ently formed somewhere upstream from the High-
The NWS noted a minor ice blockage occur-
way 64 bridge. Ice was pushed up onto the top of
ring upstream from the Highway 92 bridge be-
the dike during this event.
tween Venice and Sokol Camp on 13 February
1984. On 14 February, local ice jam flooding was
Site 6. Platte River: Highway 92 bridge
reported in the Sokol Camp area. No other infor-
The recurring ice jam in the vicinity of the High-
mation on this jam was located.
way 92 bridge appears to form both upstream
Nebraska Civil Defense records reported an
and downstream from the bridge and generally
ice jam on 26 February 1985 just upstream from
affects the reach of river between the Two Rivers
the Highway 92 bridge; the jam was threatening
State Recreation Area downstream from the bridge
the Lake Platte View development on the east
and Sokol Camp upstream from the bridge. No
bank. No further mention was made of the jam or
specific information regarding the usual locations
of actual flooding.
of the downstream end of the jam or the jam ex-
tent was obtained. Known ice-related flood events
Site 7. Platte River-Elkhorn River
are summarized in Table 8.
confluence near Ashland
According to Nebraska Civil Defense records,
Ice jams frequently occur in the reach of the
an ice jam formed near the Highway 92 bridge at
Platte River between its confluence with the
Venice in February 1971. The jam was first noted
Elkhorn River and the Highway 6 bridge. The
on 23 February 1971, and the Highway 92 bridge
jams are formed by ice originating in the lower
was closed soon after. Flooding occurred in the
Elkhorn River and the Platte River (probably
Two Rivers area downstream from the bridge as a
downstream from Highway 92). Flooding associ-
result of this ice jam.
ated with these jams affects the Thomas Lakes
A 21 March 1978 Omaha World-Herald article
development, Camp Ashland (operated by the
reported that an 80-ft-long section of dike was
National Guard) and Vencil's Island, located be-
washed away north of the Highway 92 bridge
tween the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers. In addition,
near Yutan. No other details were given. An ice
several levee breaks have occurred along the east
jam formed downstream from the Highway 92
bank during ice jams, flooding many acres. Known
bridge, causing flooding at Sokol Camp and the
ice events are listed in Table 9.
Two Rivers area.
An ice jam formed in the Thomas Lakes area
On 14 March 1979, Civil Defense records re-
on the Platte River in early February 1966. The
port that ice began jamming on the west side of
jam extended upstream beyond the Platte River's
the Highway 92 bridge. An ice jam also formed
confluence with the Elkhorn River, with ice jam-
downstream from the bridge. On 15 March, blast-
ming both the Platte River and the Elkhorn River.
ing took place both downstream and upstream
One major levee break occurred on the left bank
from the bridge. The blasting was reported to be
of the Elkhorn River, allowing Elkhorn River flows
relatively unsuccessful, since little ice moved away
to flood thousands of acres and damage the Inter-
from the blasted areas.
state 80 (I-80) bridges over the Platte River. I-80
Nebraska Civil Defense records reported an
remained closed for several days while the dam-
ice bridge near Two Rivers on 22 February 1982.
age was repaired. Because so much of the Elkhorn
Overbank flow was observed in the Two Rivers
River flow was diverted through the break in the
area, but no other specific information was given
levee, Platte River water levels did not rise to
for this ice event.
flood levels. Over 6500 lb of dynamite were re-
Table 8. Summary of ice-related flood events near the Highway 92 Bridge
over the Platte River.
Date
Description
23 February 1971
Two Rivers area flooded, Highway 92 bridge closed
21 March 1978
80-ft-long section of dike washed out near Yutan
14 March 1979
blasting upstream and downstream from Highway 92 bridge
22 February 1982
Two Rivers area flooded
1314 February 1984
Sokol Camp area flooded
26 February 1985
Lake Platte area threatened
14
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