King County officials hope that a new flood prevention campaign here will prevent scenes like those in midwestern states where recent flooding of the Mississippi River devastated communities.

The record floods that poured through towns and across farmland in six states, including Iowa and Indiana, are a reminder of the need to strengthen river levees in King County, where the county’s Flood Control Zone District is beginning its first season of levee repairs and other flood-prevention projects.

It will be the busiest season for such work in years, and the 55 projects – including near Maple Valley and elsewhere on the Cedar River – “represent some of the most important work that we must complete before the fall rains come,” said King County Executive Ron Sims.

The flood control district was created in 2007 by the County Council to manage about $35 million a year in projects, paid for by a countywide property tax levy – approved by voters last November – of 10 cents per $1,000 for 10 years. The projects include repairing and maintaining 119 miles of levees and dikes along rivers and streams.

Without secure levees, people’s safety and the local economy would be in jeopardy during major floods. Sims noted the dikes protect lives and more than $7 billion in economic infrastructure within floodplains spanning 25,000 acres.

“Flooding disrupts jobs, our economy and our ability to get around. It destroys homes and farms, ruins crops, and in the worst case it takes lives,” said Councilwoman Kathy Lambert.

Two projects are underway along the Cedar River. Levees on both banks east of Renton are being set back to restore the floodplain and reduce the risk of damage to nearby flood protection facilities. And the 20-acre Cedar Grove Mobile Home Park, located near Maple Valley, has been acquired by the county and the residents are being relocated.

The 41 homes at Cedar Grove are in what authorities consider a high-risk floodplain. When the river flooded three times in the 1990s, residents were evacuated and floodwater fouled the drinking water and septic systems.

The buyout and relocation, which could take about a year, is costing $6.7 million. The money is coming from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the county’s conservation futures tax and flood control district, and the King Conservation District.

“We want to protect county residents against the destruction and devastation experienced in past years,” said County Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose district includes areas along the Cedar River.

Other flood-management projects scheduled to begin this summer include repairing:

• More than one mile of levees along the Green River in Kent that protect valuable commercial and industrial land, state highways and major arterial streets.

• 150 feet of levee along the Snoqualmie River near Fall City that has a high risk of sudden and catastrophic breach.

• 200 feet of levee along the Raging River near Preston-Fall City Road that was damaged during the November 2006 flood.

• About one-third of a mile of levees that are protecting homes in Auburn.

“With our region’s heavy rainfall, all county residents benefit from a coordinated approach to flood management,” said County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, chairwoman of a board that supervises the flood control district.

In a related step, the council this month authorized farmers to build pads where supplies and livestock can be placed during floods.