OMAHA, Neb. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the release of the draft feasibility study report and environmental assessment (EA) for Schuyler, Neb. today; the draft identifies recommended flood risk measures to reduce the threat of flooding in the town of Schuyler from Shell Creek and the Platte River.
“The draft feasibility study report and environmental assessment is the result of a comprehensive flood risk management study conducted by the Corps in cooperation with the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District and the city of Schuyler,” said Mark Nelson, project manager. “The study was carried out under Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, as amended.” Section 205 provides the Corps with authority to construct structural or non-structural projects to reduce damages caused by flooding and focuses on solving local flood problems in urban areas, towns and villages.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft report and environmental assessment during the open comment period from Aug. 1 to Aug. 30. Two public meetings will take place Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Oak Ballroom, 175 Higgins Drive in Schuyler to collect recommendations, suggestions and comments regarding the draft report and environmental assessment. An early morning meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and an evening meeting will run from 7 to 9 p.m. The Corps will give a formal presentation during the first hour of each meeting with the final hour reserved for public comments. A court reporter will document verbal comments for the record. Copies of the report will be available for review.
BACKGROUND: Northeastern Schuyler was hit with damaging floods from Shell Creek in 1990, 2008 and 2010. In addition, the Platte River and Lost Creek remain a flood threat to southern Schuyler, as demonstrated by damages from Lost Creek in 2010 and near misses in the past 20 years from Platte River floods.
The draft report proposes some channel shaping and the construction of 5.6 miles of levees to provide 100-year flood risk reduction to more than 760 community structures. This project would save Schuyler an estimated $1.9M in annual damages resulting from Shell Creek and Platte River flooding.
The draft feasibility study report and environmental assessment are available for viewing at http://cdm16021.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16021coll7/id/153/rec/1. Copies will also be available at the Public Library and Municipal Building/City Hall in Schuyler. Comments can be submitted at the public meetings or mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AA; ATTN: Draft Schuyler Feasibility Study Report and EA; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: schuylerstudy@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than Aug. 30, 2011.
Release no. 20110728-001