2024 Stormwater Bond

Stormwater Improvements Bond: Election Date: November 5, 2024; Bond Issue: $13.9 million; Estimated Cost to Property Owners: $9.65 annually (median $281,610 home)

The stormwater bond helps maintain the health and safety of our community members and their property through stormwater projects that:

Prevent and manage flooding
Reduce pollution in waterways
Ensure sound infrastructure during rain events
Improve water quality
Prevent erosion
Protect aquatic habitat
Offer aesthetic and recreational benefits

2024 Stormwater Bond Projects

Urban Drainage Projects

Identified in Urban Drainage Studies to reduce flooding in streets and neighborhoods

48th Street at Cornhusker Highway Railroad Undercrossing

Improve the storm drainage and pumping system at the 48th Street railroad undercrossing to reduce frequency and severity of flooding of this area
10th Street and Park Avenue Area

Replacement of the currently undersized storm drainage system in the area of 10th Street and Park Avenue to reduce localized flooding to public and private infrastructure
11th Street and Harrison Avenue Area

Replacement of the currently undersized storm drainage system in the area of 11th Street and Harrison Avenue to reduce localized flooding to public and private infrastructure
63rd Street and Aylesworth Avenue Area

Replacement of the currently undersized storm drainage system in the area of 63rd Street and Aylesworth Avenue to reduce localized flooding to public and private infrastructure

Stream Stabilization Projects

Identified in the Comprehensive Watershed Master Plan as priority projects to reduce stream erosion, improve water quality, and protect the natural resources (in partnership with Lower Platte South NRD)

Haines Branch near South Folsom Street

Stabilize the erosion of the Haines Branch channel and stream banks to protect West Van Dorn Street, prevent future erosion from impacting public and private infrastructure in the area, and protect the natural resources in the Haines Branch watershed

More info
Southeast Upper Salt Creek near 27th Street

Stabilize the erosion of the Southeast Upper Salt Creek channel and stream banks at the location of a future wastewater line to prevent future erosion from impacting public and private infrastructure in the area

More info
Southeast Upper Salt Creek near 40th Street

Stabilize the erosion of the Southeast Upper Salt Creek channel at the new 40th Street bridge to prevent future erosion from impacting public and private infrastructure in the area

More info
Middle Creak near SW 40th Street

Stabilize erosion of the Middle Creek channel and stream banks to prevent future erosion from impacting public and private infrastructure in the area

More info
Upper Wagon Train near Bennet Road

Stabilize the erosion of the Upper Wagon Train channel to prevent future erosion from impacting public and private infrastructure in the area

More info
Miscellaneous Stream Stabilization

Miscellaneous repairs to address urgent erosion issues

Parks Drainage Projects

Improve the use and functionality of parks infrastructure

Beal Slough at Pine Lake Trail Underpass Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation of the Beal Slough channel at the Pine Lake trail undercrossing to reduce sedimentation of the trail after high water events to improve the safety of this trail undercrossing
Herbert Park Channel Stabilization

Stabilize the erosion of the natural channel in Herbert Park to protect public and private infrastructure in and adjacent to the park
Stuhr Park Channel Stabilization

Stabilize the erosion of the concrete lined channel in Stuhr Park to protect public and private infrastructure in and adjacent to the park
Mahoney Park Channel Stabilization

Stabilize the erosion of the concrete lined channel in Mahoney Park to protect public and private infrastructure in and adjacent to the park

Additional Projects

Continue to Help Manage Flood Risks

Street Drainage

Funds for emergency drainage projects related to streets and drainage replacements for streets being rehabilitated.
Deadmans Run Flood Reduction Project

Additional funding to complete this project to remove homes and business from the floodplain along Deadmans Run.
Citywide Inlet Top Repairs

Replacement of damaged storm drain inlet tops at various locations around the city.
Street Sweepers

Purchase of street sweepers to improve maintenance operations to remove pollutants from streets and debris that could clog the storm drain system.
Urban Drainage Studies

Study of the closed storm drainage system to prioritize areas experiencing local flooding and propose projects to improve the storm drainage system capacity to reduce flooding in these area.

Flood Reduction and Floodplain Preservation: $3.6M (26%)

Stream Stabilization: $3.6M (26%)

Urban Drainage Improvements and Studies: $5.7M (41%)

Street Sweepers to Improve Water Quality: $1M (7%)

Total: $13.9M

Cost Per Household: $9.65

History of Stormwater Bonds

For over 40 years, Lincoln’s community members have approved stormwater bonds to fund the capital improvement projects in our storm and drainage systems. These projects have helped:

Improve the City's stormwater and drainage systems;
Protect personal health and property;
Remove residential and commercial properties from floodplains;
Open new land for development;
Stabilize banks of streams and creeks; and
Attract federal, state and regional funding partners.

Fifteen bonds have been passed by voters since 1977.

1978 $3.4 M
1980 $3.455 M
1983 $2.55 M
1986 $6.8 M
1991 $5.6 M
1995 $4 M
1997 $8.3 M
2002 $7.5 M
2003 $10.0 M
2005 $9.95 M
2007 $8.3 M
2011 $8.2 M
2013 $7.9 M
2016 $6.3 M
2019 $9.9 M

Nine bonds have been retired.

Three of the remaining six bonds have been refinanced for lower interest rates.

Community Involvement

Virtual Public Meeting: Wednesday, October 30, 2024; 5:30 p.m.; Virtual Meeting on Zoom; Watch Recording

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a stormwater bond?

The City is required to seek City Council approval to place issuance of a stormwater general obligation bond on the ballot. This allows the community members of Lincoln to decide whether the City should issue a general obligation bond utilizing property tax to fund stormwater related projects. The bond provides capital for these projects and is repaid over 20 years with general funds (property tax receipts).

Stormwater bonds will assist with proposed projects for:

Urban drainage, floodplain management, and streams stability
Infrastructure renewal and public safety
Providing stormwater infrastructure to new growth areas
Repairing stormwater infrastructure to existing urban areas

What do stormwater improvements do for the Lincoln community?

For more than 40 years, Lincoln’s Stormwater bonds funded stormwater improvements that protect Lincoln homes, businesses, and families from the impacts of flooding.

Stormwater bonds fund stormwater projects that reduce stormwater runoff and flooding, repair degraded stream channels, repair and improve the existing urban drainage system, and improve water quality.

No other City revenues are utilized for stormwater projects. Sometimes the City will partner with the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District and federal agencies to share the cost of projects. Without the passing of the 2024 stormwater bond, future stormwater projects will not be possible. Past bonds have been invested in past stormwater bond projects.

History of Lincoln stormwater bonds:

Fifteen bonds have been utilized since 1977.

Subsequent year of bonds include 1978, 1980, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2019
That is over 40 years of improvements to help protect Lincoln homes and businesses from flooding.
Nine bonds have been retired (paid off).
Three of the remaining six bonds have been refinanced for lower interest rates.

What's the cost per house?

The cost will be $9.65 per year (80 cents per month) for a home valued at $281,610, according to the assessor’s 2023 valuation.

Debt service will start in 2025-26 fiscal year, which is when the bonds will first be included in the tax levy.

How much is the stormwater bond?

The bond is $13.9 million. It is proposed to be divided up into $3.6M for flood reduction, $3.6M for stream stabilization, $1M for water quality, $5.3M for urban storm drainage projects in all four quadrants of the city, and. $0.4M for urban drainage studies.

How do stormwater projects impact my community, and me, personally?

In May 2025, we will be remembering the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 100-year flood event in Lincoln. The Salt Creek levee held during this flooding and prevented millions of dollars of potential flood damage after seeing stream stabilization efforts and ongoing maintenance.

Over the decades, Lincoln has been mostly spared from flooding that has taken place in many other Nebraska municipalities and rural locations over the years, including the most recent 2019 flood. Stormwater projects that the City of Lincoln has completed through ongoing planning efforts have helped reduce and manage flooding impacts.

The City designates stormwater projects in all four quadrants of the city. This helps provide a balanced approach of work to prevent and manage flood risks across the community. The City also prioritizes areas of where flooding has been reported by homeowners and businessowners. Steady, planned renewal and stream stability projects are built to protect our overall community, residents, and businesses.

Why did the City decide to select these stormwater projects?

The City has completed several studies that have helped determine where stormwater issues occur in the Lincoln community and where projects would help manage these issues. The Comprehensive Watershed Master Plan adopted in 2022 identified priority projects to address stream erosion issues.

For example, channel stabilization assists with ensuring flood waters won’t damage infrastructure or increase the risk of flooding along the channel.

Another example includes Urban Drainage/Street Drainage which is where crews repair, maintain, and replace stormwater pipes that are currently already under the street. Some pipes in different neighborhoods need to be replaced with larger ones to minimize flooding in the street. By replacing them, it assists to reduce flooding in the already developed area.

What will happen if the 2024 stormwater bond is not approved?

The City has no other revenues dedicated to stormwater improvements. Past bond funds have been invested in past stormwater projects that have been completed except for the Deadman’s Run Flood Reduction Project which is saving funds from the 2019 bond along with using some funds from the 2024 Stormwater Bond to fund this large project.

Lincoln would lose significant funds for projects due to not being able to share in costs with Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. If the City cannot share in funds, this means these projects will not be able to be completed. There will continue to be areas that are impacted by flooding or stream erosion in the city that could cause damage to individuals’ property and continue to be unsafe for the community.