In June of 1981 the City of Great Bend, Kansas, was devastated by a flood after a heavy rain in and just west of the City. This was one in a series of floods that had historically plagued the City. Soon after the flood, the Governing Body of the City worked with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to develop a flood control project to protect the City from surface water flooding in the future. Over the next few years the construction of the project was carried out. Since the completion of the project the City has been protected by the diversion that redirects the waters from the Wet Walnut and the Dry Walnut Creeks around the west side of the City to the Arkansas River. Levees were constructed on the river to adequately carry the water safely around the City. The Great Bend Industrial Park and airport is also protected by a tie-back levee protect the area from flood waters. This project has saved the City from devastating flooding on numerous occasions. City crews have maintained this system over the years to insure the proper functioning of project. Citizens of Great Bend should be thanking the members of the Governing Body who worked so hard in the 1980s to complete this project.