April 26, 2017 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

The FYRA Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Management Plan contract was tabled until the Operation & Maintenance Manual for the Wanahoo Environmental Restoration Project was complete and reviewed. 

The District did receive the Sand Creek Environmental Restoration O & M Manual front end text without appendices on April 20, 2017. The entire document should arrive in the mail this week.

Rationale: 

There are no CREP contracts to pay this month.

We made our second application to kill any cool season grasses at Homestead. We are waiting for the warm season grass to arrive and we will plant immediately.

Rationale:  O & M staff repaired another restroom door at Czechland Lake and water hydrants at Homestead & Czechland. We continue to add dirt to the bird viewing parking area on county road O. We assisted in a prescribed burn on the Wanahoo Wildlife Management areas.  We bagged and delivered trees and started tree planting.  Also repaired a toe drain pipe on watershed dam Bellwood 5-H (see photo).

Rationale: 

The Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Committee met before the O, E & RW Committee at 8:00 a.m.

Attached is the April 26th Agenda, March 29th Minutes, O & M Manual, FRYA Professional Services Agreement, Sotak response to Wanahoo Weir Modification & the O & M Manual and Tim Gokie, NDNR, Dam modification comments.

Ron Morrissey on behalf of the landowners offered to pay for $10,000 of the FYRA cost for developing a Lake Level Plan.

Rationale: 

To date the Park Superintendent has not started.  The first two weeks there was one employee, currently there are two.  We are unsure as to when anyone else will start.  We believe the Superintendent should be here to start the season the beginning of April.  The District will closely follow the inter-local agreement as to what our responsibilities are.

We have one inquiry from a local couple to be a "Campground Host Couple" at Wanahoo. They were sent to apply through the Game & Parks Commission as they make the arrangements for this program.  We do not know the status of that request.

The District received the $21,701.50 profit from Game & Parks Commission from the 2016 season and have placed it into a separate NPAIT account.

Rationale: 

A meeting was held in Fremont on Thursday, April 20 concerning problems recently found in the FEMA FIRM 100 year discharges in the Lower Platte.  Officials from Cities, County's, NRD's, FEMA, DNR, and FYRA Engineering were in attendance.  FYRA Engineering explained the discrepancy they found in the FEMA discharge flow in the Platte River and how this may affect communities from Columbus to the mouth of the River. It was explained how long and difficult a process it is for FEMA to revise the current flood plain mapping. The ice induced flows must also be factored in to the equation but, we are waiting to find out if NDOR's ice flow equation is approved by FEMA. If so, that ice flow factor can be used by FYRA.

Current FIRM revisions are prioritized by each state with remapping in the Blue Basin currently moving forward and remapping for the Elkhorn Basin currently being organized. It will be at least 5 years before any new FEMA FIRM mapping is started in the Lower Platte Basin.  If communities want to address their own flood zones by panels it would be at their own expense to get them revised.

We will work with FYRA to come up with a plan to accelerate FIRM remapping in our basin.

Rationale:  We have not heard back from Mr. Gifford  regarding the box culvert on Ditch 10 since Lausterer had written them a letter.

Rationale: 

The homeowners that live on Woods Dr. in Fremont have backyards that back up to our Rawhide Ditch 10 (see attached photo's). Four homeowners have sheds and other items that cross our property line which hinders our capability of shredding the south ditch bank in a wet year.  We have fielded complaints in the past that the ditch bank behind the houses doesn't get shredded. It's very difficult to back large equipment on a slope to avoid the sheds and try to keep the shredder from sliding into the wet bottom of the ditch. We have hauled our small tractor and 6' shredder up there to appease the homeowners.

Heimann sent a letter in December to the homeowners asking them to remove their sheds and items from our property to give us better capability to shred the south bank. Their deadline is May 15th.  One homeowner made a request to care for the south bank if they could leave the sheds and items in place.  The District's legal counsel will need to advise.

Heimann contacted Brian Newton, acting City Administrator after committee meeting.  Brian forwarded the information to the City's Planning and Codes Department. He's in support of whatever is needed to keep Ditch 10 clear of obstructions.

Rationale: 

Heimann and Mountford attended the final construction inspection for the Camp Ashland fuse plug on April 20th (see photo's).  Final seeding has been held up because of weather but, will be completed shortly if not already.  The project construction looked very good.  The plug opening is larger than the previous, it's 25' - 26' wide.

The COE also wants to do an inspection on the Clear Creek Levee one more time with the District before the O & M Manual comes out.

Rationale:  Heimann inspected the Kay Poppe project on Skull Creek.  Heimann recommended to Kremlacek that a small amount of soil should be added to the top of the berm, some fine grading or leveling be done and then seeding. Mr. Kremlacek agreed.

Rationale: 

The Wahoo Newspaper eAd and KTIC radio ad for May will continue promotion for the chemigation deadlines for new permits and renewals.  The ads are attached. 

Rationale: 

Nebraska will be hosting the North American Envirothon in 2020.  Over 260 students and 150 sponsors and teachers from the United States and Canada are expected to attend.  NARD has created a detailed draft budget for the event using information from the 2017 North American Envirothon to project costs for 2020 and what amount is needed from each district.  Lower Platte North is asked for $12,735 to support the 2020 Envirothon.  This will be $4,245 per year for three budget years.  Please see the attached information regarding the North American Envirothon.

Rationale: 

The Spring Conservation Sensation is Wednesday, May 3^rd at Czechland Lake from 9 am-2 pm.  Registration begins at 8:30 am. 

173 students are registered to participate in the event.  Presenters include staff from LPNNRD, local NRCS, Lower Platte South NRD, Nebraska Game & Parks, David City FFA, and Nebraska Extension (Butler Co. & Colfax Co.).  David City FFA members will be group leaders helping move students between sessions. The full schedule is attached. 

Rationale: 

The 2017 Soil & Water Stewardship Week is recognized as April 30^th through May 7^th.  Educational materials that were ordered have been delivered to schools and churches.  An invoice for printing materials has been received from Print Solutions for $1,888.45.  The invoice is attached.

Rationale: 

In November, the LPNNRD awarded a grant to the Schuyler FFA Chapter to assist with a tree growing project.  They have shared with us that the seedlings are germinating well in the Rootmaker trays and they have a variety of species included Black Walnut, Chestnut Oak, Red Oak, Bur Oak, and Kentucky Coffee Tree.  They have enjoyed seeing the progress each day and thanked the NRD for helping support their project.  Photos that they shared of the project are attached.

Rationale: 

Each year, a promotional item is given away to the students who participate in Spring Conservation Sensation.  This year the giveaway item purchased was discs with the Lower Platte North NRD logo.  This will serve as the event giveaway and a promotion for the Lake Wanahoo Nature Education Trail/Disc Golf Course as well as future opportunities.  The invoice is attached.

Rationale:  The sponsorship decals for baskets at the Lake Wanahoo Nature Education Trail/Disc Golf Course have been purchased from Sign Solutions.  These costs will be funded with the sponsorship donations.

Rationale: 

LPNNRD received one application for the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded to two high school seniors who plan to pursue higher education relating to science or natural resources.  Staff reviewed the applications and recommend to award Hannah Haase the scholarship.  We would like to notify Hannah prior to her graduation ceremony.  Her application is attached.

Rationale: 

Emergency Response Plan and Emergency Contact lists have been updated for each of the two systems as required by State.

Consumer Confidence Reports are underway and will be completed and filed in the next 30 days.

Rationale: 

Water samples have been collected and submitted to the State for testing.

Meters have been read and bills will be going out this week.

We have been contacted by two potential new connections, one on Lake View Drive and the other on Browning Drive.

Rationale: 

Water samples have been collected and submitted to the State for testing.

Meters have been read and bills will be going out this week.