The City of Hutchinson will begin work today on the first project in its long-term flood mitigation plan addressing FEMA flood mapping throughout the community.
City crews will construct a detention cell on City-owned land near 14th Avenue and Cochran Street. The new feature is designed to serve as a small “overflow pocket” that temporarily collects excess stormwater when the nearby ditch reaches capacity — typically once or twice a year. Once water levels recede, the detention cell will slowly drain back into the ditch system.
According to city officials, this work will be completed using existing staff and equipment, with no additional project cost.
The 14th and Cochran project is the first of several low-impact flood control improvements planned for Hutchinson. City staff are currently evaluating more than a dozen other City-owned sites for potential use in similar efforts.
Each project, officials say, will help reduce the risk and impact of flooding over time and may eventually shrink the footprint of FEMA-designated flood areas across the city.
“This is an important first step toward making Hutchinson more resilient during heavy rain events,” the city said in its announcement.