17-117 Mill Creek Levee paved trail and Rooks Park reopen; Levee maintenance work completed

Published Nov. 20, 2017
Contractors remove roots and stumps that were intruding into the Mill Creek levee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

Contractors remove roots and stumps that were intruding into the Mill Creek levee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

Contractors remove roots and stumps that were intruding into the Mill Creek levee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

Contractors remove roots and stumps that were intruding into the Mill Creek levee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

#150  and #064  -- Native grasses will be planted on the landward-side slopes of the Corps-managed portion of the Mill Creek levee during warmer spring temperatures to improve aesthetics and benefit insects and wildlife. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

#150 and #064 -- Native grasses will be planted on the landward-side slopes of the Corps-managed portion of the Mill Creek levee during warmer spring temperatures to improve aesthetics and benefit insects and wildlife. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the first mile of the Mill Creek Levee System, Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake, located east of Walla Walla, Washington, city limits.

WALLA WALLA, WA - The paved trail on the north side of the federally managed section of the Mill Creek Levee System and pedestrian access to Rooks Park reopened this morning, Monday, Nov. 20, following the completion of Phase-2 work to remove overgrown vegetation which encroached into the levee’s maintenance-access zone, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced today.

This maintenance was necessary to meet National Levee Safety Program requirements in accordance with Corps headquarters regulations and policies. Non-compliant vegetation on levees blocks visibility for inspections, access for maintenance, hinders flood fighting, and adds uncertainty to structural performance and reliability, which increases risk to the public. The inability to inspect, maintain or flood fight could delay emergency response or contribute to risk of levee failure. Life safety is paramount for the Corps’ operations. 

Restoring the federally managed section of the Mill Creek Levee System to meet national safety standards included removing about 6 acres of woody vegetation, stumps and roots from the landward side of the levees slopes and 15-feet outward from the levee’s design toe. Native grasses will be planted on the levees in the spring to improve the aesthetics and benefit insects and wildlife. 

Work-progress photographs, environmental-compliance documents, videos, news releases and other information about this levee-maintenance project is available on the Corps’website at www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/MillCreekLeveeMaintenance.aspx.

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Contact
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Release no. 17-117