Late February 2011: Platte River Ice Jam Affects Polk And Merrick Counties

During the day on Sunday, February 27, 2011 Emergency Managers and Law Enforcement from Platte, Polk, and Merrick Counties reported that an ice jam had developed on the Platte River. The location of the ice jam was near the Highway 92 bridge south of Clarks. The ice jam has caused river levels to rise, threatening nearby homes, cabins and roads. On Sunday evening, a dirt dike was built to help protect homes on the south side of the river. The flooding has continued on into Monday, February 28th, and a mile and a half of Prairie Island Road, which is west of Highway 92 and just south of the Platte River in Merrick County, was closed due to rising water levels. As of Monday afternoon the ice jam is approximately 3 miles long, and according to area residents, had grown further west since Sunday evening.

On March 1st, Polk County Emergency Management reported that the river was up, and the ice jam remained unchanged.

Photos below show the extent of the ice jam and flooding, courtesy of Bob Carey, Emergency Manager of Polk County.


Looking north across the river at the Highway 92 bridge south of Clarks.	Looking north across the river at the Highway 92 bridge south of Clarks.

Looking north across the river. The Clarks grain elevator can be seen in the distance.	Taken from road nearby homes on the south side of the Platte River. A dirt dike was built Sunday evening to protect the homes.

Additional photos of the ice jam (shown below) were taken by John, Linda and Angela Oder on February 28th and March 1st.


West side of Highway 92 Bridge, February 28th.	Platte River Flooding, looking northwest February 28th.	Prairie Island Road closed.

Platte River ice jam, March 1st.	Northeast side of the Platte River, March 1.	Northwest side of the Platte River, March 1.