Photo credit: City of Valley Falls/Facebook
(KAIR)--City leaders in Valley Falls are moving forward on a major river and infrastructure project aimed at protecting the community’s water supply and improving safety.
City officials met today with partners from the Kansas Air National Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue planning the removal of a concrete pillar from the river channel. The pillar has contributed to silt and debris buildup near the city’s water intake system.
Removing it will help protect the city’s river water source and open the channel for safer boating.
The project is currently working through the required permitting process. Officials are targeting fall or winter of 2026 for the removal, when river levels are at their lowest. The work is expected to take two to three weeks. The Kansas Air National Guard has already committed to supporting the project as part of its 2026 training schedule.
City leaders say the long-term goal is to safeguard Valley Falls’ water resources for future generations. With spring water now flowing in from the city lake and improved river access, officials hope the city will be positioned to avoid future water restrictions.
The river project was first initiated about four years ago and is part of a broader effort to strengthen Valley Falls’ water and sewer infrastructure.
Recent improvements include a sewer rehabilitation project completed north of Highway 16 in 2023. Funding has also been secured for phase two of the sewer project, which will rehabilitate lines south of Highway 16 starting in spring 2026.
The city is also awaiting word on a potential 8.5 million dollar grant that would replace the water main along Oak Street, rebuild the street, add new sidewalks and gutters, improve pedestrian access near the school, and construct a safer crosswalk at Highway 16. The State of Kansas has already committed 1.25 million dollars to cover the required local match, making it the largest grant application in the city’s history.
City officials say these projects represent major steps forward for Valley Falls and reflect a long-term commitment to reliable infrastructure and clean water for the community.
