Open House Feb. 16th for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) will facilitate a public Open House regarding the Maple Creek Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) on Wednesday, February 16th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Howells Ballroom in Howells, NE. This open house will be focused on flood reduction projects like linear corridors (detention cells) and wetland development or enhancements.
USDA-NRCS provides federal funding to local project sponsors so that they may work together to develop solutions for watershed issues such as erosion, floodwater and sediment damage, water quality and habitat improvements. This funding has been provided to the LENRD to create a plan for the Maple Creek Watershed, with the primary purpose of floodwater reduction.
“We are requesting your ideas and want to work with you to formulate this plan. Dams are not the only option. We can work together to get other flood reduction projects on the land, including detention cells, and wetland enhancement, among other possibilities,” said Curt Becker, LENRD Projects Manager. He added, “We’ll be talking with stakeholders about the locations that work best for these types of projects at the open house.”
The Maple Creek Watershed is located in Stanton, Platte, Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge Counties in Nebraska.
Visit the planning website to learn more: https://fyra.mysocialpinpoint.com/maple-creek. Written comments or requests should be submitted to Curt Becker, LENRD Projects Manager at cbecker@lenrd.org or contact the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk for more information.
Open house held to gather input from stakeholders for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan
An open house was held September 15, 2021, at the Howells Ballroom for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment. The improvement project area spans across parts of Stanton, Platte, Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge counties in northeast Nebraska.
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the plan with the goal of identifying palatable options for providing flood damage reduction to the watershed. The open house was hosted by the LENRD to provide landowners and other stakeholders with information about the plan, but most importantly, it was a time to gather input from the public and receive their ideas to help protect the watershed.
The event drew a large crowd with LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, welcoming nearly 250 attendees to the open house followed by a brief overview of the effort. Sousek reminded the audience that the LENRD has not taken any steps towards the initiation of any project in the watershed and that the planning effort needs to be driven by the stakeholders. He said, “We are not promoting or pushing any specific project, especially if it’s unaccepted by the landowners. This plan is yours to develop. We want to hear your thoughts and work with you to put your ideas into action to protect the watershed.”
A presentation on the project was given by several team members from FYRA Engineering, who is the hired consultant preparing the plan. Time was provided after the conclusion of the formal presentation for general question and answers from the audience, which was proceeded by breakout sessions which allowed attendees to visit stations around the ballroom to discuss specific project and planning process questions. An important component of this planning effort is to obtain feedback from landowners and stakeholders in the watershed. While many in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to engage in oral conversations with LENRD and FYRA representatives, written comments carry equal weight and comment cards were available for attendees who opted to leave written comments.
LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, said, “We are requesting your ideas and want to work with you to formulate this plan. Dams are not the only option. We can work together to get other flood reduction and conservation practices on the land, including buffer strips, detention cells, wetland enhancement, and levee and channel improvements.”
The LENRD is requesting that any landowner who is interested in supporting a project of any type on their property reach out to LENRD Project Manager, Curt Becker, at 402.371.7313 or cbecker@lenrd.org
A recording of the presentation and the group question and answer session is provided on the project website along with example project locations: https://fyra.mysocialpinpoint.com/maple-creek
Funding approved for watershed projects across Nebraska - Lower Elkhorn NRD receives funding for Maple Creek Watershed Plan
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that five Natural Resources Districts in Nebraska received over $4.5 million in Watershed Flood Prevention and Operations (WFPO) funding. This funding will be directed towards developing watershed plans in the following NRDs: the Upper Niobrara-White NRD in Chadron, the Middle Niobrara NRD in Valentine, the Central Platte NRD in Grand Island, the Lower Big Blue NRD in Beatrice, and the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) in Norfolk.
The LENRD received the WFPO funding to complete the Maple Creek Watershed Plan which will evaluate potential flood prevention, watershed protection, and agricultural water management projects.
Nebraska State Conservationist Craig Derickson said, “We look forward to working with these Natural Resources Districts on these new watershed projects. We saw how established watershed projects sprang into action last spring, following the bomb cyclone, reducing flood damages and protecting natural resources. These new projects plan to provide more benefits to more areas across Nebraska.”
LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “This plan aims to reduce overall flood risk potential and support the largely agricultural economy in the Maple Creek Watershed. With the help of the WFPO funding, this project will surpass previous planning efforts by focusing on the entire area, where previous studies have been smaller in scope.”
Four communities are located within the Maple Creek Watershed: Leigh, Clarkson, Howells, and Nickerson. The communities and area farmland have a long history of flood damages resulting from large scale watershed discharges and rainfall events. This plan will help to further define the need for potential flood reduction projects to protect the watershed.
Battle Creek Flood Control Study
The Lower Elkhorn NRD is working with the City of Battle Creek to find a workable solution to their flooding problems. JEO Consulting Group has been working to come up with various solutions. Click here for a draft of their findings.
City of Randolph breaks ground on flood control project
The City of Randolph broke ground today on Phase 1 of their flood control project that has been in the making for 18 years. The groundbreaking ceremony attracted approximately 50 people and was held in the city park. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the City of Randolph, and the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District spoke at the ceremony. All three governmental entities are partnering on this project, along with Pierce and Cedar Counties. This project will prevent numerous homes and businesses from being placed in the flood plain and will help protect the community from future flood events. Completion of the project is anticipated in 2024.
LENRD invests $1.97 million to protect the City of Randolph from flooding
LENRD continues to partner with the City of Randolph on flood control project
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has partnered with the City of Randolph on their flood control project since 2002.
The city has experienced flooding of varying severity for a number of years with the most recent significant flooding damage occurring in June of 1984 from the Middle Logan Creek in Cedar County. Due to a narrow channel that runs through the city, the creek can easily flood during a storm event.
As the result of past studies and recognizing the high cost of other options for flood control, the city of Randolph requested the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to investigate the problem in June of 2002, and they became the leaders in the project.
LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, said, “After looking into many alternatives, the most cost-effective option is the widening of the channel for protection from flooding. This project will allow for most of the city, but not all, to be taken out of the flood plain.”
City Administrator, Kelsey Backer, said, “After reviewing the study by the USACE, it seems there is still the possibility of 6 homes that could be affected by the channel widening. If so, these residents would be fully compensated for their property with relocation assistance. However, it’s possible that none of the homes will be affected as they look into other options with city owned property, including a park and a street.”
Backer added, “There have been two votes on the flood control project and the majority of the community support the project and realize the necessity for it. We will continue to partner with the Corp and the LENRD to protect our town, our homes, and the future of our community.”
In April of 2017, the LENRD board voted to start a sinking fund for the project. Becker, said, “We’re looking at a budget of $500,000 per year over the next 4 years to protect the future of this community.”
In February of 2018, an inter-local agreement was signed between the LENRD and the City of Randolph for the Flood Risk Management Study for the Middle Logan Creek. The study will propose channel improvements for their flood control plan.
Becker, added, “This flood control project will prevent homes and businesses from being placed in the flood plain. We are not only working to protect the community from future flood events, but also to prevent the required annual flood insurance costs.”
In April 2020, the LENRD board approved a payment request from the City of Randolph for $834,723 for their flood risk management project. This payment request will assist with Phase 1 of the project and will keep the project moving forward. The entire project includes the widening of the channel and the replacement of several bridges through the city.
West Point - Flood Control Levee certification project
At their July 2017 meeting, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors voted to help the city of West Point with their levee certification project. The city’s current levee along the Elkhorn River is not designed to exceed the current 100-year flood standard. This project will allow West Point to bring its levee into compliance. The project is expected to be finished by 2021 with an estimated cost of $3.5 million. The board voted to provide 50% cost-share with the city for the project.
The board also voted to start a sinking fund for the levee project. LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “We’re looking at $1.7 million over the next four years, so the board has voted to start a savings account now for the project to protect the future of this community.”
LENRD supports river rehabilitation project on the North Fork of the Elkhorn River
The LENRD Board of Directors met on Thursday, July 26th, 2018, for their regular meeting. The board continued their discussion on the City of Norfolk’s Johnson Park River Rehabilitation Project along the North Fork of the Elkhorn River. The City’s plan to develop the Riverfront Project will provide more recreational opportunities close to home. After much discussion, the board voted 8 to 5 to support the Riverfront Project with the City of Norfolk with a financial commitment of $1.032 million divided out over four years, which will be 1/3 of the project cost.
Reservoir Evaluation Project - 2016
The purpose of this fact sheet is to present the results of a preliminary evaluation and ranking of ten potential reservoir sites. The sites were previously identified by the Lower Elkhorn NRD as providing possible benefits including flood control, recreation, stream flow augmentation, recharge, and water quality.
Potential Reservoir Evaluation - FACT SHEET
FULL REPORT - Potential sites
Maps of potential projects:
Proposed Rural Water System, south of Norfolk
The proposed Rural Water System, south of Norfolk, takes in three townships in Madison County between the Elkhorn River and the cities of Madison and Battle Creek plus several square miles in western Stanton County and a Highway 81 corridor between Madison and Humphrey. The new draft of the water system’s boundary map has expanded eastward and includes properties along the Elkhorn River south of Norfolk, extending to Stanton.
Members of an advisory committee were formally approved on Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District’s (LENRD) board meeting. Those representing the area on the advisory committee are: David Kathol, Dana Podliska, Tom Mischke, Jerry Lewis, Paul Medelman, Karen Mackel, Douglas Sunderman, Timothy Miller, Bonnie Smith, Paul Eisenmenger and Lonnie Wiedner.
With the drought of 2012 still fresh in mind, the system, while it would take several years to build, would eventually provide a dependable source of clean water to households in the country. If they choose to join, residents would pay a one-time hookup fee and a monthly water bill to get service via buried pipeline.
Wau-Col Regional Water System
Construction of the Wau-Col Regional Water System broke ground on June 23, 2011. Since its completion in 2012, the system is providing high quality water to the villages of Belden, Magnet, and McLean. Water is purchased from Coleridge and sent to Belden, and water is purchased from Wausa and sent to 16 rural customers as well as Magnet and McLean. The name “Wau-Col” is derived from Wausa-Coleridge.
The system goes across three county lines – Knox, Cedar, and Pierce Counties. The $3.1 million project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development and area sponsors including the Lower Elkhorn and the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources Districts. The project is owned by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District. The project was formally dedicated on August 11, 2012 in Wausa.