photo by: AJ Dome/Kansas Reflector

Cars drive across the East North Street bridge over the Smoky Hill River in Salina.

Salina — The Smoky Hill River may flow more freely through Salina in the next decade if a long-term development comes to fruition.

On Monday, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Salina signed a cost-share agreement to be funding partners for a portion of the proposed Smoky Hill River renewal project. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announced an additional $400,000 in federal funding to help cover part of the city’s cost toward commissioning a project design draft from USACE.

City documents indicate $13.7 million will come from federal sources and $7.6 million from a citywide sales tax. Salina city officials previously received $22 million in federal infrastructure grants for improvements along the river, which leads through the city, including bridge replacements and revamped boat docks.

Deputy city manager Jacob Wood said the project was pitched to city leaders several years ago by residents who wanted to see improved access to the natural waterway.

“It’ll be a few years before anything happens, but this was really born out of an idea from the community,” Wood said.

The cost-share agreement signed Monday is the first step toward getting water flowing in the Smoky Hill River through downtown Salina after more than 60 years of being controlled. Wood said the agreement means city engineers will work with the Army Corps of Engineers in the coming months to draft a design and construction plan that also includes some downtown revitalization efforts. Voters in Salina approved a local sales tax to benefit downtown modernization along the riverbank in 2022.

“We’ve done some small incremental things, added some trails here and there to try and get momentum going, but this (cost-share agreement signing) is kind of the first step of a really big process of getting the water flowing,” Wood said.

The project includes nearly seven miles of the so-called Old Channel remnant of the Smoky Hill River. A cutoff channel and levee were built in 1961 as part of an Army Corps of Engineers flood mitigation plan, which halted water flow into the Old Channel on the northeast side of the city. Over time, the Old Channel area has built up with sediment, and natural wetland habitats have been lost.

Salina Mayor Bill Longbine said he can remember growing up with water flowing in the Smoky Hill River inside the city.

“During my youth, we enjoyed small boats and fishing along the river,” Longbine said. “Thanks to the dedication and persistence of many of our citizens, we will see a flowing river once again.”

Longbine signed the cost-share agreement along with Army Corps of Engineers Col. Travis Rayfield, commander of the USACE Kansas City District. Rayfield said the project feasibility study should be completed in early 2026 so that design and construction can begin in 2027. The goal is for engineers and city officials to see water flowing in the Old Channel by the end of 2030.

Wood said he sees the Smoky Hill River project as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to “change the trajectory” of the future of downtown Salina.

“There’s a whole corridor along the river that’s prime for different economic development prospects, like businesses and restaurants and nightlife, that we just don’t have the opportunity for right now,” Wood said.

Wood said he’s hopeful to receive a completed first draft of the feasibility study within 12 to 18 months.

— AJ Dome reports for Kansas Reflector.