Deluge causes floods in Randolph area
RANDOLPH — The north tributary of the Logan Creek once again washed out at least two locations along the BNSF line and on the east side of Randolph following a rainfall that dropped as much as five inches in some areas Saturday night and Sunday.
Leon Kuhlman, Randolph, had quite a bit of damage to clean up from his Randolph business.
“We had 22 inches of water flowing through the building,” said Kuhlman. “My fence-line was taken out, too,” he said.
County roads and bridges had to be cleared of debris along with several city streets in Randolph.
Highway, street, and railroad bridges experienced heavy silt, cornstalks, and debris that, at times, overwhelmed some structures seeing water flowing over roads and into nearby fields.
Randolph is currently working on a flood control plan that will help alleviate problems due to heavy rains. However, the north tributary was left out of last year’s original flood remediation study citing the small impact floodwaters have to the city.
The alternative floodplain study proposed at last week’s council meeting includes the north tributary and indicated a significant benefit in preventing waters from entering from the north.
Carter Hubbard, Olsson Associates water resource engineer reported that the alternative floodplain for all three tributaries offers a solution for not only Randolph, but also for downstream landowners and communities in the way of possibly reduced water flows and checks on erosion.
The City will attend the Lower Elkhorn NRD board meeting on June 11 inviting their participation for an in-depth study of water storage in the Randolph area.
Planning board member Jason Schmit recently attended a “branding” seminar and suggested the City make its efforts a regional project instead of only a local one. When asked to elaborate, Schmit suggested, “Let’s call it the Logan Creek Watershed Runoff Management Project, instead of the Randolph Floodplain Project. With more partners, we have an opportunity to benefit the entire area and save not only a natural resource but possibly lives.” Schmit added that last year’s plan to widen the channel in Randolph only sends the water downstream faster with no consideration for neighboring landowners and communities.
Gary Van Meter, Economic Developer, said “The Olsson Associates plan gives us the opportunity to work with the neighboring communities instead of passing the problem down to them.” He has initiated calls and emails to downstream communities and upstream business interests to partner on a greater scale for a collaborative effort to be assembled.
