Kansas High Water Sign Initiative

This website will host photos of historical flooding in the communities that were approved for a highwater mark sign. Find a community on this list and open the link to see more information or photos of flooding for that specific community. We hope you’ll have an opportunity to view one of these signs in your area. 

Washington

City Park 1983 Flood
June 1983, City of Washington, Mill Creek at the South end of the City Park near the campground area. Water Plant (left), South Shelter House (right).

Washington Sign
Washington Flash Flood Sign, Washington, KS

Kansas Department of Agriculture/Division of Water Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets in working with Kansas State Historical Society, Kansas Division of Emergency Management and local communities worked together on a special project to install signs in communities across Kansas. These signs share information about historical flooding and highwater marks. Signs are in public places such as city parks.

These signs serve several purposes. They are reminders that floods can and do happen. The depth of water indicated on some of these signs will help people to better understand their risks. There are signs in areas behind levees. Levees may reduce flood risk but do not eliminate it. Driving in to water is the main cause of flood related deaths in Kansas. Each sign has a flood safety message about not driving in to water.