Despite continual rain, no flooding expected for Kimball, Banner counties

Despite continual precipitation over the past month, officials say there is no immediate threat of flooding in Kimball and Banner counties.

The South Platte Natural Resources District has received reports of six to eight inches of rainfall in this area in May alone, with annual rainfall reported to be 14-16 inches in areas, according to SPNRD general manager Rod Horn.

“When you look at those amounts, considering that our average rainfall in Kimball County is 16 inches, in less than a year we have received our average already,” Horn added.

Rain falling over a period of time in the way that it has recently will collect only when the ground is saturated, and then will eventually flood depending on the dams and terraces in an area, according to Horn.

The storage provided by reservoirs ensures that excessive rainfall does not flow directly into the creek, but is managed into a steady and manageable flow.

“Flooding has occurred back to back in previous years and though there isn’t any immediate danger, it is something people have been monitoring,” Horn said.

The South Platte River, for instance, has been outside its banks and in areas. That causes concern for planting in the area as well as potentially dangerous situations.

“We maintain involvement in local emergency planning and preparedness in case flood waters come into the reservoir, and we provide upkeep to the dam and secondary spillway in case of a very large rain event,” Horn added.

Though in Kimball County there is not immediate threat of flooding, the SPNRD remains engaged and involved with many local officials and private citizens to ensure safety.

In Banner County, flood control is maintained by the North Platte Natural Resources District. David Wolf, information education coordinator for the NPNRD, said that there has not been flooding in Banner County. He added that there is currently water in the long-dry Pumpkin Creek due to the excessive rainfall seen in May.

“We maintain just one flood control dam in Banner County, called Lover’s Leap,” Wolf said.

The NPNRD does regular inspections of that dam, according to Wolf, but that area does not see the erosion and runoff issues seen in other areas of the NPNRD.