College Center

Northeast Community College and Wayne State College recently decided to join efforts and expand their offerings in northeast Nebraska. At a time when the region is experiencing strong economic growth, the two schools decided to construct a college campus in South Sioux City. Along with the city of South Sioux City, the colleges are working to have the college open for classes in 2010. Olsson Associates has served as a subcontractor to provide environmental solutions and help with project planning.

As part of the College Center project, Northeast Community College and Wayne State College are proposing to realign and improve a concrete-lined ditch to a more natural state. Realigning the drainage will create visual access from Highway 77 and provide "framed views" along a major entryway corridor through South Sioux City. The drainage ditch realignment also provides the opportunity to restore natural hydrologic processes in the channel, create wetlands, establish several acres of native prairie grasses, and create a park-like environment for students, faculty, and the community. The natural resources on the site will be enjoyed by users of the college and be visible from a future city trail.

Olsson Associates was hired to obtain a Section 404 Permit from the Corps of Engineers and to offer planning and design solutions for rerouting more than 1,000 feet of stream channel and creating wetlands. To comply with the Clean Water Act and obtain state and federal permits, channel and wetland mitigation will take place on-site. Mitigating on-site allows the opportunity for balance between the natural and built environments and neighboring land uses.

Olsson has provided engineering services for the rerouted channel and reconnecting wetlands with the floodplain. The project also has plans to protect existing wetlands on the project site and allow for future development to occur around the protected resources. A planting plan consisting of native grass and wetland species was developed for stabilizing the channel, wetlands, and buffer areas. The natural resources on the site will add value to the project while enhancing and protecting the environment.