March 30, 2017 at 8:00 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale: 

Margie Vrana     Repair new Grass Waterway     50% up to $1,000.00 

Rationale: 

Stevens-Smid Family Trust     Repair terraces/tile above Sand Creek Dam Site 16 dam  $ 5,359.77 (100%)

This conservation work is needed to protect this dam site from gully erosion damage occurring at this location. It was thought that the USACE would include this as part of their project, but this did not end up being the case.  Bob Heimann has worked with the landowners (Steven-Snid Family Trust) who have agreed to having the needed conservation work done on their property, but only if this will be entirely handled and paid for by LPNNRD.   

Rationale: 

Name	County	$10,000 max	Total Project
Patrick Row	Butler	$4,202.35	$5,603.00
Earl Sedlacek	Butler	$10,000.00	$30,445.00
Duane Pedersen	Dodge	$8,129.78	$10,839.00
Michael Chvatal	Saunders	$10,000.00	$35,026.00
Mark Gustafson	Saunders	$10,000.00	$42,049.00
Mark Gustafson	Saunders	$10,000.00	$55,438.00
Hartman Family Trust	Saunders	$10,000.00	$30,208.00
Eric Nelson	Saunders	$10,000.00	$18,538.00
Glenn Nelson	Saunders	$10,000.00	$66,346.00
		$82,332.13	$294,492.00
		28%

Rationale: 

SWCP payment approvals will be presented at the April 10, 2017 Board meeting.

 

Rationale: 

16-S-2    Bob, Rich, TIm Bartek     Terraces/Tile     $ 12,379.13

16-B-8     Richard Voboril               Terraces/Tile     $ 12,500.00

                                                  TOTAL:                $ 24,879.13

Rationale: 

Summer 2017 Lands for Conservation Approvals:

     William Laughridge     16 acres     $ 3,024.00

     Jamey Hanis              30 acres     $ 5,670.00

 

                                   TOTAL:          $ 8,694.00

  

Rationale: 

Michael Chvatal Dam Project:

 Last summer, $ 16,742.31 was approved for construction of a small dam on Michael Chvatal property located above NRD structure 21-A (Malmo)  After further design and surveying of location the NRCS estimate has increased substantially.  Sean Elliott, NRCS, and Ken Kotera, NRCS-LPNNRD were present to discuss the project and its potential for being completed.  The committee took no action to increase LPNNRD assistance, but suggested that they will review the project again after the landowner meets with NRCS and LPNNRD to discuss this situation.  

Rationale:  Attached is the proposed SWCP policy for final review, input and approval.  This year's primary proposed change reflects NRCS's request to consider approval  of high priority small projects (less than $5,000)  through our SWCP program and not require that cooperators first apply for federal EQIP funding.  Small projects generally do not score well enough to receive EQIP aproval, but NRCS staff still need to expend time ranking each application. This change will help NRCS use their time more efficiently.  Mark Walkenhorst and Jami Thoene will be present to answer questions regarding this proposed change.

Rationale:  Attached is the approved Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan for your review.  A recommendation to accept the final plan is suggested after the committee and Board have had an opportunity to review.   A motion to accept the Plan at the May 8th Board Meeting will be appropriate. 

Rationale:  Attached is an invoice for Shell Creek Student medals for recognition of their creek sampling efforts. 

Rationale:  LPNNRD continues to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on funding agreement details for constructing two Wahoo Creek floodwater reduction dams, Sites 26 & 27.  The Nebraska Department of Water Quality (NDEQ) is working with EPA on finalizing a project work for additional conservation work in the Wahoo Creek Watershed which includes the proposed construction of several road dams to replace old bridges in need of repair.   Grant funding from NDEQ, NET, the Department of Roads, is planned to be used to help offset much of this expense.  Our hope is to begin construction later this year. 

Rationale: 

While at the NARD Washington D.C. Conference, a few staff and directors from LPNNRD, LPSNRD and PMRNRD had an opportunity to discuss the next step in determining future direction of the LPRCA.  Much of the discussion revolved around needing to have a coordinator, but scale back and/or readjust activities that the Alliance is presently involved with.  While in Washington, Chair Birkel also had the opportunity to ask Congressional representatives and their staff their opinion on the importance for Lower Platte NRD's being part of an alliance, which he shared with the committee.  Joe said that many he spoke with indicated that being a part of the Alliance is looked at positively when looking for federal project support.  

LPSNRD has been working on  a new LPRCA Interlocal Agreement draft for partner review.  We will soon be sending out the draft for the Board to begin looking at before our next Projects and Executive committee meetings on April 27 meetings. 

Rationale:  We are attempting to set up a meeting with FEMA during the week of April 17 - 21 or April 24th, 25th, 28th. This meeting would be invitation only for elected officials from six counties, six communities, three NRD's,  and DNR.  This meeting would examine the options and process (short and long term) in getting the FIRM Maps updated in a timely manner.

Rationale:  No new information to report.  Finalization of the USACE operation and maintenance is in process.  

Rationale:  Jon Peterson with JEO was present to update the committee on progress with Woodcliff's Platte River Bank Stabilization Project.  Woodcliff has indicated that they wish LPNNRD's financial assistant with this project and the committee is asked to start thinking about what amount of assistance is appropriate.   The total construction estimate is $630,000 not including engineering, mitigation or future operation and maintenance. No action is requested at this time but we should make a decision in a month or two.  Nick Borman, representing Woodcliff, suggested consideration of 50% assistance on the construction cost to be paid over several years.  The project is planned to be underway in the fall of 2017.   The committee had discussion that it appears this is a project that warrants LPNNRD assistance and details will be brought forward for a decision in the next few weeks. LPNNRD annually receives over $50,000 in property taxes from Woodcliff.

Rationale:  Brief update on the Camp Ashland project from Martin Reed with the COE.

The concrete slab for the fuse plug was placed on Friday, the levee is mostly complete up to the fuse plug and once weather permits, (next week) the levee will be completed.  Looking to seed the site probably the week of 10 April.

Beacon view:  Rock blanket is 95% complete and bollards installation will begin this week.  I do not anticipate any issues as we have held several coordination meetings regarding the placement of the bollards.

Trees were removed from the CC levee three weeks ago.

All for now, things are moving along well.

Rationale:  With no further business, the Projects Committee adjourned at 10:01 a.m.