Diverse Flood Controls Proposed for Papillion Creek
By Betsie Freeman, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.
Feb. 3–A flood-control plan for the Papillion Creek watershed should include a mixture of dams and low-impact methods such as the use of porous pavement materials and landscaping that minimizes water runoff, area public officials were told Saturday.
The Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership, a coalition of 11 local governments, has been studying flood-control options for the watershed, a 402-square- mile area through which rainfall and snowmelt drain to the Missouri River.
The Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District invited elected officials from Douglas, Washington and Sarpy Counties to discuss the results of that work at a Saturday forum.
A preliminary scenario calls for construction of six to 15 dams, 12 water-quality basins and low-impact development in areas without dams, according to representatives from HDR, the engineering firm that conducted a study of flood-control options.
That’s considerably fewer than the 29 dams that had once been suggested. The district is asking the Nebraska Legislature for bonding authority to build that number of dams, although it hasn’t determined how many it actually would construct.
“We need to put to rest the notion of 29 dams,” NRD board chairman Jim Thompson said Saturday.
The HDR study indicated that a plan combining dams and low-impact development would ease the flow of floodwaters, reduce the size of the floodplain and reduce flood damage.
Low-impact projects can include landscaping that pools storm water and keeps it from rushing into sewers; parking lots that absorb runoff; streets with grassy ditches instead of curbs; landscaped rooftops; and barrels that catch water coming off of roofs.
Officials from Douglas and Washington Counties have criticized flood-control proposals for being too reliant on dams. Douglas County Board member Mike Boyle reiterated that view Saturday.
“The Douglas County Board has gone on record against the dams plan,” he said, adding that he wasn’t sure about the proposal to mix fewer dams with low-impact development.
The HDR report indicated that low-impact development would be almost twice as costly to operate and maintain as dams. NRD officials said the maintenance cost is higher because of the number of sites and the maintenance requirements — mowing, sediment removal and inspections.
Boyle said he thought that was a move to skew the plan toward dams, and disputed the cost. If the low-impact projects are small enough, the responsibility to maintain them would go to property owners, he said.
“You underestimate the cooperative spirit of this community,” he said. “The people of this community will pay for it.”
The NRD said many of the sites would be on rights of way — not private property — and thus be the responsibility of government.
Douglas County Board member Clare Duda said he thought land developers should bear the cost of flood-prevention work.
If shifting the cost to developers sends them elsewhere, he said, it’s better to let them go and find people who will develop the land as the county wants it developed.
Saturday’s meeting also included an opportunity for citizen comments, although several speakers expressed frustration at time limitations.
The next step in the process will be seven open houses, scheduled between Feb. 19 and March 6 at locations throughout the metropolitan area and at Dana College in Blair, Neb.
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