Year flood OF
THE
City, state withstand a nervous, and soggy, spring and summer By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
World-Herald News Service
Pipeline opponents can be seen in this Sept. 27, 2011, photo at a rally outside Pershing Auditorium. Friends and foes of the Keystone XL pipeline had their day in Lincoln, testifying at State Department hearing at the auditorium.
A pipeline’s unexpected
detour
Few thought the state would or could move to change the Keystone XL proposal By PAUL HAMMEL World-herald News Service
LINCOLN — Most lawmakers, lobbyists and State Capitol watchers didn’t just scoff, they outright laughed when it was suggested earlier this year that state senators should hold a special session to reroute the controversial $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline. Only a handful of senators cared enough to support the idea. “I had people laughing,” said Ken Winston, the lobbyist for the Nebraska Sierra Club, who was in favor of a special session. “Hardly anyone thought a special session was going to happen. And if it did, nothing of substance would be coming out.” Gov. Dave Heineman said over and over that such a session would be a $10,000-aday waste of time and money. And, hey, wasn’t the pipeline a federal issue, anyway? Fast forward to this fall. Heineman, prompted by an outcry over a potential threat to the Ogallala Aquifer beneath the state’s unspoiled Sandhills, made an abrupt about-face and called lawmakers back to Lincoln. After a series of fortuitous developments, including a federal delay in reviewing the project, Nebraska lawmakers passed two bills regulating crudeoil pipelines. The state also got what most people wanted: an agreement to reroute the 36-inch, 29 million-gallon-a-day crude-oil pipeline around the Sandhills. “It was a Nebraska miracle,” said State Sen. Ken
Haar of Malcolm, who first proposed the idea of a special session. The transition of the pipeline from a back-burner concern of a small band of environmentalists to a red-hot controversy was one of the major Nebraska stories of 2011. The issue pitted big oil against a determined group of ranchers and a well-organized opposition, rounded up by Bold Nebraska’s Jane Kleeb and others. It raised awareness about the shallow groundwater and fragile soils of the sparsely settled Sandhills, where cattle outnumber people by a long stretch. It was a battle of engineering versus common sense, construction jobs versus an expensive and environmentally costly form of synthetic crude oil from Canadian tar sands, and oil that could be obtained from a North American ally instead of unstable dictators and Middle Eastern sheiks. “You don’t mess with Sandhills ranchers,” said Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, who raised several concerns about the pipeline. “These are hardscrabble people. They work hard, but they love their ranches, and they love the Sandhills. ... I don’t think people understood how hard they would work to protect their land.” The ultimate deal, crafted by the speaker of the Legislature, Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood, was a testament to how deeply Nebraskans care about water. After all, it’s been said that Nebraska is the “groundwater capital of the world.” Please see DETOUR, Page D2
North Platte residents endured a long, wet summer in 2011, with flood waters from the North Platte River threatening many parts of the city. Heavy spring rains coupled with an abundance of snowmelt in Wyoming made for disastrous conditions. Concerns about the potential for flooding began the end of February when the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, which controls Lake McConaughy, began increasing outflows of water from the dam. Predictions were that the influx would bring the North Platte River to flood stage by the end of the week. It was all part of a plan to lower the lake to make room for the above-normal amounts of snow pack in the Wyoming mountains. At that time, the total storage in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s system of reservoirs was 141 percent above average, but officials were unsure exactly how much runoff would flow in. The river hit the 6-foot flood stage March 9 at North Platte. By March 18, it made the 6.5-foot mark, the highest it had been since 2008 when it reached 6.3 feet. Sandbag supplies ran low as residents scrambled to gather up all they could to protect their homes and businesses. Some had never had to deal with severe flooding before, and therefore, didn’t have flood insurance. By the end of May, many were wading through knee-deep water in their living rooms moving furniture out. They took refuge in campers or stayed with friends and family, abandoning their homes. Law enforcement watched closely for vandalism of the vacated properties. In some cases, mold and water damage was so bad that houses were put up for sale at reduced prices. Nearly a year later, they continue to sit empty. Scouts Rest Ranch closed its doors June 3 and lost out on two months worth of income. Park officials were worried enough money would be lost that the former home of Buffalo Bill might never open again. Dirt berms were constructed around all of the buildings, and artifacts were moved either to higher floors or to other locations. Organizers of Nebraskaland Days, the state’s official celebration, essentially planned for two two-week celebrations. Because most of the events were supposed to take place at the Wild West Arena, which was at risk for flooding, they had to find back-up locations for everything. Coordinators of the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant also had to work around the water, and in the end, continued the contest as planned. The Lincoln County Historical Museum was not closed, but the presence of sandbags around it deterred potential visitors who thought it was. The museum ended up postponing its Heritage Festival until fall. The North Platte Regional Airport built a dike around its facility amid concerns that the terminal building would flood and opera-
Telegraph file photos
Above: This photo from late May 2011 shows a washed-out Long School Road, one of the areas hardest hit by the spring and summer flooding. Below: National Guard members attach massive sandbags to a waiting helicopter east of North Platte on June 5, 2011.
tions would be shut down, and City officials entered into a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a levee system around the northern edge of town. Roads closed on the east and west sides of the community as water ran over them. When a breeched dike threatened a Union Pacific Railroad bridge, the Army National Guard sent in Black Hawk helicopters to assist repair efforts. Sandbags were dropped onto the break from the air. On June 23, emergency management officials and the Office of Drinking Water and Environmental Health urged local residents to test their drinking wells for contamination. Septic companies couldn’t keep up with calls for help with overflowing sewer systems. Also in June, the West Central District Health Department reported that the number of mosquitoes trapped in the community was double the usual amount. Officials said standing water had created the perfect breeding ground for the insects. Nebraska Game and Parks Com-
mission representatives warned people to be on the lookout for animals moving into town after being displaced from riverbanks. One of the concerns was that the animals could carry rabies. Residents were also warned to watch out for scam artists who would promise to help with clean up efforts, but would instead take the money they were given and leave town. The Small Business Association and other organizations began offering financial assistance, and at the end of September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a disaster recovery center to help those affected by flooding. Damage within Lincoln County was estimated at $1.3 million. Flooding didn’t officially end until October when the river receded to 5.66 feet. Even though the water has gone down, it still remains pooled in areas along the banks. Because there doesn’t appear to be a clear plan from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding precautionary measures for this spring, residents are bracing for what may come.