The city of Schuyler, the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, partnered on a project to reduce flood risks to the city of Schuyler, Nebraska.
Schuyler, the county seat for Colfax County, is subject to flooding from three major sources of water – Shell Creek, Lost Creek and the Platte River.
Shell Creek, a tributary to the Platte River, lies to the north and east of Schuyler. Lost Creek, a minor tributary of the Platte River, runs along the southern edge of the community. The Platte River is located 1.5 miles south of the city.
In 2011, the Omaha District completed a feasibility study which identified an economically feasible project consisting of two levee systems, one to protect against Shell Creek flooding and another along the south side of the city to protect it from Platte River flooding.
This project is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of a new 2.2-mile levee constructed north and east of Schuyler to address flood threats posed by Shell Creek. Phase 2 involves construction of a new levee, approximately 2.5 miles long, south and west of Schuyler to address flood threats from the Platte River.
The total project (Phase 1 and 2) will reduce most of Schuyler’s flood risks from the 100-year flood and reduce annual flood damages by approximately $1,900,000.
A construction contract for the Shell Creek levee (Phase 1) was awarded in September 2013 to TJC Engineering, Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky for a total of $3.5 million. A groundbreaking ceremony with the project sponsors occurred in March of 2014, and a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorated completion of the project in May 2015.
Final construction of the levee and additional major features was completed in October 2015. Additional grading and culvert work to improve drainage near the west end of the levee was completed in March 2016. Seeding of recently graded soil will follow as weather permits this spring.