DODGE COUNTY, NE - The county of Dodge, Nebraska has seen its share of flooding in the past. In 1993 alone, the Elkhorn River has overflowed its banks on at least five separate occasions. The repetitive flooding damaged over 5,100 acres of crops and structures per event. So the residents along the Elkhorn River and the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (LPN/NRD) decided to take action to keep the river from future overflowing.
Using funds that were applied for and were awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the local residents and LPN/NRD were able to mitigate and stabilize over 2,670 feet of river bank on the west side of the Elkhorn River.
The river bank was mitigated by embankment stabilization using rip-rap and jetties. Riprap is rock or other material placed along the sides of the river to protect against water erosion. Jetties, in contrast, extend into the river at several locations and are constructed of quarry rock at approximately 40 feet in length. Jetties calm the flow and also protect the river banks from erosion. They also aid in forming new land mass along the river, further helping to strengthen and protect the rip-rap banks. But the benefits of this mitigation project go well beyond flood control: the rip-rap and jetties aid in environmental restoration, creating new habitat for wildlife and vegetation.
In addition to the HMGP funds, approximately 100 local residents have agreed to contribute toward funding the construction using a project-maintenance account. The residents contribute to this maintenance account through a tax based upon the assessed property value of land impacted by flooding. The account is maintained at $110,000. When funds are used for maintenance, the tax is implemented to restore the amount; when the account reaches $110,000, the tax is stopped.
By coordinating their efforts with the State and Federal government, local residents have shown how to stabilize the Elkhorn River to protect and prevent future losses from flood events.