April 28, 2016 at 8:00 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Lands For Conservation:

  Kenneth Fencl    41.5 acres             $    9,130.00

Conservation Work:

  Kenneth Fencl     Basins w/Tile         $    4,835.07

                                                         $ 13,965.07

Lands For Conservation:

  Robert Hedges etal          40 acres               $ 7,360.00 

  Ronald  Hula                    5 acres                $    920.00

                                                                    $ 8,280.00

(NOTE: After the Projects Committee met, it was discovered that Robert Hedges acres should have been listed at 40 acres, not 28 as presented.  However the approved total dollar amount remains unchanged) 

Septic System Upgrade:

Mountford met with NDEQ on April 8th to review final inputs to the Shell Creek Water Quality Implementation Plan.  It will now be sent back to EPA for final concurrence. After that concurrence is received, we can hopefully move toward grade stabilization structure construction. Attached is a revised draft for your review, however some other revisions were made more recently.  The final plan will be provided with all revisions when available.

Melissia Foreman completed the NET quarterly report as we prepare for future projects. 

Attached is Mainelli Wagner & Associates $2,321.27 statement for design work complected on Shell Creek grade stabilization structures.  After this payment, there will be $1,168.35 remaining on our $49,040 contract.  

As part of the Wahoo Creek Water Quality Plan, we committed to monitor the water quality in the watershed to document the benefits of land treatment practices applied and identify future priority areas.  

Mountford has been working with NDEQ on setting up weekly sampling at 18 stream sites in the watershed, May through September, 2016.  NDEQ personnel will take the water samples and set them up in a incubator in our lab.  LPNNRD staff will take sample readings after 24 hours and report to NDEQ. We will be using carryover Sand and Duck Creek grant funds for this monitoring project.  Since we are over matched on other 319 grants, there will be no financial requirement from LPNNRD.  This sampling will not only help us document progress being made through our efforts it will also help us remain in a good position to obtain future grants for helping landowners apply conservation practices.

Attached is the Project Implementation Plan for the Wahoo Creek Special Study (monitoring).  Included is in-kind contributions from the NRD for reading the bacteria plates and some incidental activities we would have to the project. NDEQ requested entering into a Memorandum of Agreement for the in-kind contribution,  to directly connect the NRD with the project.  NDEQ has been negotiating with EPA for quick turnaround so we can start monitoring next week. 

As authorized by the Board, Assistant Manager Mountford has signed and returned required paperwork on our approved $106,000 grant award from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (as attached). 

As reported last month, with the successful approval of our NET and NDEQ grants in the Wahoo Creek Watershed, we are ready to discuss moving forward with the design of two larger grade stabilization structures in the watershed. JEO has proposed a contract to complete this design work which would be paid by the grants.  Saunders County, who is a project partner, has offered to contract with JEO, and LPNNRD would reimburse them with grant funds.  JEO completed the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan and assisted with the applications for moving into this next project phase. John Peterson with JEO will be present to answer questions about their proposal.

Moving forward, it is important to first get clarification from NDEQ if we and/or the County are required to send out Requests for Proposals to various firms to complete this work.  We also need to complete a formal grant agreement with NDEQ before any contract is approved.  The Committee is asked to discuss this situation and give input. 

LPNNRD has been a long time partner with Platte Center their bank stabilization project on the portion of Elm Creek that flows through the Village.  They are requesting that our budgeted project cost-share support be carried into fiscal year 2017 since they will not be completing this project until after July 1. 

With the upcoming spring and summer application of conservation practices in the Lower Platte North NRD area NRCS District Conservationist Mark Walkenhorst  is requesting (as attached) our consideration to hire four collage age students from May to end of July, 2016, to assist in the promotion, application and planning of the EQIP and NRD conservation programs (especially the Shell Creek, Sand and Duck and Wahoo creek watersheds).  

The four individuals will also assist county NRCS and NRD technicians with the following activities; Addressing NRD application’s and sign-ups, working with landowners and producers concerning irrigation practices such as irrigation water management and the review and documentation for payment certification on any flowmeters, and any other irrigation requests.  The will also assist the NRD and NRCS technicians with the spring/summer application workload regarding EQIP and NRD projects that have been approved. This assistance will be providing assistance to the technicians in the survey, design and layout of the various conversation practices (water and sediment control basins, terraces, waterways and underground outlets) planned for this spring/summer. 

These students will also, assist with the various agronomy practices that have been or will be installed this summer. Verification and assistance to the landowners and producers in the design and application of Residue Mgt. - No Till, Cover Crops, Critical Area Planting, Permanent seeding for CRP, NRCS contracts and NRD applications and assist with the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program contracts in the five counties. 

 In addition, they will assist the administrative assistants in all five counties with administration (organization, management) of the NRD applications for the Lower Platte North.

Lastly, they will be used to work with landowners and producers in Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte and Saunders concerning 2016 compliance spot checks/field reviews. It is intended that these individuals will start promoting and working with landowners and producers, by looking ahead to 2017, and making them aware that HEL compliance procedures specific to levels of erosion and the control of “all” ephemeral erosion will be changing.

Mark's total proposed $17,600 dollars needed would fall within our normal annual budgeted amounts used to assist NRCS technicians with field layout of conservation practices.

We have received PMRNRD's annual $150,000 payment request for the Western Sarpy/Clear Creek Project.

Since we usually get committee/board approval for payment at our June Board meeting, no recommendation is needed at this time, but the invoice is attached for review and questions.