Dam's future in doubt after heavy rains cause breach
Last month, the rain-swollen Big Blue River breached a small dam about three miles southeast of Milford. Now officials hope area residents will help them decide what to do with the nearly century-old structure.
The concrete dam, known locally as the Hammond Dam, is part of the Blue Bluffs Wildlife Management Area, owned and operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Heavy rains in early June caused the river to breach the 100- to 150-foot long dam and cut a new channel to the south. When it did so, the river took out part of a park and about four irrigated acres.
Even before the breach, there was little water stored behind the dam, due to siltation. Also, some time in the past, someone used dynamite to blow two big holes in the dam, possibly to release more water for irrigation during a drought. But the holes get plugged up with debris.
The structure was built in 1911 as a hydroelectric dam. It was turned over to Game and Parks during the 1970s and has been used mostly for fishing and recreation.
Pat Molini, wildlife division district manager for the state agency, said the dam is not structurally sound and is a silt trap. It also acts as a barrier to prevent fish from swimming downstream.
Molini said the dam’s future could affect about a dozen cabins upstream.
He encouraged the cabin owners and other interested parties to attend a 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday at the community library in Milford. Representatives from Game and Parks and the Seward County Roads Department will be present to answer questions.
Molini said the state agency hasn’t decided what to do with the dam. One option is to take out part of the structure to prevent future breaches. Removing the entire dam probably won’t happen, he said, because it could harm bridges upstream and downstream.
Seward County Roads Superintendent Russ Daehling said he would like to see the top portion of the dam removed, the footings left in place and the river returned to its original channel before the June breach.
Leaving the footings of the dam in place would help prevent further cutting of the channel upstream and protect a U.S. 6 bridge that could be undermined from erosion, Daehling said.
Seward County also has a bridge about 200 feet downstream of the dam. Daehling said the new river channel to the south is trying to work behind that bridge, located on 224th Street.
The county road has been closed since the heavy rains and repair plans have been drawn up, Daehling said. However, he is waiting for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before proceeding with the work, estimated to cost $200,000.
Daehling also encouraged area residents to attend the meeting. “It would be nice for them to give their opinion on what they would like to see as far as the future of the dam,” he said.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
The concrete dam, known locally as the Hammond Dam, is part of the Blue Bluffs Wildlife Management Area, owned and operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Heavy rains in early June caused the river to breach the 100- to 150-foot long dam and cut a new channel to the south. When it did so, the river took out part of a park and about four irrigated acres.
Even before the breach, there was little water stored behind the dam, due to siltation. Also, some time in the past, someone used dynamite to blow two big holes in the dam, possibly to release more water for irrigation during a drought. But the holes get plugged up with debris.
The structure was built in 1911 as a hydroelectric dam. It was turned over to Game and Parks during the 1970s and has been used mostly for fishing and recreation.
Pat Molini, wildlife division district manager for the state agency, said the dam is not structurally sound and is a silt trap. It also acts as a barrier to prevent fish from swimming downstream.
Molini said the dam’s future could affect about a dozen cabins upstream.
He encouraged the cabin owners and other interested parties to attend a 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday at the community library in Milford. Representatives from Game and Parks and the Seward County Roads Department will be present to answer questions.
Molini said the state agency hasn’t decided what to do with the dam. One option is to take out part of the structure to prevent future breaches. Removing the entire dam probably won’t happen, he said, because it could harm bridges upstream and downstream.
Seward County Roads Superintendent Russ Daehling said he would like to see the top portion of the dam removed, the footings left in place and the river returned to its original channel before the June breach.
Leaving the footings of the dam in place would help prevent further cutting of the channel upstream and protect a U.S. 6 bridge that could be undermined from erosion, Daehling said.
Seward County also has a bridge about 200 feet downstream of the dam. Daehling said the new river channel to the south is trying to work behind that bridge, located on 224th Street.
The county road has been closed since the heavy rains and repair plans have been drawn up, Daehling said. However, he is waiting for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before proceeding with the work, estimated to cost $200,000.
Daehling also encouraged area residents to attend the meeting. “It would be nice for them to give their opinion on what they would like to see as far as the future of the dam,” he said.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.