Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Effects can be local, limited to a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.

Most flooding occurs from changes in the landscape as the community develops. As communities grow, new roads, homes, businesses and parking lots mean less open space to absorb rainfall. Stormwater runoff surges into stormdrains filling creeks, sometimes to overflowing, and putting more buildings, roads and residents at risk.

Floods in October 1998 caused several million dollars of damage to businesses and public property as well as a loss of life in Lenexa. At the same time, new water quality and stormwater management requirements from Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) were being developed by the federal government as part of the Clean Water Act (CWA).


Consequently, Lenexa’s staff and leadership developed Rain to Recreation, a proactive, watershed-based, stormwater management program that works to reduce flooding and protect water while preserving wildlife habitat and providing recreation and education opportunities.

Flood reduction efforts
Rain to Recreation addresses flooding by implementing stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), as well as restricting development in floodplains, reducing runoff volume and pollution.

Lenexa’s Stream Setback Ordinance determines setback distances that create streamside buffer zones. Rain to Recreation staff also works to restore and maintain 26 miles of streams in Lenexa, increasing the stability of stream channels from too much flow and damaging erosion.


City staff also maintains more than 340 miles of pipe, more than 14,000 storm drains and nearly 29 miles of roadside ditches as part of the stormdrain system. Rain to Recreation’s crew proactively inspects underground pipes to prevent issues, routinely cleans pipes, stormdrains and ditches, and fixes drainage problems when they occur.

Homeowners can play a role in keeping water flowing. Most stormwater BMPs, such as neighborhood ponds, are owned either by a homeowners association or in-common by all lot owners in the neighborhood. Keeping these in good repair can make a big difference in preventing flooding issues.

City staff are available for technical assistance and to clarify ownership and maintenance responsibilities. For more information, contact Tom Jacobs, stormwater engineer.

Help for residents
Residents can obtain flood insurance at a reduced rate through the National Flood Insurance Program, (NFIP) based the national Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The current maps are based on evaluations from June 17, 2002.

If you think your house is in a floodplain, contact the city’s Community Development Department at 913.477.7733 for assistance with floodplain boundaries.

For more information
Refer to the flooding frequently asked questions.