WSP05255

• File Number: 8407.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Missouri River
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 5/1/1980
• Author: MRBC
• Title: Missouri River Basin Water Resources Management Plan - Part II - Chapters VII-Appendix F
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

o~~,

counties between South Sioux City and Omaha have the highest soil loss in the

State. In some areas in northwest Missouri, the problem has evolved a full

cycle. The natural winding streams were straightened and channelized some 30
to 40 years agol severe streambank erosion has since occurred, and the streams
have returned to the natural course.
Flooding problems in this subbasin have many aspects. Flooding is still a
problem along several tributary streams in the Middle Missouri Basin. In many
of the smaller communities, there is at present no feasible and acceptable

structural solution. Problems in a number of smaller communities have been

studied in the past by various State and Federal agencies. Potential
structural solutions have not been found to be economically acceptable in most
instances, and suggested alternatives have not generally been accepted by local
people. Even though levees have been constructed along the Missouri River,
flooding continues to be a problem in Nebraska downstream of the Missouri's
intersection with the Platte River in Nebraska. Private levees are being moved
or constructed too close to the river, infringing on the floodway and shifting

flood damage to other areas. Tieback levees on sorne tributary streams were

designed and constructed to provide 50-year protection from flooding on both
the main stem and tributaries. Due to numerous factors, including aggradation
of the stream beds of the tributaries, this level of protection has dropped to

a 10-year or 25-year event.

The energy crisis of the 1970's has spotlighted the fact that projected
power demands nationally will neccessitate the construction of additional power
plants in the subbasin. New power plants will need to be located on the major
rivers in order to permit the assimulation of discharged cooling water and to

cause the least possible adverse environmental effect. Disposal of power plant

cooling waste into smaller bodies of water where thermal pollution can be

controlled would provide an opportunity for improved production of fish.

8-]