EL provides input and review for Blue River Channel Modification Project

Published May 5, 2012
Blue River location map

Blue River location map

May 5, 2012

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL) Researchers Sarah Miller and Dr. Craig Fischenich served on the agency technical review (ATR) team and provided design input to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Kansas City District, Blue River Channel Modification Project.

The Blue River Channel project is a joint effort between USACE, Kansas City District and the city of Kansas City, Mo. The project extends generally southward from the mouth at the Missouri River upstream to 63rd Street to provide flood damage reduction in the Blue River Valley between the mouth and 63rd Street.

The project includes channel modifications along 12.5 miles of the Blue River consisting of a widened channel with a combination of concrete paving, rock or stone-protected slopes and grass slopes. Several severe bends in the channel are being eliminated. The improved channel will have the capacity to carry flows of up to 35,000 cubic feet per second.

Although the Blue River channel project will not be complete for the next few years, the benefits to the surrounding environment will continue to accumulate with the completion of each construction contract.

This project was subsequently awarded the "Alphonse J. Dell'Isola Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in Construction." This award is granted on a competitive basis for outstanding achievement and accomplishment in an individual value methodology project team study for the grade control structure.

The project will be recognized at this year's Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE) International Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in June. This event marks the association's 52nd annual conference, continuing the tradition of promoting the value methodology and educating practitioners.

Learn more about the Blue River Channel Modification Project.