The Missouri River on Thursday is projected to reach its highest level at Omaha since the recent round of flooding began — just in time to dampen the July 4th holiday.
The City of Omaha closed N.P. Dodge Park on Tuesday because the Missouri was encroaching into the park.
The Omaha park is the latest to join the ranks of recreational facilities that may be closed over the holiday weekend because of flooding or storm damage.”
That list ranges from the popular off-road trails at Nebraska National Forest near Halsey to a favored fishing lake at Ericson, Neb., to boat ramps and campgrounds up and down the Missouri River.
However, officials said, plenty of places will be open for those hoping to get outdoors.
“We have 84 park areas statewide. That means there are a whole lot of park areas for people to go for the holiday weekend and rest of summer,” said Roger Kuhn of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “We encourage people to get out.”
Most closed facilities are along flooding rivers. At least one spot, Crystal Lake State Recreation Area south of Grand Island, is closed due to recent wind damage.
The National Weather Service projects that the Missouri River will crest in Omaha late Thursday at 28.9 feet, said meteorologist Barbara Mayes.
That's about a foot higher than June's previous crest, 27.79 feet last Wednesday, but still below flood stage.
Increased releases from Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota and runoff from heavy rains in northwestern Iowa are almost equally responsible for the Missouri's rise at Omaha, said Scott Dergan, a weather service meteorologist.
Some areas of northwestern Iowa received upwards of 6 inches of rain.
Runoff from that watershed flows into the Missouri near Blair, via the Little Sioux River. Once the Little Sioux flooding has washed downstream, the Missouri should begin dropping, Dergan said. That is projected to happen later this week.
A week ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began increasing releases from Gavins Point. Water now is being discharged at a rate of 34,000 cubic feet per second, said Kevin Quinn, corps spokesman. The corps anticipates maintaining the dam's releases at that level for at least several months.
The City of Omaha is not at risk from the river because its flood wall is 40 feet tall, 11 feet higher than the projected crest.
But the high water has disrupted softball and baseball games scheduled for the now-closed N.P. Dodge Park, north of Interstate 680 on John J. Pershing Drive.
“The complex is surrounded by a moat of water, like in medieval times,” said Bob Knudson, president of Metro Omaha Softball.
Both fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball games were scheduled all week, he said, and a USSSA state baseball tournament had been planned for this weekend.
“We've had the most beautiful weather we've had all summer, and we can't play ball at Dodge Park,” Knudson said. “There's no rain in sight, yet we're still flooded. It's just amazing. And so frustrating.”
Thankfully, he said, the leaders of other area youth programs have made their fields available at the last minute.
“The youth sports community has banded together to help us out with softball at Dodge Park and also the boys baseball tournament,” Knudson said. “It's Omaha being Omaha — pitch in and help when we need each other.”
Terry Baker, district ranger for the Bessey District of the Nebraska National Forest, said the off-road system was significantly damaged by flooding. Picnic, hiking and some camping areas are open, but the park's popular off-road trails are off limits for now.
“The water is definitely hanging around longer than we thought it would. We're hopeful we can open (the trails) this summer. We're definitely making every effort we can.”
World-Herald staff writer Bob Glissmann contributed to this report.
Contact the writer:
444-1102, nancy.gaarder@owh.com
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