Cowley County commissioners and Bolton Township officers are partnering up to repair erosion along the Arkansas River southeast of Ark City.
"This is something that’s been happening over decades. It’s not something that just started," County Administrator Leroy Alsup said.
The erosion involves an open area along the streambank that encompasses between 1,300 to 1,500 feet of streambank. If not repaired, the river would eventually wash out 312st Road, also known as Quaker Haven Road. Closing that stretch of road would create other problems, he said.
"The project is expected to be quite extensive," County Engineer Dale Steward wrote township official Albert Bacastow Jr. Preliminary estimates provided by Steward include a design cost of $9,000, including state and federal permits and 7,000 tons of waste rock at a 20-mile haul.
A wheel-loader and backhoe will be needed for rock placement. Steward also estimated 4,000 gallons of diesel would be needed at a cost of $20,000 to offset fuel cost.
The commission agreed to provide equipment and manpower for what they expect to be a three-week project. The township will reimburse the county the cost of fuel for the equipment and would pay for any design cost, permits and materials.
"They’re going to try and pursue funding from FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency) and some state programs," Alsup said. If FEMA does help finance the project, the agencies involved could be reimbursed for some of their costs, he said.
"I don’t know if that will occur," Alsup said. "If they don’t get funding, they’ll move forward on their own."
The county has partnered with other public entities in the past, Alsup said. It is not a unique situation for the county to work with another government entity by providing manpower and equipment. The out-of-pocket expense is normally paid by the other entities, he said.
It’s unknown how soon work will begin.
