NORFOLK, Neb. -- The City of Norfolk is looking to add variety to its instream project while also cutting some costs.

Monday saw the Norfolk City Council unanimously approve a decrease of $103,480 to its Instream Improvement Project on the Elkhorn River.

By combining two planned drop structures into one, the city could save expenses and install a new feature.

This area in the river between the east Hy-Vee North to Elm Avenue would then allow room for the creation of a river wave.

Such an addition wouldn't add anything to current expenditures according to city engineer Steve Rames, in fact the cost would actually go down.

"When we started looking at this...we probably wouldn't have brought it if it was going to cost more," Rames said. "Absolute worst case this is breakeven. We think we will see a hundred thousand dollars in savings as a function of this."

Steve Seigle, an engineer on the Instream Improvement Project, said this wave is a relatively new concept in the United States, with only five or fewer locations existing in the country. 

The wave would be multifunctional and wouldn't hinder other rivercraft, but those in kayaks and canoes can still avoid the first drop if they desire. 

When it comes to safety, that surfing will have to give the right of way to kayakers, moving out of the way as the surfers will always be looking upstream. 

The city unanimously approved the decrease on the project, as well as an agreement for no more than $45,000 to be paid for the design of the combined drop structures.