February 13, 2017 at 1:30 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:  Are there any changes or additions to the Agenda

Rationale:  Are there any changes or corrections to the January minutes? If not the minutes will be approved on consent agenda

Rationale:  No new information has been received since last month.

Rationale: 

The 2017 Water For Food Conference is scheduled for April 10-12 in Lincoln.  This year poses some difficulty as April 10 is board meeting day for us.  Our board meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm that day so conference participants can adjust their schedule accordingly.

A copy of the conference announcement is attached with the agenda and program details to follow when available.

Rationale:  Attached find Mountford's report from the NRD/NARD Employee Benefits Committee and Intergovernmental Risk Management Pool Association Loss Control Committee Meetings held January 23rd. 

Rationale: 

The Education Program for our February board meeting is two presentations by Joe Birkel on his experience in the Water Leaders Academy and an update on Project Sense.

Phoenix Group has informed us that several board members have requested that they give an update on work completed on our Master Database and what is planned for the second contract (of three planned) at our March 13 board meeting.

Rationale: 

Our Director's Retreat is scheduled for February 15 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Benedictine Center north of Schuyler.  Topics for the day include:

1.  Manager Selection Process

2.  Groundwater Rules and Regulations

3.  Update on Phoenix Software

4.  Sand Creek Site 15 - Ourada Complaint

5.  Sand Creek Site 15 - Disposition of Farm

6.  Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance - Primer for 2-24-17 Meeting

7.  Basin Water Supply Discussion

8.  HBE 360 Accounting

9.  Costco Discussion

Are there other topics we wish to add or delete from this list?

Which topics do we want to have Lausterer present for discussion?

 

Rationale: 

 

Rationale: 

The NRD Farm on Sand Creek Site 15 will be discussed at Board Retreat on February 15.  We do not currently have a tenant on the ground and it appears that we will not be selling the farm in the near term.  The tenant for the past three years Harvey Brabec is willing to farm the 40 acres of tillable land plus manage the two small tracts of CRP that are in their final year.

Rationale:  Lausterer has received a letter from the Ourada's attorney Thomas Thomsen that is attached.  Discussion can occur at the Director's Retreat or in Executive Session.

Rationale:  Four or five days a week we receive a report from Water Strategies.  As you can see, the attached report from January 31 is 28 pages long.  Do director's wish to have these reports forwarded to them?  We could forward the reports for one week and then ask those who wish to continue receiving the report to contact us to remain on the list. 

Rationale: 

Attached find a claim received by Lausterer from Mike Murren's Attorney.

Appearing on our agenda and in our minutes gives official recognition that the notice has been received and will be treated as a claim.

Because this is a legal matter there should be no discussion of this item unless the board is in Executive Session.

Rationale: 

We received a billing from the state for unemployment reimbursement for $1,568 that was paid.

As a Political Sub-Division of the State we do not pay unemployment insurance.  However when a previous employee make a claim and the state determines that the claim is valid we are billed the amount that the state makes in payments. 

Rationale: 

Resumes for filling the Water Manager Position are due in our office by noon on February 1.  As of Tuesday we have received five applications.

Our plan is to conduct interviews next week and hopefully have a recommendation to fill the position at board meeting on February 13.

Attached find information for Daryl Andersen the candidate Miyoshi has selected to fill the Water Resources position.

A motion is needed to ratify the hiring of Daryl Andersen as our Water Manager at terms recommended by Miyoshi

Rationale: 

Cindy Love and Grant Nuttelmann from HBE were present at committee meeting to give an update on where we are with our accounting.  They presented a draft of our July Financials for review and to make sure the format meets our expectations. Once we are in agreement for the content and format for the new financials HBE will prepare July, August and September financials for approval at our February 13 board meeting.  HBE will attempt to complete these financials by Friday so they can be distributed to board members prior to our February 13 board meeting.

HBE will attend the February 13 board meeting to review the new financials.

Rationale: 

The committee needs to nominate and elect a committee chair and vice-chair.

Hannah was nominate as Chairman by Kavan, 2nd by Seier, nomination was closed by Folsom and Seier was nominated as Vice-Chairman by Kavan, 2nd by Hannah, nomination was closed by Folsom and a motion was made.

Hannah will be the Chair and Seier the Vice Chair for the O,E & RW Committee for 2017

Rationale: 

There are no contract payments.

The tree removal contractor for Czechland has yet to start.

Rationale:  Staff repaired the flatbed on the 1 ton Dodge, replaced the muffler and tailpipe and rear shocks. Currently doing maintenance and repairs to the dump trailer. Other vehicle maintenance as needed. Periodically checking the recreation area restrooms and garbage.

Rationale: 

Staff met with our non-federal partners ( City of Fremont, Dodge County, Inglewood), the Corps of Engineers and FYRA Engineering on Friday, February 27 in Fremont. As previously stated, to construct a levee around Fremont the COE estimates it at $137 million.  To get it to a 1:1 benefit/cost ratio the price tag needs to be closer to $90 million.  By combining a new SE Beltway into a levee system could reduce the cost by $23-25 million. NDOR still does not look favorably at combining the beltway and levee system but, with some political pressure it may be a possibility but it still does not get us to a 1:1 BC Ratio.

FEMA is currently reviewing hydraulic flow models from NDOR.  NDOR's calculations take the hydraulic flows substantially lower than that of the COE. FEMA has been reviewing this for the past 8-9 months.

FYRA Engineering has found a discrepancy in how the hydraulic flows were calculated by the COE in the Platte River floodplain.  Fyra has not yet come up with a reduced discharge number on flood flows. Even if the discharge is reduced and a levee can be constructed less in length and height there is no guarantee that the BC Ratio would change enough to get it to 1:1. FYRA will have the discharge number soon and may also communicate with the Engineer for NDOR.

Rationale: 

Miyoshi and Brian Newton (acting city administrator for Fremont) have been working with Paul Gifford to resolve placement of the Box Culvert that by contract is owed to Gifford.  LPNNRD has been unwilling to compromise on location of the culvert due to added costs and our understanding of the original contract.  The request is now being made to have LPNNRD pay Fremont to assume the culvert liability.  The attached table shows the informal bids received to preform the work.

The question is what are we willing to pay to buy our way out of the contract.  If we were going to construction, the above quotes show our cost would be $60,000 (the construction cost for the low bid).  Fremont’s cost is engineering and project inspection.

Rationale: 

Heimann and Miyoshi met with the COE on Wednesday, January 18 to review the deficiencies on the Sand/Duck Creek Dams.  The Corps states that a letter from Colonel Henderson dated October 14, 2016 officially closed out the Sediment Trap/Wetland, Breakwater Berm, remaining recreational features, Upstream Structures and Dam Site 15 Outlet Channel Repair and the entire project is officially turned over to the LPN NRD for operations and maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation.

The Corps states that the erosion issues outside the project boundaries were to be handled by the NRD because it would have taken more land acquisition therefore making it more costly. They are looking into the possibility of repairing the terraces and tile outlets on Site 16 because it is within the project boundary.  The Corps estimates there's $31,000 remaining in the account for finishing the O & M Manual and figuring the financial credits on the project. They are declining to help financially with any land treatment next door or take any responsibility for any of the reported deficiencies.

To put land treatment on neighboring properties and repair erosion issues in the emergency spillways NRCS designs and estimates total $37,452. Heimann has met with tenant/contractor Roland Kavan on doing this work and helping persuade landowners to put land treatment on their property. Staff recommends that landowners sign up for cost share assistance through SWCP and that the District budget and cover the other 25%. This process may take a year or two.

JEO has surveyed the west property boundary on Site 15 and placed markers for identification. Heimann assisted with a fence post marker, painted pink, in the clump of trees in the lake.  The fence post was tied to a tree with the original lathe that was tied to the same tree.

 

Rationale:  The District advertised and directly sent RFQ/RFP letters to engineering firms in the area that might have interest in the Section 408 process request to the Army Corp’s of Engineers for permission to lower Lake Wanahoo’s permanent water level. RFQ/RFP's were due at the NRD office by 8:00 a.m Tuesday, January 31. The Lake Level Committee recommended to table/postpone the opening and review of the two RFQ/RFP's that were received. The Committee would like more detailed information from the COE on what will be looked at in the 408 process and whether the engineering firms have enough of this COE information to make a proper bid/proposal.

Rationale:  Mike Sotek of FYRA Engineering was present to propose a "Proactive Flood Management Proposal" in regulating the Wanahoo Lake Level by monitoring the extended weather forecast. The lake level would be managed by opening and closing the gate dependent on the 2-4 day extended weather forecast. Instrumentation such as piezometers would be used to monitor upstream flows to inform us how much water is coming down. FYRA Engineering would develop a step by step management plan based on predicted rainfall events to guide us in regulating the gate level (timing & volume).  We could try this concept for one year manually, if it seems successful, we could work toward automating the system. To help curtail the cost of automation we would apply for funding through NEMA (Hazard Mitigation) and the Water Sustainability Fund.

Rationale: 

Staff is recommending selling the oldest vehicle a 2002 Chevy work truck which is located at Czechland Lake and replacing it with our 2005 Dodge Ram. Purchase a new extended cab 4 x 4 pickup through a State Contract.  Find the availability list for vehicles through the State of Nebraska and UNL.

If the existing topper on the Chevy does not fit the Dodge, a new topper will need to be purchased.

Rationale: 

Staff would like to replace the rear dual tires on our JD 4430. We use this tractor on many slopes and traction has become questionable. We budgeted an extra $3,000 under Equipment Upkeep for this purpose. Heimann would like to purchase tires from Bill's Tire Service in Columbus at a cash price and have Marv Ourada from Prague mount them.  The price estimate is $2,700.  Heimann received tire quotes from Ourada Tire Service, Bill's Tire and Bauer Built in Fremont. Tire prices ranged from $540 to $824 a tire.

Drill Revenue from Rezac Seed for the second half of 2016 was $5,912.23. Fifty percent is $2,956.12 less $176.97 for repairs.  The NRD's  share is $2,779.15.

Revenue from Schuyler Co-op for the second half of 2016 was $3,301.60. Fifty percent is $1,650.80.

Platte County drill at Rosendahl Farms had revenue of $1,233. Fifty percent is $616.50 less $600.00 for repairs.  The NRD's share is $16.50.

Rationale:  Heimann with the assistance and review from the Dept. of Natural Resources Dam Safety Officials has updated the Emergency Action Plans for our high hazard dams, Cottonwood Dams 7A, 21A and Lake Wanahoo. DNR has reviewed and approved them.  All are available to look at in Heimann's office.

Rationale: 

A meeting with Game & Parks to discuss Lake Wanahoo Recreation revenue and expenses is scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at 10:00 here at the NRD office.

The Dump Station contractor has not restarted since the weather has turned on us.

Rationale: 

The KTIC radio ad and the Wahoo Newspaper eAd for January will focus on purchasing 2017 park permits.  

Rationale: 

The 2017 winter edition of the Viaduct was distributed in area newspapers January 18^th-January 28^th.   The online edition was sent on Monday, January 23^rd.  

Rationale: 

Test Your Well Nights have been scheduled with the Bishop Neumann FFA and the East Butler FFA chapters.  East Butler Test Your Well Night, in partnership with the Lower Platte South NRD, will be on February 8^th from 5-7 pm at East Butler High School in the gym.  Bishop Neumann Test Your Well Night will be on February 22^nd from 6:30-7:30 pm at Bishop Neumann High School in the cafeteria.

Rationale: 

The Pheasants Forever Lower Platte Chapter has sent a donation request for their 18th Annual Banquet on March 24^th at the Ashland VFW.  They are requesting $250 for overall banquet package merchandise.  Their request includes that the goal of the banquet is to raise funds that can be used to go back to Saunders County and the state to help with Open Fields and Waters, Wanahoo, Youth Hunts, Pollinator Programs, etc.

In 2016, $250 was donated to the banquet in recognition of the partnership with the Pheasants Forever Lower Platte Chapter.  The 2016 banquet program is attached.

Rationale:  We have been involved in communications with HBE regarding accounting practices for our systems and will continue to work with them regarding billing, accounting and inventory practices.

Rationale: 

Water samples were taken and delivered to our lab on 1-24-17 and bills have been processed and are ready to mail.

I have met with the Wahoo Post Office regarding delivery issues we have been experiencing the past couple months.  We are having water bills returned to us as "unable to deliver"  to addresses we know are active and correct.  They have informed me they are looking into these issues and will keep me informed.

Rationale:  Water samples were taken and delivered to our lab on 1-24-17 and bills have been processed and are ready to mail.

Rationale: 

No unfinished business from the last Water Committee.

 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Set date and time of Water Committee Meeting:

The Water Committee generally meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 5:00 pm.

 

No action was taken so Water Committee will continue to generally meet on the last Wednesday of the month at 5:00 p.m.

Rationale: 

One new application was received for 135 acres. The district currently has 65 applications totaling 4,188.2 acres.

A producer who submitted a variance request, and was approved in the Fall of 2016 for 100 acres, now says he will not go thru with developing those acres.  The Water Committee discussed whether or not to reissue those acres in the Hydrologically Connected Area to the next person or persons on the list.  However, since we have not received it in writing, no action was taken.

The letter relinquishing those 100 acres was received on Monday, February 6, 2016.

 

Rationale:  No new updates

Rationale: 

 

 

Rationale: 

Martin Erickson requests changes in his Variance Conditions for his new acres in the RDA in NE 1/4, Section 20, T14N, R7E (see attached LPNNRD policy on RDA and Variance Conditions).  This area is 1 mile south of the Saunders County Hospital in the Swedeburg subarea.

 

Mr. Erickson would like reconsideration on two of the variance and well permit conditions.  The first one deals with only irrigating during the night time hours from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. of the following day or 9 hours during any 24 hour period.

The Committee members wish to change wording on this variance condition that this is recommended, but to allow addition hours during the day or night on a trail basis for one year and later review.

Rationale: 

Martin Erickson requests changes in his Variance Conditions for his new acres in the RDA in NE 1/4, Section 20, T14N, R7E (see attached LPNNRD policy on RDA and Variance Conditions).  This area is 1 mile south of the Saunders County Hospital in the Swedeburg subarea.

 

Mr. Erickson would like reconsideration on two of the variance and well permit conditions.  The second one deals with the maximum allocation of 7 acre inches in any one year.  He would like this expanded to 8 or 9 inches per year.

After some discussion the Committee members wish to leave this unchanged.

Rationale:  Wells Permits Approved: 2

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Judith A Nelson	1	135	New (Irrigation)	Platte	Upper Newman Grove
Jack Nagel	1	135	New (Irrigation)	Saunders	Todd Valley

 

The total number of approved permits for 2017 is 2


Location of Approved Well Permits for 2017:  Correct as of 2/1/2017

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colfax	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dodge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Boone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Madison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Platte	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Saunders	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Total	2	0	0	0	0	0	2

Rationale: 

 

SQS #1  (Butler-Saunders)

There are 30 irrigation wells in this area.  25 of these have a flow meter; the other five wells were not used in 2016.  All 25 flow meter reporting forms have been returned.  Angle is working on allocation calculations – 2017 will be the third year of their allocation for this SQS area.

 

SQS #2 (Platte-Colfax)

Flow meter report forms are being returned, but reports for about 70 registered irrigation wells are yet to be received.  Staff is working on allocation calculations and results will be sent to producers this month.

 

Rationale: 

The sub-basins have not met to discuss the individual portion of Platte River Flows for each District.  This is the next step in the Basin Plan.

 

Rationale: 

Staff met with Amy Zoller of DNR at the NARD Conference and they presented a draft plan for our V-IMP.  It includes input from DNR, but she said further comments from Jennifer Schellpeper (Head of DNR Water Planning Division) still need to be done.  They hope to have the final draft done in February.

 

Rationale: 

A total of 348 irrigation kits were mailed in 2016.  We have already received a couple of requests for nitrate-nitrogen sample kits for 2017.

Rationale: 

Interest in the this program is waning, we had less than 10 producers signed up last year.  NRCS mentions the program at every NRD Certification Class and we are currently taking signups for this summer.

 

Rationale: 

We received a blank contract between Tri-City Meters and UBBNRD that will be reviewed by Jovan L.  The idea is this will provide a basis for our own contract with Tri-City Meters.

 

Rationale: 

 

Flow meter cost-share applications continue to be received in the mail but at much slower pace.  A second mailing was sent to producers in January to encourage them to take advantage of this cost-share program. 

 

At the November 30, 2016 Water Committee, motion was made to fund GWEL cooperator wells at $1,000 per 8 inch meters ($770 from WSF and $230 from LPNNRD = $1,000) and at $749 per 6 inch meters ($577 from WSF and $172 from LPNNRD = $749)

As of February 1, 2017 we have received a total of 162 applications.  Several of these still need to be inspected to insure that the meter is installed properly.  

Six well sites have applied for 2 meters each, but following motion of the Water Committee, only one meter per irrigation system will receive funding.

Therefore, for the February 13, 2017 Board Meeting, we will have a total of 13 cost-share applications to approve.

 

Water Sustainability Fund (WSF)
8 inch meters	10 x 8" meters or 10 x $770 = $7,700
6 inch meters	3 x 6" meters or 3 x $577 = $1,731
WSF Total	$9,431
	So Running Total WSF Grant = $112,414 of $200,000 grant
	So Remaining Total of WSF Grant = $87,586

 

 

LPNNRD For GWEL Cooperators
8 inch meter	2 x 8" meters or 1 x $230 = $460
6 inch meter	0 x 6" meters or 0 x $172 = $0
Carry over (8 inch meter)	0 x 8" meter or 0 x $230  = $0
LPNNRD Total	$460

 

Total For Flow Meter Cost Share Program
WSF & LPNNRD	For approval at February 13, 2017 Board Meeting = $9,891

 

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

Letters and cost share forms were sent to the nine producers (on 11 irrigation wells) who have not yet installed flow meters (see attached list).  As of February 1, 2017 none of these people have applied for cost share.

 

Rationale: 

2016 is the fourteenth year for this Phase 2 Area.

This area was reduced from 32 sections to 21 sections in 2015.

Year	Nitrate-Nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 0 To 8.0 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 8.01 To 10.00 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen Greater Than 10 Ppm
2015	0 to 32.3 ppm	43% (31 of 72)	8% (6 of 72)	49% (35 of 72)
2016	0 to 35.1 ppm	34% (25 of 74)	11% (8 of 74)	55% (41 of 74)

123 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports for 2016 have been received.  Mike Ebel and Daryl Finecy have been contacted for their reports.

 

Rationale: 

2016 is the first year of this Phase 2 Area.  There are 45 registered active irrigation wells in the ten sections of this new area.

Year	Nitrate-Nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 0 To 8.0 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 8.01 To 10.00 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen Greater Than 10 Ppm
2016	1.47 to 41.8 ppm	29% (10 of 34)	9% (3 of 34)	62% (21 of 34)

  

55 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports for 2016 have been received.  A few landowners did not pass on the information and forms to their tenant.  Oaklund has contacted these tenants and mailed them the information.

 

 

Rationale: 

2016 is the first year of this Phase 3 Area.  This Phase 3 area went into effect September 1, 2015.  The 55 sections of this area first went into a Phase 2 Area in 2004.  

Year	Nitrate-Nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 0 To 8.0 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen 8.01 To 10.00 Ppm	Percent Nitrate-Nitrogen Greater Than 10 Ppm
2015	0 to 53.3 ppm	23% (55 of 238)	12% (29 of 238)	65% (154 of 238)
2016	0 to 50.5 ppm	25% (58 of 228)	10% (22 of 228)	65% (148 of 228)

367 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports have been received.  Mark Horejsi, Dan Zoucha, Leander Rerucka, and Chad Sukstorf have been contacted for their reports.  Horejsi has reports for both this area and the next (below) area.  It seems that some producers have the CO-OP fill out their Annual Fertilizer Application Reports and then the producers simply sign them.

 

Rationale: 

Online testings in January:

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
6762	1/10/2017	Tyler Bruhn	Yes
6763	1/19/2017	Ronald McGill	Yes
6806	1/25/2017	Chris Gustafson	Yes

 

2017 Certification Classes for Nitrogen and Water Management

Class	Date & time	Location	Attend	First- Timers
# 1	Thursday, January 5th @ 3:00 p.m. (after Corn Expo)	Fremont - Christensen Field	36	6
# 2	Wednesday, January 18th @ 1:00 p.m.	ARDC - Mead	42	12
# 3	Thursday, January 26th @ 1:30 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park	46	5
# 4	Tuesday, February 7th @ 9:30 a.m.	David City – Hruska Library
# 5	Friday, February 10th @ 10:00 a.m.	Lindsay - Village Office
# 6	Tuesday, February 21st @ 9:00 a.m.	Fremont - Extension Office
# 7	Wednesday, March 1st @ 9:30 a.m.	Columbus - Pinnacle Bank
# 8	Tuesday, March 7th @ 9:00 a.m.	Fremont - Extension Office
# 9	Thursday, March 9th @ 1:30 p.m.	David City – Hruska Library
# 10	Wednesday, March 15th @ 7:00 p.m.	ARDC - Mead
# 11	Thursday, March 16th @ 7:00 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park

      316 letters with class schedule for those expiring 4/1/2017 were mailed in December.

      84 letters with class schedule for those that expired 4/1/2016 were mailed in December.

      88 letters with class schedule for those that expired 4/1/2015 were mailed in December.

 

Rationale: 

No new update.  For 2016 we have 478 renewals and 95 new permit applications for a current total of 573.  In 2015 we had a total of 515 chemigation permits.

The chemigation summary for 2016 is due to DEQ by March 1, 2017 and Tyler Benal has already submitted this report.

 

Rationale: 

No new livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

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

 

Rationale:  One well has been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Carson Day	18" Irrigation Well	$581.81	Dodge

 

Rationale: 

The latest Technical Committee meeting was held on January 24, 2017 at the NARD Legislative Conference.

Topics discussed included:

• GeoCloud for all AEM data collected in the State
• Recharge Discussion
• Future AEM flights and getting grants
• USGS age dating of ground water
• Renewal of ENWRA coalition

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

Nebraska GeoCloud Program is funded by a grant from the Water Sustainability Fund (approved on December 12, 2016) to house all AEM data collected in the State into one database for easier access.  Cooperating partners include DNR, 10 NRD's, CSD, and USGS.  Attached is a Interlocal Agreement for this 3 year effort.  They are looking for a commitment from LPNNRD of $3,400 a year for three years starting with the next fiscal year (FY2017-2018).  A webinar is planned for February 23, 2017 with all parties involved (including the Netherlands) to review the process involved and details of the program.

This will be discussed further at the next Water Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

No new update.

 

Rationale: 

The next meeting for the Lower Platte River Consortium meeting is set for February 23, 2017 for 2:00 p.m. at LPSNRD.

 

Rationale: 

The USGS has submitted a bill to the LPNNRD for continuous water quality monitoring on Shell Creek for $2,700.  This is part of a cooperative agreement the NRD has with USGS.

 

Rationale: 

Mary Wotipka wants the Water Committee and Board to reconsider the variance request by John Wotipka for new irrigated acres in the Restricted Development Area in NE1/4, Section 25, T14N, R6E.  The original well permit application was made in 2005 but it wasn't until 2013 that they developed the land, which was after the area was declared a Restricted Development Area in 2008.

 

Rationale: 

Matt Bailey nominated Terry Sobota as Projects Committee Chair.  Nominations were closed and all voted in favor. Bob Clausen nominated Don Veskerna as Vice Chair. Nominations were closed and all voted in favor.

Terry Sobota will serve as Chair and Don Veskerna as Vice Chair for the Projects Committee for 2017.

 

Rationale:  The Projects Committee has been meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday's just prior to the Executive Committee Meeting. We will continue with this unless the Committee wishes to change. 

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address. 

Rationale:  We have had several new applications requesting Spring approval.  We currently offer no Spring SWCP program so these applications will be returned asking if producer would be interested in having them considered for Summer work.

Rationale: 

16-D-9   Darrell Umscheid   Diversion     $ 315.58

                                       TOTAL            $ 315.58

 

Rationale: 

None at this time

 

Rationale:  Ronald Furasek   Terraces/Tile/Waterway  $ 12,186.42  (This represents 25% cost-share, coordinating with EQIP)

Rationale:  Attached is the SWCP policy with proposed changes as has been reviewed the past two months.  The committee is asked to continue to review and give final recommendations at the next Projects Committee meeting.  

Rationale:  Now that the Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan is approved by NDEQ/EPA, we are moving forward with project implementation under the Shell Creek Environmental Enhancement Plan Implementation.   We continue to work with NDEQ to get a project implementation plan completed which will hopefully be done and ready to move forward by March.

Rationale:  As reported last month, the NRCS has approved our Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application for constructing future flood reduction dams 26 and 27.  We had an initial meeting with NRCS on January 12 and will be working on an agreement with them over the coming weeks.

Rationale: 

Last month, the LPNNRD Board requested that FYRA Engineering submit a proposal to assist with updating the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan as required by NRCS for our approved federal assistance for completing Wahoo Creek Dam Sites 26 and 27 and assist with preparing an application to the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund to assist with the local costs associated with the project.  FYRA assisted LPNNRD with technical information needed for our RCPP application and has experience with Water Sustainability Fund applications. Mike Sotak and Janel Kaufman with FYRA were present to discuss their proposal  with the committee, as attached, to move forward as attached to the Projects Committee Minutes.

 

Rationale:  We are working with NDEQ to finalize their assistance with implementing projects with the next phase in Wahoo Creek.  NDEQ has agreed to increase their initial commitment from $168,215 to $400,000. These funds will be combined with $106,000 from the Environmental Trust and funds from Saunders County and LPNNRD to complete up to four road dams in the Wahoo Creek Watershed.  Some of these funds will focus on completing additional water quality monitoring, provide lands for conservation payments to landowners and conduct information and education activities. 

Rationale:  A planning meeting with Alliance Partners is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., February 24 at Camp Ashland.  It will be important for Board members to attend as this will be the opportunity to discuss our future involvement with the Alliance. It will also be an opportunity to suggest changes to the overall structure if we wish to consider continuing as a partner.  It will be equally important for Directors who are contacted to participate with a survey that will be conduced prior to the meeting. 

Rationale: 

Staff met with our non-federal partners ( City of Fremont, Dodge County, Inglewood), the Corps of Engineers and FYRA Engineering on Friday, February 27 in Fremont. As previously stated, to construct a levee around Fremont the COE estimates it at $137 million.  To get it to a 1:1 benefit/cost ratio the price tag needs to be closer to $90 million.  By combining a new SE Beltway into a levee system could reduce the cost by $23-25 million. NDOR still does not look favorably at combining the beltway and levee system but, with some political pressure it may be a possibility but it still does not get us to a 1:1 BC Ratio.

FEMA is currently reviewing hydraulic flow models from NDOR.  NDOR's calculations take the hydraulic flows substantially lower than that of the COE. FEMA has been reviewing this for the past 8-9 months.

FYRA Engineering has found a discrepancy in how the hydraulic flows were calculated by the COE in the Platte River floodplain.  Fyra has not yet come up with a reduced discharge number on flood flows. Even if the discharge is reduced and a levee can be constructed less in length and height there is no guarantee that the BC Ratio would change enough to get it to 1:1. FYRA will have the discharge number soon and may also communicate with the Engineer for NDOR.

Rationale:  On January 19, Mountford and Heimann met with Army COE, City of  Schuyler and Lumir Jedlichka to inspect and discuss Lumir's concerns with improving drainage along the dry side of the levee on his property and improve  ramp access to his land at "F" street.   The COE will allow Lumir to add dirt/gravel on both sides of the access ramp on his property to match the elevation of the ramp which should help his grain trailers pass over it without high centering.  The City of Schuyler will continue to work with Lumir on improving the drainage along the levee. Work has begun cleaning the drainage ditch along highway 30 and that effort is going well with about 60% complete.  Most of the ditch cleaning  was complete but removal of the spoil pile remained.

Rationale:  No new updates.  We are still waiting for the Army COE to complete the project's operation and maintenance manual.

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.