COMMUNITY PROFILE PLATTE VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT Twin Platte Natural Resources District Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 1
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 2011. 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 Platte Valley 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: Platte Valley Irrigation District Local Planning Team Name Title Jeff Orr Board Member Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 2
LOCATION The Platte Valley Irrigation District Canal is located in between the North Platte and South Platte rivers, from north of Sutherland to the City of North Platte. Figure XX.1: The Platte-Valley Canal Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 3
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 following table and figure provide a summary of the critical facilities for the jurisdiction. Table XX.10: List of Critical Facilities in North Platte CF Number Name 1 Platte-Valley Canal 2 Diversion Dam RISK ASSESSMENT Hazard Identification The following table is a localized risk assessment of hazards identified specifically for Platte Valley 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 Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 4
For more information regarding these area wide hazards, please see Section Four: Risk Assessment. The following provides community specific information, reported in Platte Valley Risk Assessment Summary, that is relevant to each hazard. Dam Failure The Platte Valley 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. Failure of upstream dams, such as Kingsley Dam, could also lead to damages to Platte Valley Irrigation District infrastructure. 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 Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 5
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. Platte Valley 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: Earthquakes An earthquake event is unlikely within the irrigation district. However, if an earthquake were to occur, it could lead to damages to the diversion dam, canal, and other district infrastructure. An earthquake could also lead to secondary hazards such as dam failure. Lincoln County has a Code Red reverse 911 warning system What can be done locally to address this hazard: 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. Previous flooding events in 2015 caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to the canal and other irrigation district infrastructure. Constantly maintains canal infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding What will be done locally to address this hazard: Identify any flow restrictions and take appropriate measures to eliminate flow restrictions PRIORITIES The Platte-Valley Irrigation District Board has the following priorities: Repair South Platte River flood damage Platte Wind (river ditch) washout and small erosions elsewhere. Renovation Straighten and reshape canals; repair and/or establish adequate access roads along canals. This may include crossings, fence moving, and tree removal. Maintenance equipment update and vegetation control. County road crossing bridges and culverts need to be updated for weight and size Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 6
CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT The Platte-Valley 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 Platte Valley Irrigation District has limited capabilities to implement hazard mitigation projects independently. The Platte Valley Irrigation District will continue to benefit from their existing relationship with other organizations such as the Twin Platte NRD, and the Nebraska 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 property damages or loss of life. MITIGATION STRATEGY Ongoing and New Mitigation Actions 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 Groundwater Recharge Actions 1. Divert excess flows from 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 2015. Lead Agency Irrigation District Board, TPNRD Repair Flood Damage Actions 1. Repair South Platte River flood damage, Platte Wind (river ditch) washout and small erosions elsewhere Hazard(s) Addressed Flood Estimated Cost $200,000 Benefits Repair flood damages to protect against future high flow events Potential Funding Irrigation District General Fund, PDM, HMGP Timeline 2-5 Years Priority High Status Not yet started. Identified areas in need of repair. Lead Agency Irrigation District Board, TPNRD 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 Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 7
Status Lead Agency Reduce Flow Restrictions The Irrigation District constantly works to remove obstructions within the canal. Irrigation District Board, Ditch Rider, TPNRD Twin Platte NRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016 8