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3.1.01 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public workshop on the draft environmental impact statement 7-9 p.m, March 21, at the Russell Middle School cafeteria, 5304 S. 172nd St. The public can view displays on the proposals and provide comments. Corps report covers M.U.D. water options The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed an evaluation of six alternatives for a new water supply for the Metropolitan Utilities District. The two-volume draft environmental-impact statement is a response to a federal permit M.U.D. first sought in 1994 as part of its proposal to build a new wellfield on the Platte River straddling Douglas and Saunders Counties. The Corps document does not contain a decision on the permit. That will come after the Corps has heard from M.U.D. and the public, said Rebecca Latka of the Corps. M.U.D. says the proposed $293 million Platte West Plant would serve a growing population for the next three decades, supplying good-quality, inexpensive water. But Saunders County officials have opposed the plan, saying it would leave the county short of water by pulling down groundwater under fields and wells and blocking towns from taking water in the future. In the draft, the Corps narrowed 34 options to six that were described in detail. M.U.D. had specified that it wanted a water source other than the Missouri River, which supplies 67.5 percent of the utility's total capacity. Jerry Radek, M.U.D.'s general manager, said that having diverse water sources allows the utility to switch sources should one become contaminated. On the Missouri, there are several potential sources of contaminants upstream, including a nuclear power plant and meatpacking operations, he said. And no viable groundwater sources, which would have allowed for greater filtering of water, were found on the Missouri. M.U.D.'s economic analysis indicated that it would be twice as costly to take water from the Missouri River, treat it and pump it to the west end of the metropolitan area than to take water from the Platte. According to the Corps evaluation, the M.U.D. proposal would have the greatest impact on subirrigated land along the river, drawing down water levels below about 4,780 acres and potentially reducing crop yields, farm income, property values and property-tax receipts. But the plan would not draw down the Platte as much as several others during a February through July time period considered critical to the pallid sturgeon, a federally endangered fish, and the sturgeon chub, a candidate for a federal listing. The M.U.D. plan also would affect some private ponds and ponds at Two Rivers State Recreation Area. M.U.D. has worked out preliminary agreements with federal and state wildlife agencies to build new wildlife habitat near the mouth of the Platte and to compensate the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for impacts at Two Rivers. M.U.D. officials have said they also would compensate landowners, as required by state law, if the wellfield draws down water beneath wells or fields. The Corps will hold a public workshop on the draft statement from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 21 at the Russell Middle School cafeteria at 5304 S. 172nd St. The public can view displays on the proposals and provide comments. The Corps will accept public comment through April 13. To request a copy of the Corps statement or to submit comments on it, write U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Rebecca Latka, 215 N. 17th St., Omaha, NE 68102 or call 402-221-4602. M.U.D. serves 170,047 customer-owners in the Omaha metro area. |
Summer water use in metro area Construction Progress Photos Water Plant Wellfield: |
