Guide · Flood control

PL 84-99 levee repairs, explained.

How the Corps restores flood protection after a flood, and what levee districts should expect.

What PL 84-99 is

Public Law 84-99 authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare for floods, fight floods and repair eligible flood-control works damaged by them. Its Rehabilitation Program restores levees and similar works to their pre-flood level of protection.

Who is eligible

Flood-control works must be active in the Corps' Rehabilitation Program, which generally means they passed Corps inspections and are maintained by a public sponsor such as a drainage and levee district. Federally constructed projects are generally repaired at federal cost; eligible non-federal projects are typically cost-shared, with the sponsor paying a portion, usually 20%.

What the work looks like

Repairs can include rebuilding eroded embankment, repairing slides and boils, replacing riprap and repairing drainage structures. The Corps typically awards construction contracts quickly so protection is restored before the next high-water season.

SIS and PL 84-99

In 2024 the Rock Island District awarded SIS PL 84-99 flood repairs for the Coal Creek Drainage and Levee District near Beardstown, Illinois. See the project.

Process

The rehabilitation process, step by step

After a flood, the public sponsor, usually a levee or drainage district, requests assistance from the Corps district. The Corps inspects the damage, determines eligibility and estimates repair costs. Eligible projects receive a project information report, and once approved and funded, the Corps prepares plans and specifications and awards a construction contract.

Contractors bidding PL 84-99 work should expect tight schedules, since repairs aim to restore protection before the next high-water season, along with weather and river-stage risk and work in agricultural settings with limited access.

Scope

Typical PL 84-99 repair work

Repairs restore damaged features to their pre-flood condition.

Embankment and slope rebuilding
Seepage and boil repairs
Riprap and bank protection replacement
Drainage structure and gate repairs
Pump station repairs
Access road restoration

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for PL 84-99 repairs?

For eligible federally constructed projects, repairs are generally federally funded. Eligible non-federal projects are typically cost-shared, with the public sponsor paying a portion, commonly 20 percent.

How quickly are PL 84-99 repairs done?

The Corps aims to restore protection before the next flood season, so design, award and construction often move on compressed schedules.

USACE Rock Island · $1.89M

Coal Creek PL 84-99 flood repairs

PL 84-99 repairs to an Illinois River levee after the 2023 flood.

Case study →

Capability

Flood control, levees & pump stations

USACE pump stations, PL 84-99 levee repairs and riprap.

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Service area

Mississippi & Illinois River corridor

Riprap and levee repairs for the Rock Island and St. Louis districts.