LINCOLN, Nebraska — The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) Board of Directors held their final meeting of the year on Dec. 18, 2024, making important decisions to enhance local trails and strengthen flood protection efforts. Key accomplishments include:

Smoother Trails Ahead
Great news for outdoor enthusiasts! The Board approved plans to resurface two popular trails: the MoPac East Trail (between 148th and 162nd Streets) and the Salt Creek Levee Trail (from O Street to the Haymarket Park Railroad Tracks). After reviewing four bids, the contract was awarded to Pavers, Inc., at a cost of $122,966.63. LPSNRD staff expressed confidence in Pavers, Inc., highlighting their successful track record on similar projects. Trail users can expect improved and safer paths in the near future.

Strengthening Flood Protection
The Board also motioned to update the System-Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) plan, originally developed and approved in 2016. This update is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) every two years to maintain eligibility for federal rehabilitation assistance under the PL 84-99 program. The Board’s action supports improvements to the Salt Creek Levee System, which is essential in protecting Lincoln from major flooding events. As the local sponsor for this federally constructed system, LPSNRD is responsible for its maintenance and operation. The District remains committed to meeting current and future flood protection standards to ensure the safety of the community.

The SWIF plan requires periodic assessments to ensure the Levee meets Corps standards, along with the development of a risk communication plan. This plan includes providing updates to the public through the District website, social media, newsletters, and direct outreach.

Since the development of SWIF, flood risks in Lincoln have increased, necessitating the identification of additional cost-effective and publicly supported flood mitigation strategies. The results of the Salt Creek Floodplain Resiliency Study show that the actual flood risk and potential flood damage to Lincoln are greater than currently reflected in existing models. As a result, the District and the City of Lincoln are working together not only to inform the public about the potential changes in floodplain elevation but also to develop both structural and non-structural flood risk reduction strategies.

As a reminder, Board meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, allowing greater accessibility for public engagement.

For more details on these and other LPSNRD initiatives, visit LPSNRD.org.