COMMUNITY PROFILE PAXTON-HERSHEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT. Twin Platte Natural Resources District Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

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1 COMMUNITY PROFILE PAXTON-HERSHEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT Twin Platte Natural Resources District Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2 INTRODUCTION The 2016 Twin Platte NRD (TPNRD) Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is an update to the plan that was adopted by TPNRD in August This HMP includes two primary sections: the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Community (i.e. County, Municipality, School District, and Irrigation District) Profiles. Irrigation District Profiles include similar information to that provided in the Regional section, but also specific information for the communities, including the following elements: Participation Location /Geography Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Capability Assessment Plan Integration Mitigation Actions PARTICIPATION Local Planning Team Table XX.1 provides the list of participating community members that comprised the Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District local planning team. Members of the local planning team were not able to attend public meetings but were able to attend makeup meetings via the telephone. The local planning team provided important information including but not limited to: location of critical facilities, hazard history and impacts, identifying hazards of greatest concern for the district, and prioritization of mitigation actions that address the hazards at risk to the community. Table XX.1: Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District Local Planning Team Name Title Rex Boggs Board Member LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY The Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District is located in between the North Platte River and South Platte River, north of the villages of Paxton and Hershey. Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

3 Figure XX.1: The Paxton-Hershey Canal CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE/KEY RESOURCES Critical Facilities Each participating jurisdiction identified critical facilities vital for disaster response, providing shelter to the public, and essential for returning the jurisdiction s functions to normal during and after a disaster. Critical facilities were identified during the original planning process and updated by the local planning team as a part of this plan update. The canal is the sole critical facility located within the district. Table XX.10: List of Critical Facilities in Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District CF Number Name 1 Paxton-Hershey Canal 2 Diversion Dam Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

4 RISK ASSESSMENT Hazard Identification The following table is a localized risk assessment of hazards identified specifically for North Platte Refer to Section Four: Risk Assessment for an explanation of this methodology. Table XX.13: Risk Assessment HAZARD TYPE PREVIOUS OCCURRENCE Yes/No LOCAL LOSSES SPECIFIC CONCERNS IDENTIFIED Agricultural Animal Disease No - Agricultural Plant Disease No - Chemical Spills (Fixed Site) No - Chemical Spills (Transportation) No - Dam Failure* No - Drought* Yes - Earthquakes No - Extreme Heat* Yes - Flooding* Yes - Grass/Wildfires No - Hail Yes - High Winds Yes - Levee Failure No - Severe Thunderstorms Yes - Severe Winter Storms Yes - Terrorism No - Tornados Yes - *Identified as a top concern by the local planning team For more information regarding these area wide hazards, please see Section Four: Risk Assessment. The following provides community specific information, reported in North Platte Risk Assessment Summary, that is relevant to each hazard. Dam Failure The Paxton Hershey Irrigation District has a diversion dam that diverts water from the North Platte River to the canal. Failure of this dam would lead to damages to the canal and the irrigation district s consumers. The failure of upstream dams such as Kingsley Dam in Keith County could also cause damages to the canal, bridges, and other Paxton Hershey Irrigation District infrastructure. Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

5 Figure XX.7: Map of High Hazard Dams in Lincoln County Lincoln County has a Code Red reverse 911 warning system Collaborate with the Army Corp of Engineers, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, and TPNRD to maintain diversion dam What can be done locally to address this hazard: Continued maintenance of the canal and diversion dam Drought Drought would lead to the shortage of water in the canal due to lower water levels from the Platte River and increased irrigation on fields. Canal works with the Twin Platte NRD (in coordination with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources) to divert excess river flows outside of irrigation season to achieve groundwater recharge. Divert excess flows from North Platte River to recharge groundwater resources What can be done locally to address this hazard: Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

6 Extreme Heat During periods of extreme heat, there will be an increase in demand for irrigation water. This increased demand, as well as possible lower river flows due to evaporation, can lead to fewer water resources for the irrigation district. What can be done locally to address this hazard: Flooding Flooding could occur from significant rainfall, dam failure, or flow restrictions within the Platte River or the canal. Flooding can damage the diversion dam, canal, bridges and other irrigation district infrastructure. Constantly maintains canal infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding What will be done locally to address this hazard: Identifies any flow restrictions and takes appropriate measures to eliminate flow restrictions PRIORITIES The main priority for the Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District is the maintenance of canals. Maintenance of canals would include: tree removal, bank maintenance, access, etc. CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT The Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District consists of District Board members and Ditch Riders. Due to the unique structure of irrigation districts the typical capability assessment table is not used. The Paxton- Hershey Irrigation District have limited capabilities to implement hazard mitigation projects independently. The Paxton-Hershey Irrigation District will continue to benefit from their existing relationship with the Twin Platte NRD and the Department of Natural Resources. PLAN INTEGRATION The irrigation district does not formally have any plans on file for an emergency situation. Certain capabilities do exist to open or close a diversion dam during an emergency. In the event of an emergency, the irrigation district would work closely with the Bureau of Reclamation and the TPNRD to minimize any damages or loss of life. MITIGATION STRATEGY Ongoing and New Mitigation Actions Objective Canal Maintenance Actions 1. Implement necessary actions to maintain the canal. Hazard(s) Addressed Flood, Chemical Spills, Dam Failure, Severe Thunderstorms, Drought Estimated Cost Existing staff Benefits Minimize losses to structures and property contents in flood hazard areas, minimize losses due to drought Potential Funding Irrigation District General Fund Timeline Ongoing Priority High Status The Irrigation District regularly maintains the canal. Lead Agency Irrigation District Board, Ditch Rider, TPNRD Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

7 Objective Groundwater Recharge Actions 1. Divert excess flows from North Platte River to recharge groundwater within the aquifer. Hazard(s) Addressed Drought Estimated Cost Existing staff Benefits Replenish groundwater resources Potential Funding Irrigation District General Fund Timeline Ongoing Priority Medium Status Filed petition to NDNR for a permanent excess flow water right in May Lead Agency Irrigation District Board, TPNRD Objective Reduce Flow Restrictions Actions 1. Evaluate restrictions and measures to prevent or reduce damage from flooding 2. Implement appropriate nonstructural or structural methods on an emergency or permanent basis (such as monitoring, ice jam dusting, or other flow improvements) Hazard(s) Addressed Flood Estimated Cost Existing staff Benefits Reduce the risk of flooding due to obstructions in the canal Potential Funding Irrigation District General Fund Timeline Ongoing Priority Medium Status The Irrigation District constantly works to remove obstructions within the canal. Lead Agency Irrigation District Board, Ditch Rider, TPNRD Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update