GREEN TWP., Pa. (EYT) — The Nebraska Bridge, in Green Township, Forest County, has a reputation as a special tourist place among both locals and visitors to our region.

The story of the bridge itself is interesting.

Built in 1933, its name was derived from the small lumber community of Nebraska that existed nearby. At that time, Tionesta Creek flowed freely all the way to the Allegheny River, and while the creek did occasionally swell during particularly rainy times, flooding wasn’t much of an issue in the area.

However, further downstream, flooding became a serious issue as development increased along the Allegheny River. The flooding was the catalyst that brought the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the area, where they began building the Tionesta Dam, located at the confluence of Tionesta Creek and the Allegheny River, during the late 1930s.

The dam, which was finally put into service in 1940, caused a major rise in the water level in the Tionesta Creek. The residents of the community of Nebraska were forced to relocate due to the rise in the water level overtaking the area.

The 187-foot-long truss bridge, however, remained in place, though it now usually sits less than two feet above the water. During periods of heavy precipitation or major snowmelts upstream, the bridge regularly disappears underwater entirely, sometimes for up to weeks at a time, due to the rise in the water level from the dam downstream.

According to the Army Corp of Engineers, the normal summer pool at Tionesta Lake sits at 1,089 feet above sea level but at maximum capacity, it can rise as high as 1,170 feet above sea level. That increase also means far higher water levels upstream, which regularly leave Nebraska Bridge underwater.

According to the Pittsburgh District Daily Reservoir Summary and 5-Day Forecast, the Reservoir at Tionesta Lake was measured at 1097.63 feet above sea level at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 1, leaving the bridge above water, and is forecast to continue to recede to 1088.54 feet above sea level by Saturday, July 6.

However, just days ago only the topmost part of the bridge was visible above the waterline.

Over the intervening years, the bridge has become something of a legend, and it even has an entire Facebook group, with well over 3,000 members and an average of ten posts per day, discussing everything from current conditions to past events and memories connected to the bridge. The Facebook group mainly focuses on sharing photos of current conditions at the bridge for those outside the area.

Nevertheless, lately going down Nebraska Road to get a photo of the bridge when it is flooded has become a difficult task, according to some locals.

Brian Wise, who has a camp in the area, says he was recently stopped by a ranger — though he wasn’t certain what agency the ranger represented — while the water was still flooding the bridge. He was told not to travel down the road past the gate when the bridge is closed.

“I used to drive down there all the time when it’s underwater to get pictures and never had an issue before,” Wise told exploreClarion.com.

“I drove down last weekend, past the gate, because I was told it was almost completely under.

“(I) got stopped when I got down there and they asked me if I didn’t see the sign. I politely said ‘Yes I did but I heard the bridge was underwater, so I wanted to come down just to get a picture.’ They told me ‘Get your picture and never come back down again if that road closed sign is out’ and said if I would, I’d get a citation.”

Jennifer Bergad, who also has a property in the area, had a similar experience with representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers.

“He approached my vehicle and said: ‘When the gate is up this area is completely off limits.’

“My family has owned property in the area since the 60s. We have always driven down to check out the bridge. We have never been approached and told to stay out. There are multiple pictures and questions whether the bridge is open weekly. I’m not sure what has changed.”

A local resident and camper in the area, who asked to remain anonymous, noted: “That is a current discussion between Army Corps and local law enforcement. When the waterways are deemed hazardous and closed to the public for recreation, rangers have the authority to issue warnings and possible citations.”

The resident explained that recently there was a vehicle rescued from the water due to poor visibility at night.

“When traveling that road you cannot judge how high the water has risen until it’s too late,” the resident added.

Bergad added: “It’s laughable that they post signs and are now enforcing no one to drive to the bridge, but you can walk right up to the spillway where there are thousands of gallons of water spilling out every minute.

“There are no signs or barriers at the spillway. That seems to be a much more dangerous situation to me than driving down to observe whether the Nebraska Bridge is covered.”

According to Patrick Kline, Chair of the Board of Supervisors for Green Township, the supervisors were unaware of any changes to enforcement at the gate on Nebraska Road.

“We haven’t heard from anyone. And, the sign says bridge closed, not road closed,” Kline noted.

“I go down myself every day, twice a day, to look at the bridge. I haven’t seen anyone down there. I’m not saying it isn’t happening, but I haven’t seen it myself.”

According to a representative of the Marienville-based State Police, the department has not been involved in any warnings or citations recently issued at the bridge.

Forest County Sherriff Robert L. Wolfgang noted that although representatives of the Sheriff’s Department patrol the area, they aren’t currently issuing warnings or citations to individuals who go past the gate.

“We currently have a contract with U.S. Corps of Engineers to patrol their grounds, but we have not been doing any enforcement involving putting anyone out by the bridge,” Wolfgang stated.

“We haven’t been instructed to issue warnings or citations or to do anything different than we have in the past, which is to just observe unless people are doing something to endanger themselves or others.”

Nevertheless, according to Sheriff Wolfgang, Army Corps of Engineers Rangers have been issuing warnings to people and not allowing them beyond the gates when the bridge is closed.

“But, my guys have not issued any warnings or citations or put anyone out down by the bridge.”

Sheriff Wolfgang also noted that there has been some discussion of a meeting with all involved stakeholders in the bridge area, including county officials, to discuss possible changes in the signage and enforcement at the gates.

Nebraska Bridge — July 1, 2019. Courtesy Scott Mealy/Facebook.

As of late Monday, the flooding at the bridge receded – for the moment.

Calls to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tionesta Lake regarding the issue were not immediately returned.