PERU, Nebraska -- U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts joined Col. Robert Newbauer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District commander, and project leaders for a tour of rehabilitation efforts on the R-562 levee system June 15, 2026.
The approximately $43.7 million project, authorized under Public Law 84-99, is restoring flood risk management infrastructure damaged during historic 2019 Missouri River flooding.
"This is really important for Peru and southeast Nebraska to make sure we're protecting people's lives and property by having these levees repaired," Ricketts said.
During the visit, project engineers and construction managers briefed Ricketts on the scope of work and recent construction progress.
The tour included several breach repair locations where crews have completed underwater fill operations and are rebuilding permanent levee sections.
"This project represents much more than rebuilding a levee," Newbauer said. “It is also about providing long-term flood risk reduction for nearby communities, agricultural land and critical infrastructure.”
Additionally, the rehabilitation also reflects the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' continued emphasis on efficiently delivering critical infrastructure through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works' "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" initiative.
Construction is being completed in phases to safely restore the levee system while minimizing impacts to the surrounding area.
Current work includes reconstructing breached levee sections, placing engineered fill, restoring levee embankments, replacing topsoil and reseeding disturbed areas to improve long-term stability and reduce erosion.
The project is one of several major flood risk management investments underway across the lower Missouri River Basin. Collectively, the Omaha District is managing approximately $300 million in levee rehabilitation and flood mitigation projects designed to strengthen regional resilience and reduce future flood risk for communities throughout the basin.
The R-562 levee rehabilitation project is scheduled to be completed by November 2027.