Ineffective Roadside Erosion Repairs Along Park Lane at Minnechaduza Creek by the Cherry County Roads Department

Presented July 31, 2018 at the Cherry County Commissioners meeting.

There is an ongoing erosion problem along Park Lane at the bridge crossing over Minnechaduza Creek. Water runoff from the street has been diverted by the Cherry County Roads Department (CCRD) – the entity responsible for maintenance of this roadway – onto Valentine City Park property and which then drains into the creek.

Gully erosion at failed spillway.

An obvious extent of erosion was occurring in early July so the situation was reported to the CCRD office, with a request that a repair be done. The following steps by CCRD were then taken, as personally observed:

1. 1) A smallish berm of some sort of unknown aggregate was placed to move water southward to where it could pour off the bridge and into the creekway; the berm at the gully was washed out by a subsequent rain
   
2. 2) A larger berm of aggregate was placed at the problem site, which washed out during the next rain
   
3. 3) An asphaltic mix was strewn over the repaired berm to divert the water southward
   
4. 4) The asphaltic mix berm was modified so there would be a “spillway” into a gully to direct water runoff into the creek; a portion of the spillway was washed away during the rainfall on July 23rd, and the problematic situation was once again reported to the CCRD office. At this time it was mentioned the CCRD employee indicated that some sort of repair would occur on August 1, so a request was made for further details with findings requested to be heard later in the week.
   
5. 5) On July 25 a bunch of large rocks were dumped into the erosional gully to seemingly thwart erosion. It was another effort of failure as there are too many voids that will allow the unchanged route of the runoff water to erode beneath the rocks.
   
6. 6) Upon asking on July 26 at the CCRD office about the repair to supposedly occur on August 1, no information could be provided.
   The dump of big rocks occurred following an apparent consultation with a City of Valentine official (this situation has been discussed at least twice with the city manager).
   

This situation is problematic for at least these reasons:

Park Lane at North Lake Shore Drive. Erosional problem at the lower right of this photograph.

1. A. The problem has not been suitably fixed despite five attempts by county employees.
   
2. B. The runoff is being conveyed down the creek bank so erosion is occurring next to the bridge abutment, which might eventually result in a threat to its integrity?
   
3. C. Stormwater runoff from a county road is being forced upon a western extent of Valentine City Park, diminishing this public property. Why should a county issue become a city problem!
   
4. D. Sediment resulting from the runoff gully is going into the creek, and thus is a situation where fill is being illegally placed into waters of the United States, according to Section 404 regulations as dealt with by the Army Corps of Engineers. Runoff sediment is obvious in the creek at this site, thus there is a violation of this federal mandate. A sediment fence was placed along the creek-side on July 30.
   
5. E. Runoff water and erosional material is allowed to get into Minnechaduza Creek, degrading its water quality (as regulated by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality) by adding automotive road debris into the creek, as well as allowing roadside trash to get into the creek waters thus contributing to unacceptable pollution.
   

When will a long-term, permanent solution be placed here? An example of one solution is obvious on the west side of the street, where there is a drainage culvert. There are other solutions available (reshaping the street surface to establish a less-concentrated runoff pattern; perhaps a pond or wetland for runoff from Lake Shore Drive at the northeast corner of the Mill Pond, or maybe a bioretention garden at the park?).

The bottom line is: Why do Cherry county residents have to continue to pay for ineffective work associated with a roadway? Who is accountable for this obvious failure, thus far?

Rocks dumped by the Cherry County Roads Department at the erosion problem aside Park Lane, and within Valentine City Park.

Erosional material and can trash below the drainway failure at Minnechaduza Creek and Park Lane. June 30, 2018.

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County Fails Again With Repair While Valentine Street Department Does Right

August 20, 2018

The City of Valentine is attentive to roadway issues and their reaction and action was very obvious on the north side at Minnechaduza Creek on Friday, 17 August.

There is an ongoing and unacceptable situation along the Park Lane where it crosses Minnecheduza Creek. Maintenance along this roadway is the responsibility of the Cherry County road department. Cherry county officials and employees had repeatedly failed in their repair efforts, as despite five useless repair efforts the erosional problem continued. Even after the situation was presented at a Cherry County commissioners meeting where a document with details and photographs was presented, nothing changed. The only thing heard at the meeting was bloviating by a particular commissioner about this or that in previous years and how great the results had been during past times. There was an indication that the problem would be dealt with, yet it was not. Whatever county employee responsible for this failure needs to be held accountable as he has wasted multiple hours of employee time and thus money on doing worthless things.

Because of the big rain on Wednesday, August 15th, the sediment fence placed by the street crew of Valentine to prevent material from getting into Minnechaduza Creek was overloaded and there was a stream of the sediment that flowed beyond the fence but thankfully did not pollute the creek. Next to the street, there was a safety hazard as the roadside dropoff was more than 12 inches and the creekward incline fell off even more dangerously.

Upon reporting the situation to staff in the Valentine city office on Friday morning, the entire situation changed. The city of Valentine street crew took control. The office staff conveyed my message. A city worker quickly assessed the problem. A suitable and effective crew arrived, including heavy equipment and they were focused and seen to be quickly working to solve an ongoing problem, within the morning to provide a temporary repair.

City of Valentine staff and its street crew quickly arrived on last Friday morning – after having left a brief message in city hall – and addressed a situation which was actually the responsibility of the county. The current diversional situation is quite fine to avoid further erosion. It is however quite unknown when the county will provide a permanent solution to an obvious and ongoing problem. There would be no more stormwater runoff causing erosion on the bank along a county road. The creekbank in west Valentine City Park was being given attention and work done to ensure that sediment would not get into Minnechaduza Creek. The Friday repair was more than enough to make certain the fill, overlying asphaltic mix and temporary curbing would replace a worthless county effort.

The current repair is, however, only temporary. There has been no indication of a permanent repair by the county. The works needs to be acceptable to the City of Valentine and local residents. Perhaps commissioner Jim Van Winkle should pay attention to happening now, rather than speaking of past times which mean so little at their monthly meetings. Thankfully in January he will no longer be able to publically convey his historic haze of events which mostly now have only a slight significance. Perhaps commissioners Tanya Storer and Martin DeNaeyer should pay attention to local concerns rather than travel to Washington D.C. during these August days. Do they think their presence meant anything to people that have actual, significant national accomplishments? It seemed to have just been a photo opportunity?

City of Valentine employees listened and acted. My hearty thanks to them!

P.S. There was no change at this locale following the rainfall on the 19th. So there appears to be an adequate, temporary repair until the county does an actual permanent repair.

Public Project Blocks Pedestrian Passage at Carthage

A storm-water separation project on the north side of Carthage, Omaha, has been completely blocking public access. Construction at the corners of Hamilton Street and North Saddle Creek has resulted in the removal of the entire street and the sidewalks on both side of the street while a new storm-water line is being installed. Access on the north side of Hamilton had been possible, but as of at least June 3rd, a sidewalk closed sign was put in place. People had been walking past anyway to get to the west, but with mud and a trespass on private property, this is not a suitable travel route.

This situation is completely inhibiting pedestrian traffic into Carthage at this point. Anyone living to the south and southwest would have to walk several blocks just to make forward progress of only a block or two. For example, if a resident of any of the many large apartment complexes along 48th Avenue or 49th Street or 49th Avenue wanted to use public right-of-way get to the coin laundromat on Saddle Creek (at 1479 Saddle Creek Road), a multiple block detour would be required. It would require walking west to 50th Street, north to Charles Street and for a block eastward on this route, then further travel along Saddle Creek Road. It also makes it more difficult to reach the ethnic market along Saddle Creek, further west, not to mention getting to the bus stop eastward at Radial Highway. Similar long detours would be needed to get to other places via a south route.

The lack of access is problematic for pedestrian in multiple ways, as churches, businesses which can lose customers and income, as well as private residences that are not as accessible as they should be.

This is a project of the Omaha Public Works Department as being constructed by Roloff Construction. It is quite troubling that this limitation in access due to construction was not considered by planners. Nor was it mentioned in the public meetings. Suitable options need to be immediately implemented to allow safe pedestrian traffic at this area of the project.

There is no information available on how long this particularly disruptive situation will continue.

Pictures of the setting taken the evening of June 8, 2015

Dirt conditions along Hamilton Street just west of Saddle Creek Road; this dirt will become mud with rain

A pedestrian crossing the construction zone

Another pedestrian within the construction zone

A view of the sidewalk closed signage on Hamilton Street

Another view of the sidewalk on the north side of Hamilton Street; even where the sidewalk is not closed, the construction company cannot keep debris off the public walkway

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Acknowledgement of the situation has been received from Pete Festerson, Omaha City Council, who will have one of his staff work with Public Works and the contractor on this.

There was subsequently nothing done to address this situation. People associated with the work just figured that the residents would have to just wait until the street and sidewalk were replaced with new concrete!

Elmwood Park Project Wins Green Leaf Award

The Elmwood Park diversion project has been given the 2014 Green Leaf Award by the Omaha by Design group. They have a writeup with pictures at their website.

Some additional comments on the value of this project have been provided by Jim Theiler, the CSO Program Coordinator.

"1. The City, or specifically the Public Works and Parks Departments, and the design team for the CSO project, came up with a solution to a problem that benefitted the community in multiple ways:

"* Disruption to the residents in the neighborhood was reduced - by taking the flow into the park, less pipework was required in the residential area.

* Costs savings for the ratepayer – as noted, diverting the flows to the park reduced the amount of big pipes, and saved the City over $500,000.

* A new feature has been added to the park. We have provided the community something above ground that can be seen and enjoyed by the public.

"2. This project benefits the water quality of the receiving stream, notably the Little Papillion Creek. The completion of this project provided a link between two previously completed projects, and by doing this it removed the storm water contribution from a large area that contributed to the overflows at our Saddle Creek CSO outfall. Downstream of this project is the Aksarben Village redevelopment area. Public Works required the construction of new storm and sanitary sewers as a part of that redevelopment. These sewers were designed to accommodate the flows the flows from this area. In addition, a project completed in the early 1990’s in the upper parts of the basin included the construction of storm sewers in an area that experienced a significant amount of sewer backups into basements when it rained. This project tied all of that work together and removed the storm water from the Saddle Creek combined sewer. So when it rains, we have less sewage in the Little Papillion Creek because of this project. That is why we have a CSO Program – we are required by the Clean Water Act to reduce the impacts of our combined sewer overflows on the Missouri River and the Papillion Creek and its tributaries.

3. An additional benefit to water quality. At the upstream end of the Elmwood Diversion is a large structure that is maintained by the Sewer Maintenance Division. This structure captures some sediment and other pollutants that are in the runoff from the neighborhood, although some of that passes through the structure and is filtered out by the native grasses in the park. The primary responsibility of this structure is to capture trash and debris. This used to go to the creek when it rained; it is now captured and hauled away."

Adams Park and Stormwater Planning Meeting

Changes are coming to Adams Park and the local neighborhood, as presented by Omaha officials and hired consultants at a public meeting on November 29th.

A "final" version of master plan for Adams Park was presented. It has a stated goal to "look for unique programming and amenities" to make the park "a valuable asset to the community" and a "catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and development."

Concerns now are that much of the park is "hidden" since it is not visible from the street, and that since parts of the park were not "accessible by walking paths," they were not used.

Key potential components mentioned include:

• expanding the park east to 30th street at its northeast corner, and south to Maple Street on its southern extent;
• construction of interior roads;
• widening of Creighton Boulevard;
• construction of an urban farming and community gardening center;
• constructing ten picnic pavilions; and
• adding a "whole series" of walking paths, that would have an overall length of 4.25 miles within the 60-acre park.

Additional changes are indicated in the master plan graphic, originally prepared a year ago.

There were differences between the plan as prepared by the Parks department, and a revised storm-water wetland plan as proposed for the CSO! project, as both were explained at the meeting. Another example, a proposed site for a picnic-pavilion would be within the storm-water wetland.

Two other proposals for Adams Park are also available and referenced during the question and answer period following presentations by project officials. Each proposal is different, which raised questions by attendees.

A plan presented at a design review meeting "is very conceptual at this point," according to a planner with the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property. Further meetings would be held on the park plan as the "master plan" is further evaluated in the future, the planner said.

CSO! Project

The current CSO! proposal was the most recent indication of plans for the western portion of the park, and was the primary local topic, other than a general overview of the ongoing effort to separate sewer and storm-water in eastern Omaha.

Significant changes in the park, include:

1) Removal of the Gabrielle Union Pond, and replacing it with an area of turf-grass and where there was no indication of a replacement for the "landmark" built in 2000 in honor the Omaha-born actress;

2) Construction of basins to hold storm-water runoff, which will have four zones: water, wetland, wet meadow and lowland. The basins will start at the south end of the park, and extend across its western portion to where it will be deepest in the its northwest corner, where the ball-field is currently. The sole source of water will be storm-water runoff, as there are no plans to provide supplemental water, according to CSO! engineers.

3) Construction of "straight" 36th street, across the west edge of the park, along the power-line corridor. A previous proposal indicated a "curved" alignment.

Proposed storm-water wetland at the western section of Adams Park. Image courtesy of Omaha Public Works.

Few details on the physical characteristics of the wetlands were given — i.e., expected water depth or basin size — with the focus on how the site will be a "community amenity." A depiction was available to convey a view of the potential, idealized setting, with its "sunny" perspective.

Depiction of storm-water wetland setting at the western section of Adams Park.

Nothing was said regarding how the Gabrielle Union Pond, which is now a prominent feature in the park-scape, will continue. The proposed plan indicates the site will become a field of turf.

The CSO! project in this area, other than the storm-water basins in the park, will primarily involve a newly constructed pipe conveyance system to carry water from the basin into the park, and then further northward. Two large map-graphics of the area and proposed constructs overlain on aerial photography of the neighborhood, were available for review, indicating its massive extent.

After the public discourse, additional commentary occurred. There was a positive response to views. However, there was little interest shown in including other measures such as bioretention gardens, including potentially at Franklin Elementary School and Erskine Park or private property which is currently vacant. Project engineers also seemed indifferent to potential options to reduce runoff by removing unused areas of concrete at Erskine Park, or efforts to converse woodland tracts in the vicinity which are helpful in allowing water to infiltrate into the soil, rather than being runoff.

The meeting was an opportunity for public comment both in a group and one-on-one manner. Towards the end of the evening city officials did, personally, shorten a conversation by indicating that comments should be submitted in writing, rather than being discussed at the time.

The John Creighton Boulevard and Miami Sewer Separation Project is currently at a 30% stage of planning. An update meeting on the area CSO! project is expected in mid- to late-2013.

About 20 people and a similar number of officials were present at the meeting held at the Malcom X Center, north of Adams Park. It was scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 P.M., but lasted at least an additional 30 minutes.

Parkland Erosion Caused by Stormwater Project

On March 9th, while visiting in Elmwood Park, a severe condition of erosion was noticed near the bridge over Wood Creek. The slope southward of the "mosquito box" had erosion of several inches of soil in some places. Pictures were taken and sent to the City of Omaha Public Works Department that is responsible for the CSO! Project.

A meeting was held on site to discussion the situation on the 19th. The city representatives and the construction company foreman agreed that there was a problem. It was the result of water runoff from the street extending up the hill to the east.

Without any curb, the runoff was leaving the pavement and eroding the hill.

On the 19th, waddles were put in place to divert the runoff and to direct it westward.

Common sense would have meant that the project plans would have included a curb and a stormwater drain. They weren't included — due to inadequate consideration and lack of design attention to the matter — so now this problem occurred and will continue, especially during any heavy rain events. Diverting the runoff westward, as has been done, will only cause move the problem to another place, and cause erosion there.

There needs to be a curb installed and something put in place to properly handle any runoff.

Note the sediment that has accumulated at the stormwater construct (i.e., "mosquito box, because of permanent accumulation of standing water). Sediment barriers have been put in place to prevent any material from reaching Wood Creek. Any continuance of sediment runoff will increase the amount present. Any large rainfall event with any large amount of associated runoff would likely overwhelm the barriers.

The green shoots of vegetation now sprouting are a cover crop to stabilize the hillside until the permanent vegetation of warm season grasses get established. The species used included deep-rooted big bluestem and Indian grass.

Planning Changes at Spring Lake Park

"Between Omaha and South Omaha where the trees are the thickest and the hills most picturesque lies Syndicate Park. Here again is water in abundance and it is the veritable 'wine of the rocks," as clear as ever came from the distilleries of the heavens and flowing in ample and refreshing streams from hidden channels underneath the rock-ribbed river." — February, 28, 1892; Omaha Sunday Bee

A community meeting was held to discuss the stormwater project proposed for the south Omaha area around Spring Lake Park, on the evening of November 17th. This project will dramatically alter the park, which was originally established as privately owned Syndicate Park in the latter 1880s.

Officials for this "Clean Solutions for Omaha!" project presented their "10% conceptual design" and took public comments. Parks and Recreation Department staff also attended the meeting which lasted less than two hours.

The basin for this project covers about 416 acres, which about half is the park and associated golf course.

The primary feature is to add new conduits for sanitary discharge and to revise stormwater runoff facilities so the two do not mix. Peak stormwater runoff would be reduced using retention basins, a created wetland and a wet pond, which would be primarily placed within lowland of the park. Dry detention basins may also be constructed at the golf course.

This work is being required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Pertinent public comments include:

1. Concern over the runoff of oil from neighborhood streets, and how this would be addressed?
2. The "underwhelming" lake feature being proposed. The commenter was "disappointed" in the plan as presented, and thought there could be "something a little more spectacular" He asked that design considerations include options for a larger lake, that would be a "community enhancement." The lake the person suggested would inundate the entire lowland of the park north of F Street.

Pond proposal for Spring Lake Park, north of F Street. The proposed pond would have a maximum depth of 10-12 feet, which would require excavating extensive amounts of soil from the ravine, according to project officials. A fishery would be provided, probably through the Urban Fisheries Program sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. This pond would inundate at least three or four flowing springs. The water quality basin would also inundate one of the larger and most prevalent springs. Numerous trees would be removed, as well as complete hillsides would need to be obliterated. Graphic courtesy of the City of Omaha.

One particular concern is why the lake area could not be placed south of F Street. Project officials were concerned with the presence of a former landfill in an area which is now unused brome grass. The material would have to be removed and hauled away.

It was noted that if excavation is required for the lagoon proposed north of F Street, why couldn't the excavation be done south of F Street, and avoid inundation of the unique springs in the lowland north of F Street.

In March 1931, city officials completed construction of a new fish pond in the park, and it was located south of F Street. A picture of the first of the three planned ponds was included with the newspaper article. The three lakes would extend about three blocks.

The following personal comments were made during the meeting, with most of them derived from details in a grant application submitted to the Nebraska Environmental Trust:

• Why wasn't this meeting mentioned in the community news -- nothing seen in the newspaper or on a regularly watched television station?? Yet, the project conveys that community awareness is one of its more important features.
• How does project preserve the meadow and wetlands as specifically recognized in a document prepared years ago in association with recognition of parkland features??
• "Wetland, pond, and dry detention facilities will enhance wildlife habitat within the park" – conjecture as there are no particular details given on how this will be achieved
• "Wetland, pond, and dry detention facilities will keep the uniqueness of a natural area within an urban park" - more conjecture
• If the park cannot be kept clean of trash and free of tires now, how would the project result in making the place more attractive or discourage illegal dumping?? Current park cleanups have never accomplished the goal of completely removing unwanted trash or debris.
• It is not possible to improve water quality in the park, as the only water now in the park is spring water, and it does not need any improvement!
• What are the infiltration basins, proposed for just south of F Street??
• Project does not supplement groundwater, as if this means anything in this area anyway!
• How is this project help sustainability of resources?? This is another conjecture as it does just the opposite.
• How much rock would be used with the features of this project?? Most engineers in projects devise plans using massive tonnage's of rock.
• First notes on birds in June 1890; more than 100 species recorded, primarily since 2000; with nearly fifty personal surveys -- there are no subtropical birds at Omaha; there has been no evaluation of how the changes would impact the local avifauna within the park
• Proposed pond just north of F Street will inundate several distinct springs; there are none similar in any other Omaha park -- existing wetlands and brooks not enhanced by inundation -- Project does not enhance existing wetlands, it inundates them!!
• Make site more attractive by clearing underbrush; in direct opposition with other comments on habitat enhancement
• Pond will inundate springs and then on top of that, additional trees would be lost due to walkway
• Many proposed features do not represent Best Management Practices; educational signage would be nothing but propaganda

Audubon people familiar with the project are opposed to inundation of the north springs area. This area is well-used by birds during the winter as the spring flow remains unfrozen and is an important source of water. One planning official called this area an "unused part of the park," though he did retract his comment when provided a different explanation, based upon a bird/wildlife perspective.

An item of immediate concern was a erosional crevice within the park, created due to street runoff which enters the park at 18th and G Street. This hazard has been present for years and never been repaired. The situation would be fixed as part of the stormwater project.

A "30%" preliminary design meeting will be held in the March-April period in 2012.

Stormwater Project Underway at Elmwood Park

Work has started on the stormwater project being done at Elmwood Park. The primary focus now is repairing where the water empties into Wood Creek.

Tree removal is underway where the bioretention gardens are to be placed in the swale on the east end of the southern portion of the golf course.

The stormwater drain is being replaced at the lower extent of the project. The hill is to be reestablished. There will be 84 tons of large rock riprap placed where the water empties into the creek.

The errant tree limbs shown in the creek were being removed by construction personnel during a site visit on October 5th.

This work is being done for $8.1 million, as financed by the City of Omaha.

Bioretention Gardens Pending for Elmwood Park

An area of Elmwood Park will soon be transformed by a project to deal with stormwater runoff from Omaha streets.

General plan for the project in Elmwood Park. Information provided by Public Works department.

The general development plan indicates a linear project site is along the west side of 60th street, and southward from Elmwood Drive. This area is currently lawn which is regularly mowed during the growing season, as well as interspersed trees.

This project will receive stormwater runoff from about 35 acres of housing on the east side of 60th street, according to Ned Tramp, of the Public Works department of the city of Omaha.

The work being done is part of a larger effort to separate sewage and stormwater in the eastern part of the city.

Water going into the stormwater drains will be diverted to the park site, where a pond, three bioretention gardens and several weirs will slow the rate of drainage of the water into Wood Creek, northward in the park.

There will also be a capture basin where trash and grit will captured and kept until it is removed by city workers on a regular basis.

The primary features of the bioretention gardens are flowering plants and different types of grass species.

Planting plans for the gardens - devised by the Big Muddy Workshop Inc. - indicate that sneezeweed, spotted bee balm, little joe-pye weed, prairie spiderwort, swamp milkweed, prairie blazing star, purple coneflower and golden alexander.

Grasses to be seeded are Virginia wildrye, Canada wildrye, western wheatgrass, red top, side oats grama, and little bluestem. These are all native species except for red top.

Preliminary design for the bioretention gardens at Elmwood Park.
Garden A planting plan.	Garden C planting plan.
Garden F planting plan.

Vegetative features associated with the project will create a different habitat setting within the park environs.

Construction is expected to occur in late summer, or early autumn.

Public Works staff worked with the Parks and Recreation Department in developing this plan.

Current views of the project site in Elmwood Park. Pictures taken April 16, 2011.
Looking northward.	Looking southward.	Southern section of the project area.