Weeks of repair, cleanup required after June 30th ‘drowning’ of southeast Kansas park

Elk City State Park is open for business, following weeks of repair and cleanup after severe flooding.

Elk City Reservoir rose 32 feet above normal after heavy rains June 30th. Flood waters covered about 85 percent of the park’s electrical utility campsites. In addition, the high water inundated two vault toilets and the day-use shelter, put four feet of water in the main shower building, and completely submerged one sewage lift station.

After the water receded, electrical, sewage and water supply systems had to be tested and many items replaced to ensure public safety. The lift station had to be totally overhauled. All electrical sites, breakers, and outlets that were submerged had to be replaced before power could be restored. Many utility poles had to be retrieved from around the park, power washed, painted, repaired and put back in the ground. Some were never found, and had to be replaced.

The main shower building was power washed, disinfected and repainted. Vault toilets were pumped out, power washed and painted, and electrical fixtures changed. Picnic tables and stationary picnic tables were power-washed and disinfected. Information signs were disassembled, power-washed, stained, and put back up. Substantial flood debris was removed, and silt deposits on campsites were removed by power washing.

“I regret that Elk City State Park wasn’t available to our park patrons for an extended period of time, but we wanted to ensure their safety before reopening,” said park manager Chris Hammerschmidt. He said the extent of the damage required substantial time and effort for park staff to complete repairs and debris removal.

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