Senators Urge Corps of Engineers To Honor Agreement For Flood Protection At Hamburg
Corps says it does not have authority to raise flood levee at Hamburg
By News Channel Nebraska
RED OAK - U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley are urging the US Army Corps of Engineers to follow through on its commitment to rebuild a levee near Hamburg.
A press release through Ernst’s office, urges work on the West Ditch No. 6 to begin immediately.
The letter says the City of Hamburg signed an agreement with the corps in June of 2019 to rebuild the levee to an elevation of 919 feet, which was the height of the levee in 2011.
Almost two-thirds of Hamburg was underwater during high-water marks in the flood of 2019
On Aug. 14, the city was notified that the Corps no longer had authority to rebuild the Ditch 6 to the 919 foot level, but will rebuild the levee to 911 feet, which would be lower than its current height.
The letter says closure of a breach on Levee 575 is helpful, but work remains on hundreds of miles of levees and local, heavy rains could jeopardize Hamburg.
The Missouri River is expected to crest t 20.5 feet today and Friday, which is two and a half feet above flood stage. The river is expected to reach just below moderate flood stage at Rulo through Sept. 1.
The main stem reservoirs of Fort Peck, Garrison and Oahe are operating in flood control levels and are near exclusive food control levels.
Fremont County Emergency Management reports that Gavin’s Point releases of 70,100 cubic feet per second are nearly twice the amount of normal for this time of year and are expected to continue into the fall.
The river stage at Nebraska City is expected to remain at least a foot above flood stage through Sept. 7, which will be 180 days since flooding began on March 13.