LIGHT DAM
ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

The light dam environmental project is funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund. The trust is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $23 million to environmental projects in Nebraska since 1994. The light dam project grant totaled $250,000 over a two-year period of time. Paul Ekberg, Rick Rigel, Marla Smith, Glen Beran, Judy Allison, and Jim Carmen assisted in writing this winning project proposal for the restoration of the light dam southwest of Imperial.

In their words, the light dam environmental project is "a collaborative three-year restoration proposal that will form a partnership between community, school and governmental agencies. Participants in the partnership will work cooperatively to restore and manage 640 acres owned by the City of Imperial. This unique area was previously a reservoir to create hydroelectric power to the city of Imperial. Since the Light Dam is no longer used to supply electricity, the area has been leased for grazing purposes. The original earthen Dam needs to be restored and conservation practices need to be implemented throughout the area. Initial community survey results show that residents would like to see the habitat enhanced, dam repaired, fish stocked, cattle managed and recreation materials restored. However, the City of Imperial does not have financial resources necessary for this size of project. Unless grant funds can be obtained, the property may have to be sold and returned to the tax roles. If that occurs, a part of Imperial’s history and a special opportunity for environmental preservation and restoration by the area communities will be lost forever."

Now that grant funding will be received, the project's future steps include:

    1. Management of the livestock by the possible addition of fences and a well to restrict the movement of cattle to the Marshland/River wetland, facilitating pollution control and habitat conservation.
    2. The lake will be dredged and several islands produced with the dredged material. The islands will provide protected nesting areas for local and migrating waterfowl. Once filled, the lake will be stocked with game fish.
    3. A natural barrier to vehicles will be created, thus access across the dam will be restricted to foot traffic only.
    4. Old car bodies and existing cottonwoods growing in the earthen dam will be removed and recycled to increase the aesthetic value and the dam's structural stability.
    5. Quality of the prairie will be maintained through a noxious weed control program recommended by the Nebraska Resources and Conservation Services (NRCS) and City of Imperial.
    6. The Marshland/River Wetlands require a total habitat restoration. An initial plan has been recommended by a collaborative effort between US Fish and Wildlife and Pheasants Forever. Students will problem-solve on this topic. The final Wildlife Management Plan submitted by the students will be partially funded by the Pheasants Forever and Nebraska Game and Parks.

NOTE: All management plans will require the final approval of the City of Imperial.

The City of Imperial will begin restoration during the spring and summer of 1998. The city will assist in repairing and maintaining the access road. Private contractors, funded by Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, will be hired by the city to implement restoration and conservation actions. Area students (grades 4th-12th) will also participate.

In the proposal's words, "students in the Upper Republican Natural Resource District (URNRD) Schools (Imperial, Benkelman, Grant, Wheatland, Wauneta, Venango, Haigler, Lamar, Champion, and Madrid) will learn the effect that every decision has on the biological diversity of the environment through hands-on experiences in this newly established Outdoor Classroom… Photographs, sounds, student interactions and text will document the seasonal activities and accomplishments. This information will be posted on the Imperial Grade School and Chase County High School Web Server for observation by all Nebraskans. Future development of the site will involve grant applications to the EPA for remote weather and water sensors to be connected to the Internet. The Light Dam site will serve as a remote sensor center for problem solving future wetland and grassland enhancements made by Nebraskans, as well as national students. The Light Dam will be an excellent 'Outdoor Environmental Classroom' and curriculum integration center for students and communities across Nebraska and the United States."

PROJECT TIMELINE

  • Spring 1998: Private contractors will remove car bodies, trees, provide dam rehabilitation (reinforce earthen dam) add rip rap to stabilize the earthen dam located at 640 acre site.
  • June 1998: Environmental Research Teams from Upper Republican NRD area will gather baseline data for the 226 marshland acre tract below the dam on the Frenchman River, the 345 acre Native Grass (Prairie) area and the 29 acre lake area. This data will be used to design plans and determine effects of future wildlife/livestock/recreation management, then will be posted on the Internet for all Nebraskans.
  • Summer 1998: Private contractor will dredge the lake to enhance the fishery environment and create a variety of island land forms for nesting purposes.
  • Fall/Winter 1998-99: Students from the Upper Republican NRD will create a Wildlife Management Plan for specific areas in the 226 acre marshland area below the dam located on the Frenchman River. The plan will be based on baseline data, input from URNRD, NGP, USFW, UNL, Pheasants Forever and City of Imperial mentors. The presentation will be produced using Power Point multi-media and delivered to judges from the above organizations for evaluation and selection of best overall plan.
  • Fall/Winter 1998-99: Agriculture and business students from the Upper Republican NRD area, using the baseline data, will develop a Multi-media Livestock Management Plan for the 345-acre prairie area. This plan will be mentored by URNRD, NRCS, UNL, NGP and City of Imperial. Judges from the above organizations will select the most feasible plan.
  • Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer 1998 to 2000: Students from Imperial will catalog, on a yearly basis, the changing seasons that occur in the 640 acre tract owned by the City of Imperial. Photographs, sounds, text will document the seasonal changes and activities. This information will be posted on the Imperial Grade School/Chase County High School Web Server for all Nebraskans to observe.
  • March 1999: The City of Imperial will present the selected Livestock Management Plan to the current land lessee for implementation. The plan will be implementation for one year.
  • June 1999: S.C.O.R.E. camp participants and local volunteers will implement the parts of the selected Wildlife Management Plan.
  • June 1999: Community volunteers and representatives from URNRD, NGP, Pheasants Forever and USFW will implement the remaining components of the Wildlife Management Plan.
  • Fall/Winter 1999-2001: Students from the Upper Republican NRD will create a Recreation Management plan for the 29-acre lake area. The plan will be based on baseline data, input from URNRD, NGP, and City of Imperial. The presentation will be produced using Power Point multi-media and delivered to judges from the above organizations for evaluation and selection.
  • Summer 2001: Industrial Arts students in each school in the Upper Republican NRD will construct items designated by the selected Recreation Management Plan, such as picnic tables, trash containers, etc.
  • Summer 2001: Student volunteers will implement other components of the plan, such as walking paths, duck blinds, fish stocking and playground areas.
  • August 2001: Environmental Research Teams from the Upper Republican NRD consisting of students, community and organizations will conduct the final analysis of the effects of wildlife habitat, livestock management and recreation on the site.
  • Fall/Winter 2000-2001: English and Social Studies students will create a brochure advertising the Imperial Light Dam site. The brochure will be posted on the Internet, as well as placed at the Tourism Guide sites located along Interstate 80.

Congratulations, project team! And, thank you for saving a piece of our local history.

  

 

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