
Data from the United States Geological Survey gauging station on the river at Mentor indicated the flow in the river at the time of the June event exceeded 3,000 cubic feet per second, from the two July events at over 4,000 cfs, and from the September event at over 3,500 cfs.
Tasker said while the June event didn’t qualify for FEMA assistance, the two July events have, and it’s likely the September part of the jam will. The FEMA funding would cover 75% of eligible expenses, with the state of Kansas covering 10% and the city 15%. On this basis and based on preliminary estimates the city of Salina could receive just over $607,000 in disaster relief funding.
There have been suggestions made in the past that the city either burn or dynamite the jam. Tasker said this has been discussed with US Army Corps of Engineers staff, who indicated based on their past experience on similar situations these options usually are not successful.
On the burn option that some residents voiced support for when the original contract with Diehl was approved, it was noted much of the log jam is below water and as such would be difficult if not impossible to burn.
Two citizens addressed the Commission on the issue; both of whom recommended additional work be re-bid. One of them stated that one of the companies that bid on the project would have used a different removal method which he said would have been more appropriate based on conditions in the area,
Tasker noted there will be additional expense for the city related to channel repair along with that to a water intake structure near the log jam location. It is not known if this expense would be reimbursable.
