FLOOD09102

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Basin: South Patte
• Title: Sterling Flood Control Interceptor Channel Project
• Date: 4/1/2002
• Prepared For: Sterling
• Prepared By: URS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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SEeTIO.THREE Anected Environments and Environmental Consequences

100-year flood event, sewer backups would be substantially reduced. This would reduce the
potential for Sterling residents to be exposed to biological hazards.

3,4.3 Alternative 3 . Improve Routing of Pawnee Creek Flood Flows

With this alternative, Sterling would be protected up to the 100-year flood. Flooding along
lower Pawnee Creek would occur only in low areas. Inundation of the Pawnee Creek floodplain
would be reduced by about SO percent, providing significantly greater flood protection to
Sterling residents. Flood flows would be allowed to cross over CR 24 and Highway 6 near the
Riverside Cemetery. Emergency response vehicles would use alternative routes during the time
the two roads are closed. However, the period of time Highway 6 would be closed would be
significantly reduced when compared to past flood events. In addition, with Sterling being
protected up to the 100-year flood event, sewer backups would be substantially reduced. This
would reduce the potential for Sterling residents to be exposed to biological hazards.

3,5 SOCIOECONOMICS

3,5.1 Economic Issues

Agriculture, retail, light industry, and the service industry are the largest contributors to the local
economy. Residents of Sterling are generally employed in Sterling or in the local area.

3,5,1,1

Alternative 1 - No Action

If Pawnee Creek would continue to flood as it has historically, the local economy of Sterling
would continue to be adversely affected. During the 1997 flood, damages to residential
structures in Sterling were estimated at $8.9 million. Damages to commercial property were
estimated at $1.37 million. Damages in 1997 in Logan County were estimated at $0.87 million
for residential structures, $6.86 million to agricultural land, and $1.1 million to transportation
infrastructure (City of Sterling 1998). Overall damages of the 1997 flood were estimated to be
slightly more than $19 million.

3.5.1.2

Alternative 2 - Sterling Flood Control Interceptor Channel (Proposed
Action)

Other than the conversion of agricultural land to flood control facilities as discussed in Section
3.2.2, impacts associated with this alternative are beneficial. To the extent possible, lands would
be purchased on a "willing seller" basis. However, the City is prepared to use the condemnation
process on a limited basis to acquire needed land and/or easements. The condemnation process
generally requires approximately 60 days to complete. The potential for flooding would be
reduced for Sterling within the floodplain of Pawnee Creek. Based on the flooding that occurred
during the 1997 flood, this alternative would have prevented floodwaters from entering Sterling.
It is estimated that the alternative would have prevented over $10 million in damage to
residential, commercial, and infrastructure in Sterling. In addition, Alternative 2 would have a
small, short-term beneficial effect on the local economy associated with the purchase of goods
and services during the construction of the project.

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