LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Lincoln is taking proactive steps to address flood risks and enhance water quality through a proposed stormwater bond, which will be on the ballot for the upcoming election on Nov. 5, 2024. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, along with Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott and other flood management experts, held a press conference today to outline the benefits of the initiative and encourage community engagement.

The proposed bond, totaling $13.9 million, aims to fund over 20 critical stormwater infrastructure projects across the city. These initiatives are designed to protect families, homes, and businesses from the damaging effects of floodwater while also preserving healthy aquatic environments in local parks. If passed, the bond is expected to cost the average Lincoln homeowner approximately $9.65 annually, or 80 cents per month, beginning in fiscal year 2025-26.

Joining the Mayor were key figures in flood management, including Mike Sousek, Manager of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, Bruce Dvorak, an Environmental Engineering Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and City Councilmember Tom Beckius. They emphasized the importance of these projects in mitigating flooding and improving overall water quality in Lincoln.

Sousek highlighted the collaborative efforts between the City and NRD in identifying critical projects through Watershed Master Plans. If approved, the bond would fund essential stream stabilization projects to protect both public and private infrastructure in key watersheds. The proposed improvements also encompass ongoing initiatives like the Deadmans Run flood reduction project and enhancements to citywide street drainage.

Elliott noted that Lincoln has faced ten major flooding disasters since 1950, with the most recent incidents occurring in 2015 and 2019. Historically, Lincoln residents have shown strong support for stormwater bonds, approving all 15 proposed measures since 1977.

Dvorak pointed to a recent study of streambank erosion at Colonial Hills Park, which demonstrated that erosion contributes significantly to downstream water quality issues. The City’s efforts to stabilize the stream have already shown positive results.

Residents are invited to learn more about the stormwater bond during a virtual public meeting scheduled for October 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. For further details, visit lincoln.ne.gov and follow the banner for the meeting link. More information about proposed stormwater project can be found at lincoln.ne.gov/2024stormwaterbond