December 19th, 2024

A periodic inspection of the Salt Creek Levee was conducted the week of December 9, 2024. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (Corps) hired a company from Denver, Colorado to carry out the inspection. While the results are still pending, the LPSNRD does not anticipate any unidentified issues. The levee review must be submitted to the Corps by February 2025, followed by their review of the results. Due to limited funding, the entire levee was not inspected; however, additional inspections may take place later this year.

A briefing between the Corps, NRD, and inspecting firm was recently held to review the previous report and identify completed projects as well as additional maintenance carried out by the District. It is likely that some identified items will be completed by the time the Corps’ report is received. Results are confidential and unavailable to the public.

For FY25, the LPSNRD will allocate $2.2 million for maintenance of the entire Salt Creek Levee System.

December 5th, 2024

The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) serves as the local sponsor for a federally constructed levee and channel system along Salt Creek in Lincoln, Nebraska. LPSNRD Staff are responsible for its operation and maintenance and trained to monitor the levee particularly during high water events.

Recently, completed Inspections by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) revealed several areas requiring improvement. In response, the Lower Platte South NRD initiated the development of a System-Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) plan to address these deficiencies. SWIF is an opportunity for levee systems to address weaknesses while still remaining eligible for (PL 84-99) rehabilitation assistance upon construction completion. The SWIF plan, completed in 2016 and approved by the LPSNRD Board of Directors, included technical assessments, an evaluation of potential failure causes, risk communication plan, preliminary design and cost estimates for long-term improvements, and planning documents and tools to resolve any identified issues.

While the development of the SWIF plan is complete, the LPSNRD is now concentrating on its implementation to ensure the District meets Corps requirements. Throughout the implementation, the levee will undergo regular inspections and assessments, with findings communicated to the District. Additionally, the Lower Platte South NRD is required to submit an annual report to the Corps outlining the progress made. Schedules and milestones will be used to monitor and track progress. Recent Salt Creek levee projects include slip-line installation on South Street, repairs to a box culvert at Haymarket Park, and multiple drainage structure repairs currently in design phase.

As part of the System-Wide Improvement Framework, a risk communication plan has been created to share flood risk reduction efforts with the community. The District will disseminate information about levee safety and risk awareness through social media, the LPSNRD website and newsletter, press releases, and direct outreach. Although the LPSNRD works diligently to maintain the Salt Creek Levee System, it is important to recognize that the levee is not a complete solution to flooding, and flooding may still occur.

Below are early photos of the levee.