University of Nebraska - Lincoln
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Background: When historic Nebraska floods cut off communities, flooded an unknown number of towns, and inundated pastures and livestock pens with flood waters up to 5 feet deep, the University of Nebraska, under the direction of Nebraska Extension, committed to supporting the state in its recovery efforts. It is projected that it will take 9.3 years for the recovery process. Numerous units within the NU system are taking part in the recovery process from UNMC providing flood safety kits to flood inundation maps of affected areas to the Public Policy Center providing much needed mental health services for flood victims. As part of a more comprehensive response, NU established the flood recovery serviceship program (collaboration with Nebraska Extension, Center for Civic Engagement, and local community leaders) providing students with opportunities to work hand-in-hand with local leaders while simultaneously gaining real-world impactful experience serving their communities. The program is funded by a $250,000 investment from the University of Nebraska.
Project Description: Based on a successful model developed by NU’s Rural Futures Institute, the flood recovery service program will place NU students in Nebraska communities for public service projects throughout the summer. The Flood Recovery Serviceship Program offers students the opportunity to help Nebraska communities respond to the devastating floods, to gain experience in public service and to learn about how communities deal with natural disasters. Currently, 27 of the 50 positions are filled. Twenty-two of the 27are students enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Overview of the Flood Recovery Serviceship Program: Local leaders representing government, business, education, the nonprofit world, or other sectors who had ideas for service projects suited to students were encouraged to apply for one or more of the positions. Nebraska Extension specialists, together with a university-wide team responsible for coordinating NU’s flood response efforts, selected the community hosts after evaluating potential projects based on the mutual value they would provide for students and the communities.

Undergraduates, graduates, and professional students at any NU campus were eligible to apply. The duration of the serviceship is flexible based on the availability of the students and the needs of the community partner. Participants are limited to 40 hours per week for 10 weeks at a pay rate of $12.50 per hour. No overtime is allowed. College credit for their experience is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

UNL’s web-based civic engagement platform, GivePulse, is used to capture and verify the service hours for FEMA purposes. The website also allows campus officials to manage risk waivers, deliver online training content, capture student testimonials and images and post additional opportunities for services.

The Climate Smart Collaborative was formed at the direction of the Mayor of the City of Lincoln to find opportunities for collaboration and connectivity to advance sustainability and climate action goals amongst the major public entities within the Lincoln community. The collaborative is made up of representatives from the City of Lincoln (Mayor’s Office and Transportation and Utilities), Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln Electric System, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The group meets monthly to identify topics within the Lincoln Climate Action Plan and individual sustainability master plans to seek out opportunities for collaboration through shared resources and/or best practice knowledge. The group is currently undertaking an EV (Electric Vehicles) Readiness Plan for the City of Lincoln to include electrification of fleets with a study prepared by a local engineering firm, funded equally by the four partners.

Underrepresented groups and vulnerable populations located within the floodplain of Deadman's Run have been engaged in stakeholder engagement throughout the process.

The Lower Platte South NRD and city of Lincoln (non-federal sponsors) partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha District) on a study to evaluate possible flood risk management solutions along Deadman's Run, a tributary of Salt Creek, in Lincoln, Nebraska. A significant portion of the project area runs through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus. The university is partnered with the Lower Platte South NRD through a memo of understanding and exchange of university property to provide flood mitigation based on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer design.

Project Background: Significant floods and high water events have been recorded along Salt Creek and its tributaries in 1908, 1951, 1957, 1989, 2014 and 2015 with the events in June 1951 and July 1957 reportedly the most severe on Deadman's Run. Flooding along Deadman's Run is characterized as flashy with swift overbank flows once the stream spills out of the channel. In the upper part of the Deadman's Run basin, flooding can negatively impact U.S. Highway 34 (O Street), a major east-west roadway through Lincoln, while flooding in the lower basin can cause widespread residential and commercial property damage in northeast Lincoln. Lower basin flooding can also affect major transportation infrastructure including U.S. Highway 6, the BNSF Railroad main line and many major Lincoln streets including 33rd, 48th, 56th, Holdrege, Cottner, Vine, Leighton and Huntington.

The purpose of the Deadman's Run feasibility study is to identify the potential for developing flood risk management solutions, which could be structural and nonstructural, that are beneficial to the public, economically viable, and environmentally acceptable in this highly urbanized area.

The study was approved in August of 2018 and detailed design has been ongoing for the last four years. Reconstruction of the channel and bridges is anticipated to start in 2023 and will have a significant impact for flood mitigation, while also improving the natural ecosystems of the waterway and adjacent watersheds. Ongoing maintenance and partnership between the Lower Platte South NRD and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be required.

UNL’s Office of Sustainability engages with other sustainability-focused personnel from key community businesses and entities, including Lincoln Public Schools and the City of Lincoln. Through monthly meetings, sustainability and waste diversion coordinators from these organizations ask questions, provide feedback, share experiences regarding common responsibilities and activities. Topics have included best practices and processes surrounding construction and demolition waste diversion, hard-to-recycle materials, engagement activities, and other sustainability-related topics.

UNL’s Sustainability Coordinator is also actively involved in the Lincoln Earth Day coalition, a group of individuals from throughout the Lincoln community who work to plan and execute an annual Earth Day celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event is held at Nebraska Innovation Campus and sees approximately 2,500 attendees annually. During the event, dozens of booth exhibitors representing Lincoln-based businesses and community organizations focused on sustainability promote, educate, and celebrate environmental stewardship, green education, and sustainable living. The event aims to engage members of the Lincoln community in sustainability awareness and foster environmental stewardship, education, and sustainable living. More information can be found via https://lincolnearthday.org/

https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Planning-Projects/LincolnNE/

https://journalstar.com/business/local/watch-now-les-local-governments-to-collaborate-on-climate-goals/article_ac845e34-88a0-5473-8f97-43d0a59e816c.html

https://disaster.unl.edu/