On March 31, 2025, the city of Louisville experienced rainfall that raised the Ohio River to its eighth-highest recorded level.
The upper gauge typically reads about 12 feet, but by the first week of April, it had reached nearly 37 feet.
There’s only a 4% annual chance of a flood event this size. Fortunately, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) had it under control, thanks to the levee system built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s.
After catastrophic floods in 1937 and 1945, a solution was developed. Since 1987, MSD has managed the intricate system.
Another major flood in 1997 prompted MSD to expand its infrastructure to include nearly a billion gallons of stormwater and combined overflow storage, strengthening the original system.
What MSD does during these events may surprise residents of Louisville and surrounding areas. What may appear to be just another storm involves detailed and strategic operations behind the scenes.
During the most recent flood, more than 12.1 billion gallons of stormwater were pumped. Sixteen flood pump stations were activated and monitored hourly, and 65 of 150 floodgates were deployed.
The floodgates prevent the river from pushing upstream. Most of the time, residents can canoe or kayak in these areas. But when water levels rise, passage depends on MSD’s operational needs.
When a flood is expected, MSD’s flood protection team leaps into action — and they don’t do it alone.
“We have a corporate staff of 26, including management. During the offseason, we do preventive maintenance, update guidelines and things of that nature. But once we enter a flood event, we can’t take care of the entire system alone,” said Dane Anderson, operations director of flood protection. “We have trained staff across the board. As the river starts to rise, we dispatch people to report for duty. For example, during this incident, roughly 170 people were doing the necessary work.”
Shifts run 24/7 and include electricians, maintenance crews, laborers and more.
During this April’s event, MSD staff worked 19 straight days before water levels dropped and operations returned to normal.
Flood season typically runs from late fall to late spring, but constant monitoring and evaluation are required.
“We’re watching the weather daily — not just in Louisville but all the way up through Pennsylvania to see what’s headed our way,” Anderson said. “MSD is taking action well before the storm arrives.”
Days in advance, flood and drainage teams were clearing debris that often clogs basins. Trained flood operators were placed on standby.
Like many times before, MSD managed to keep the Ohio River contained before it could severely flood the area.
Even after the waters recede, the work continues.
“Things break and are damaged during a flood like this, and we have to repair them as quickly as possible before the next event. We’re working with engineers and contractors to make the necessary fixes,” Anderson said. “Right now, we’re looking at every piece of the puzzle to find what needs to be addressed. We’re dealing with 70-year-old equipment, and during a flood event, it’s like stepping on the gas.”
And recovery isn’t cheap.
In 2018, a similar flood cost about $14 million in repairs, including massive debris cleanup and work on old pumps and gates.
MSD is aware of the need to replace some of the original 1950s machinery and technology, but the process is slow.
Currently, the Paddy’s Run Flood Pump Station is being renovated at a cost of $235 million — an investment the city views as vital to protecting against nature’s threats.
“Think of it like firefighters needing apparatus to fight fires. We need the same kind of equipment to fight floods,” Anderson said. “We have the same maintenance and replacement needs. I tell people: Eisenhower was president and the first Corvette was coming off the line when these original stations were built.”
Despite the long hours and complex planning, MSD’s mission is to keep Louisville’s people and property safe.
“It’s rewarding when you’ve done a job that truly served the entire community,” Anderson said. “There’s a sense of pride in that. I’m proud of every person on our roster. Everyone stepped up and did what they needed to do.”
MSD provides three core services: flood protection, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater and drainage management in Jefferson County.
For more information, visit louisvillemsd.org.
