May 9, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.

 

Rationale:  The GMDA Summer Conference will be held June 29-July 1 in Yakima, Washington.

Rationale:  Mountford will gave a brief update from the NARD Employee Benefits and Stop-Loss (Insurance) meetings held on April 22nd at CPNRD, Grand Island.

Rationale:  The monthly Weaver Conference Call will be the first week of May.

Rationale:  Meghan will be present at Board Meeting to review in detail the LPRCA's proposed FY 2017 budget. Attachments can be found in the Projects Committee Minutes.

Rationale:  No offer has been made on the Lickteig Farm that is listed by National Land.  If the farm is not sold by May 15 then our agreement with Dave Lickteig has us purchasing the farm back from him.

Rationale:  Lausterer has received a letter from Tom Thomsen on behalf of the Ourada's on Sand Creek Site #15, a copy is attached.  Jovan's advice is to handle this as a claim. Ourada's and their attorney were present at Executive Committee Meeting to present their claim.

Rationale: 

On April 19 we met with Zelle HR to begin our Wage and Salary Study.  As specified our Job Descriptions will be reviewed and updated, our placement and job codes on the State Salary Survey will be reviewed and a comprehensive look at our salary system will be made.  The goal for completion is 45 days.

A copy of the Zelle HR Master agreement is attached.

Rationale:  Attached find the Summary of the Lake Wanahoo Loan

Rationale:  CREP payment for Larry Bruhn on 4.7 acres in Colfax County.  NRD's payment is $77.08.  Total contract is $578.10.  There is one more payment on this contract.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has shredded down many of the remaining trees in the fields that were burned on the Wanahoo property. We used our saw attachment to cut the larger trees on this same property and cleaned up any debris.  We've bagged and delivered trees to the local NRCS offices for customers to pick up. We are also monitoring a couple beaver dam issues.

Rationale:  M.E. Collins has finished the paving project on the Lake Wanahoo entrance just beyond the kiosk.  An invoice of $32,356.56 is attached. This is the final payment to the completed project. The NE Game & Parks Commission will be invoiced for $75,000, NRDF will assist with $56,565.42, Saunders County Lodging Tax Fund $8,000 and the NRD share is $29,710.28.

Rationale:  The entry road beyond the Kiosk (approx. 200 yards) at Lake Wanahoo flooded frequently during heavy rains, causing the road to wash and deteriorate. An area to the west, approximately 25-30 acres drains to this point. When designing and developing the area the Corps of Engineers must have overlooked this drainage. Staff had M. E. Collins build a ditch to control this flow and direct it to the appropriate culvert. Attached is an invoice for $8,268 for this drainage improvement. NRDF will cover 60% of this improvement which is $4,960.80.

Rationale:  The assembly dates for the two playgrounds are May 18, 19 & 20.  Heimann is organizing the ground prep with NE Game & Parks, and soliciting volunteers for the three days. We need 10-12 people per site each day. We will also need volunteers to help serve lunch and/or sponsor lunch each day. Please sign up.

Rationale: 

Max Hohn is planning on placing four benches in this Saturday, April 30th.  Seth Varner will place his after the playground equipment is in.

We are receiving more request for memorial park benches and may have to purchase more. We have request from Directors Hannah, McDermott, the Gottschalk family, Pleskac, & Specht.

Rationale:  Interest in planting conservation trees is down. We have ordered 12,050 trees and shrubs and have 2,700 available for sale.  We have eight sites to plant.

Rationale:  All the non-federal partners agreed to continue the study and have signed the Amended Inter-local agreement. We will anticipate the COE asking for the funding in the new fiscal year. We have not heard anything new regarding the study.

Rationale:  The two sites approved for payment last winter were inspected and paid.  No new developments.

Rationale: 

The KTIC radio ad for April focused on flow meter installation requirements.  The Wahoo Newspaper eAd for April focused on purchasing park permits.  The ads are attached.

Rationale: 

The 2016 Soil & Water Stewardship Week is recognized as April 24th through May 1st.  Educational materials that were ordered have been delivered to schools and churches.  Thank you to all staff and directors that helped to deliver these packages.

Rationale: 

The Spring Conservation Sensation is next Wednesday, May 4^th at Czechland Lake from 9 am-2 pm.  Registration begins at 8:30 am.

223 students are registered.  Presenters include staff from LPNNRD, local NRCS, NARD, Lower Platte South NRD, Nebraska Game & Parks, and Nebraska Extension (Butler & Colfax County).  David City FFA members will be group leaders and activity assistants. We welcome any directors that are available to come and join us- either as volunteers or to observe the activities.  The full schedule is attached.  

Rationale:  LPNNRD received four applications 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 to recommend Joseph O'Brien and Destiny Johnson as the two recipients. We would like to notify the students of the award prior to graduation ceremonies.  Their applications are attached.

Rationale:  Our new billing software (AsystOL) is up and running and we have sent out all our monthly bills using this software.  The only thing we are currently waiting on is implementing a new radio reader and interface.  We have been in discussion with the Phoenix Group attempting to utilize several localized radio transmitters on each system.  If feasible, this type of process would allow us to read meters from my computer at any time during the month.  In the event Phoenix is unable to supply us with a usable reader, we will begin the process of pricing and purchasing a new handheld radio meter reader.

Rationale: 

Monthly water samples were taken on April 26th and submitted to the State for processing.  Meters will be read today or tomorrow and bills sent out.

We have replaced one meter transmitter in Colon and have two others on our list for replacement.

Will be scheduling to have our Sanitary Survey completed in May

Rationale:  Monthly water samples were taken on April 26th and submitted to the State for processing.  Meters will be read today or tomorrow and bills sent out.

Rationale:  The District received 2 new applications to irrigate new acres in the Hydrologically Connected Area. One expansion variance for 65 acres (Todd Valley subarea) and one new well variance for 160 acres (Upper Newman Grove subarea).

Rationale:  No updates

Rationale:  No Updates

Rationale:  Wells Permits Approved: Schomer approved 2 well permits since the last Committee meeting.

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Renee Rassmussen	1	0	Irrigation/Replacement	Dodge	North Bend
Perkins Irrevocable Land Trust	1	0	Irrigation/Replacement	Colfax	Octavia

The total number of approved permits for 2016 is 5.

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2016:  Correct as of 4/25/2016

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colfax	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Dodge	0	3	0	0	0	0	3
Boone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Madison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Platte	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Saunders	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Total	1	4	0	0	0	0	5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

Jeffery Temme has applied for a supplemental well in the NE 1/4, NE 1/4, Section 14, T22N, R6W, Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea. The new well will irrigate 156 acres that are currently being watered with well G-087266 (see attached map for a total of 212 acres). Well G-087266 will continue to irrigate 56 acres in the N 1/2, SE 1/4 of the same section. Attached is a map of the field in question, the well log for G-087266, and a copy of the application.

LPNNRD policy on supplemental wells requires a test hole, but no information was submitted.  He will be contacted about this requirement.

 

Rationale:  We will have a list of landowners who still need to attend the Platte - Colfax SQS (SQS #2) training class by the May 9, 2016 Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Our grant request to the WSF for cost-share on flow meters was approved, but as of April 27, 2016 we have not received a contract yet from DNR for this program.  

The Lower Platte North NRD is a funding source for the training classes (100%) on water management and 50% cost share for the soil moisture sensors, ET gauges, data readers and/or loggers, and soil probes.

The agricultural producers are responsible for 50% of the cost share for the irrigation well flow meters and 50% of the cost share for the soil sensors, etc.

The table below represents the total project cost over a three year period. 

Entire Cost for Project (2016 – 2018)

Notification will be sent to producers in the Platte - Colfax SQS area, but this cost share program likely won't begin until late summer or early fall.

Rationale: 

Tri-City Meters gave a presentation on their flow meter maintenance program (see attached sheet).

If the LPNNRD adopts this program for the fall of 2016, this will need to be a budget item for the next fiscal year (FY16-17).

 

Rationale: 

The next Technical Committee meeting is scheduled for May 4th at the Lower Loup NRD in Ord, which is the same day as the Spring Conservation Sensation (SCS).  LPNNRD staff probably won't be able to attend the Technical Comm. since everyone will be involved at Czechland Lake.  We will request any minutes and maps from the Technical Committee of LPRBC.

 

Rationale: 

Angle met with Amy Zoller of DNR on April 25, 2016 to discuss the Goals and Objectives of our V-IMP.

The latest version is attached.  After review and approval these need to be incorporated into the final plan for Board review.  The stakeholders would like to review the plan before final Board approval at a later date.

After the V-IMP is approved, the LPNNRD will need a major revision of our GWMA Rules and Regulations.

 

Rationale: 

LPNNRD Certification

Three on-line test requests have been made since the last committee meeting and three on-line tests have been completed.  These results are shown below.

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
6721	4/4/2016	Scott Rosenthal	Yes
6722	4/6/2016	Lewis Grotelueschen	Yes
6723	4/8/2016	Mark Rickert	Yes	(six tries)

 

Rationale: 

 

Saunders County Acre Certification

Chris Poole reports we are now through the bulk of Acre Certification in the District. We need to begin chasing down the ones that never sent anything back in Saunders and Dodge County. I’d like to start with Saunders, then proceed to Dodge.

There are 244 un-entered Acre Certification forms for Saunders County, most of which are landowners that have more than two acre certification forms. We need to contact the folks that never sent their forms back. The question is, what form do we want that contact to take?

1. A letter explaining the landowner or their tenant needs to come to the office and fill out the paperwork, unless they still have their forms and wish to mail them, or they will receive a “Stay of Irrigation” by X date (what date? I’d say late June).
2. Simply send a “Stay of Irrigation” explaining that to lift the stay they will need to complete their acre certification and violating a stay will result in a Cease and Desist. (would we want to send these certified?)
3. Send out new Acre Certification packets with a letter spelling out one of the above (which?)

I’m partial to Number 2 as it will likely be the impetus needed to get people in to certify.

=======================

In the past we have sent a letter to these landowners stating that they accurately complete the acre certification forms and return them to our office by a specific date, otherwise a cease and desist order will be issued against any irrigation of those specific fields.  Recommend they reply by next Water Committee May 25th or a Cease & Desist Order could be issued at the June 13th Board meeting.

 

 

Rationale: 

For 2015 we had 515 approved chemigation sites.  So far, we have received 233 chemigation renewals and 10 new permit applications.

 

County	Number of Renewals
Boone	30
Butler	22
Colfax	8
Dodge	32
Madison	5
Platte	42
Saunders	94

 

===========================

Question on Renewal and New Chemigation Permit Fees from Producers

A renewal permit is $30 and new permit $60, which is the same price over a two year period, so some producers say why renew if the price is the same.  Therefore, they may not renew the permit if the field is going to soybeans and then these producers would get a new permit the following year.  Since we are now on rotation to inspect each well once every three years, this could work out to doing inspections once every two years with a resulting increase in work load.  Next fall we may want to decrease the price for renewals or increase the price for new permits.  This would require a change in our chemigation rules and a public hearing.

 

Rationale:  The LPNNRD has received one livestock permit modification from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County
The Maschhoff, LLC 7475 State Rte. 127 Carlyle, Illinois 62231	Swine 5,995 Nursery Swine 2,575 Finish Swine Total of 1,267.8 A.U.	Expansion of Existing  Permit	SW1/4, SW1/4, Section 19, T18N, R1W	Platte

 

 

 

The Maschhoffs operation is an expansion of an existing operation of 2,400 head of finish swine (A.U. 960) with an additional 170 head of finish swine and 5,995 nursery swine for a total of 1,267.8 A.U.

Rationale: 

No new wells has been reviewed and approved by Gottschalk for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale:  Two wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Jamie Schnakenberg – Four J Farms, LLC	Domestic	$459.56	Saunders
Keith Ziegenbein – Lazy Bear Woods, LLC	Domestic	$476.25	Saunders

Rationale: 

Staff met with Steve Peterson of USGS on April 21, 2016 to upload the ELM model onto our computers. Computers with USGS, LL, LE, and LPN will be collectively used to calculate stream depletion factors for the ELM model.  This should shorten the calculation time or run time for one simulation from weeks to several days.

The ELM model includes the upper and middle portions of the Shell Creek watershed in our District.

Rationale: 

Staff met with Aqua Geo Frameworks, ENWRA, and several NRD personnel on April 26th to discuss the approval of our Water Sustainability Fund (WSF) grant applications for AEM flights (see attached sheet).

For LPNNRD our grant request was to do detailed flights over both of our SQS areas.

Aqua Geo Frameworks (AGF) says it maybe possible to group all the helicopter flights between mid-July and early September if all the NRD contracts and at least partial funding for the projects could be obtained by mid-June.  The helicopter company requires a 30% payment before they fly to pay some of their equipment and personnel costs.  This would mean this 30% payment would have to come from FY2015-2016, but we do have money available in this fiscal year's budget.

Skytem 508 system was used to do the long flight lines in 2015 over Eastern Nebraska and were able to get readings down to 1,500 feet below the land surface.  This system is no longer available due to the difficultly to fly such large equipment.  Skytem 304, which is a smaller array, will be used for these new AEM flights of our SQS areas.  The resolution is better nearer the surface and can still get readings down to 600 feet or to the top of the bedrock.

Rationale: 

The two Level Troll data loggers purchased in May 2014 from In-Situ have both had sensor failure.  The replacement logger for one was received May 26th and has been installed in the well.  As per the instructions received from In-Situ the second logger was shipped back to In-Situ on May 27th.  Both loggers were still under warranty. 

A third logger, purchased in 2007, has been sent to In-Situ for evaluation.

 

Rationale: 

Spring GWEL measurements

Staff has completed the Spring measurements.  As anticipated the water levels were better across most of the district.  The least amount of positive change was in the Shell Creek watershed, which had comparatively lesser precipitation during the 2015 growing season than the other aquifer regions.  The “Ground Water Level Summary comparison of Spring 2015 to Spring 2016” is attached.

 

Rationale: 

Monitoring on the Wahoo Creek watershed as part of the grant through the Projects Committee is being planned for this summer in conjunction with DEQ.  DEQ personnel will do the stream water sampling then run the bacteria samples in our lab.  Our role will be to read the sample results the next day since the bacteria samples have to be incubated for 24 hours.  This monitoring will start in early May and run through early September.

 

 

Rationale: 

The GMDA Summer Session is scheduled for June 29 - July 1, 2016 in Yakima Washington.  The Conference will be held at the Downtown Holiday Inn and includes a tour of irrigation projects in the valley.  The brochure and conference agenda is attached.

 

Rationale: 

Three summer interns have been hired for 2016:  Will Brueggemann (UNL), Jacob Maslonka (UNL), and Christopher Smith (Doane).  They are schedule to all start Monday, May 9, 2016. 

We didn’t receive as many job applications this year as we have had in previous years.

 

Rationale: 

Desirae TePoel, our new I&E person reminded everyone about our upcoming Spring Conservation Sensation at Czechland Lake on Wednesday May 4th.

Other people at the Water Committee included Mary Wotipka, Mark Vanosdall and his assistant from Tri-City Meters, and Board Chairman John Hannah.

 

The Water Committee adjourned at 6:58 pm.

 

Rationale:  15-B-08     REMD, LLC c/o Dan Homan   Terraces/Tile/Basins     $ 4,284.02

Rationale:  No payments to consider as we have closed out the Cottonwood Creek NDEQ grant and are working on the final report.

Rationale:  As reported last month, Eric has wrapped up Sand and Duck Watershed cost-share payments from our last EPA/NDEQ grant.  With over $70,000 of unused grant funding available, we are planning to transfer this money toward water quality monitoring efforts in various streams throughout the entire Wahoo Creek Watershed.

Rationale: 

Lands For Conservation:

  Kenneth Fencl    41.5 acres             $    9,130.00

 

Conservation Work:

  Kenneth Fencl     Basins w/Tile         $    4,835.07

                                                         $ 13,965.07

Rationale: 

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:

  Ed Sladky  Repair/Replace system with inspection            $ 3,300.00

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale: 

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.  

 

 

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale:  Meghan Sittler was present to update the committee on LPRCA activities and accomplishments.

Rationale:  Meghan will be present to review LPRCA's proposed FY 2017 budget.  Committee recommendation to approve the Alliance budget after review and input is requested. 

Rationale:  All the non-federal partners agreed to continue the study and have signed the Amended Inter-local agreement. We will anticipate the COE asking for the funding in the new fiscal year. We have not heard anything new regarding the study.

Rationale:  The Schuyler Shell Creek Levee project is now complete. The City of Schuyler is waiting for the operation and maintenance manual from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale: 

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.

Rationale:  This project is now complete. 

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale:  Sunday, May 1 Mark Gakle and his vehicle left the roadway at Lake Wanahoo SRA and hit an electrical panel and transformer.  Gakle’s insurance had lapsed so we have turned it over to our carrier LARM.  Butler Public Power will replace our transformer that we own at a cost estimated to be $5,000 and Game and Parks is working with electrical contractors to get quotes for replacement of the panel. If any board action is needed it will be brought up at board meeting.  The panel supplies electricity to half of the camping area and the shower house.

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.