April 10, 2017 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:  A Washington D.C. Report will be given by Birkel, Hilger, Mountford and Miyoshi during the Executive Committee Report.

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale:  The GMDA Summer Technical Conference is May 24-26 in Albuquerque.  The agenda has not been received, but the summer meeting is always more technical in the topics presented.  Andersen has asked that additional staff be authorized to attend if there are not directors who wish to attend.

Rationale: 

Reports from Washington D.C. 

Thursday, March 16 - Birkel and Miyoshi met with congressional staffers from the offices of Senator Fischer, Senator Sasse and Congressman Fortenberry. Topics were; Platte River Flood Plain, Fremont GI, Schuyler 205, NOP at Mead, USDA-NRCS, EPA 319 and local water management update.

Friday, March 17 - See attached report from Water Strageties.

Monday, March 20 - Wednesday March 23 - See attached report from NARD

Rationale:  None

Rationale: 

Ideas for the April Education Program?  At one time it was suggested to have a fisheries biologist address the board on the effects of varying the lake elevation of Lake Wanahoo.

The Educational program for April will be a Washington D.C. report from; Birkel, Hilger, Miyoshi and Mountford.

 

Rationale: 

Last May Mark Gakle drove off the road at Lake Wanahoo SRA and damaged an electrical panel.  Our insurance carrier LARM handled the claim due to lack of insurance by Gakle.  Attached find a letter and petition to the court from LARM to seek restitution from Gakle.

The letter was sent to us as a courtesy and we do not need to take any action.

Rationale: 

Discussion on the Alliance is to occur at Projects Committee but should also be followed up during Executive Committee.  Birkel was involved in much discussion concerning the Alliance while we in Washington D.C.  Discussion involved Water Strageties, Delegation staffers, Corps Officials, LPSNRD, Papio NRD and other partners.

At Executive Committee Birkel gave an update.  He stated that at agency and congressional meetings he asked about the effectiveness of the Alliance and asked if there is benefit to having the group.  This was also discussed with Water Strategies.  Universally the answer was yes, that there is value to the Alliance.  Advantages were pointed out to be the strength of having three NRDs and six State Agencies in agreement on projects and programs plus the power of representing 3/4 of the state population and over 1/2 of Nebraska residents obtaining their drinking water from the Lower Platte.  One of the largest advantages may be the Corps Lower Platte River and Tributaries Watershed Improvement Authority.

We met with representatives from the three Alliance NRDs.  A new Interlocal Agreement is being drafted and the group asked that the new Alliance have a smaller footprint of programs and projects.  Lower Platte North also requested that major projects have an upfront vote, individually by each of the three boards prior to the project moving forward. 

Rationale:  Our annual Workers Comp Audit occurred and is attached.  The bottom line is that we owe LARM $2,722.16.

Rationale:  The April Water Strategies Update is attached.

Rationale:  Lausterer has received a letter from the Ourada's attorney Tom Thompson.  An update can be given at board meeting.

Rationale: 

Chair Birkel will appoint his Manager Selection Committee by the April 10 Board Meeting.

 

We also need to begin advertising of the General Manager Position the last week of April.

Rationale: 

With Angle's retirement we lost over 30 years of experience.  Larry is willing to be an on call employee if there are times when his services are needed.  Discussion with him show that he is willing to help us and answer any telephone questions we may have at no charge to the district.  If there are times we would ask him to attend a meeting or prepare documents he would assist us on a fee basis of $30 per hour.  When Larry retired his hourly rate was $37.66 plus benefits.

The times when we may need Larry's expertise include; Mead NOP work, AEM Grant payments, AEM interpretation, Flow Meter Grant payments, data retrieval other water programs.

Rationale:  A conference call was held with Grant Nuttelmann from HBE at 10:30 to review the December Financials.  A copy is attached.

Rationale:  Director Hilger suggested that more public relations need to take place within Wahoo Creek Watershed.

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.

Rationale: 

There are no contract payment this month.

We will continue our grassland renovation at Homestead Lake this spring by applying Round-up to knock out Brome grass and then inter-seeding warm season grasses with pollinator plants.

Rationale:  O & M staff repaired one bathroom door at Czechland Lake, two more will be replaced. Moved dirt for the bird watch parking area on County Road O. Cut volunteer trees on different areas.

Rationale:  The Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Panel met at 8:00 a.m. before the O, E, RW Committee meeting. Information will follow.

Rationale: 

The Dump Station will be close to finished by the end of the week, March 31, weather permitting but, will be operational. An hour and one half operations demonstration of the dump station took place on Friday, March 31. An invoice of $52,318.94 was received that same day and will be paid. There is retainage of $13,691.96 for final grading. The original contract price is $128,504.55.

Game & Parks seasonal personnel will start April 3rd or soon after.

The roads were evaluated, they were graded and there are a few areas that need rock or gravel.

The lake level is very near one foot below conservation pool 1210. We are managing one gate to keep it at 1209.

The 3/8" cable in the buoy system is breaking regularly. We keep splicing it with cable and clamps. Staff recommends replacing the cable with 1/2" cable in which we would need 1,000'.  Purchase 14 buoys at approximately $135/each and one white can buoy at $370.  We would refurbish one half of the system with new buoys and use the best of the old buoys with new cable on the other half.  Material cost is approximately $3,300, does not include shipping charges.

We will also be in need of more crumb rubber for the playgrounds.

 

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:  Lausterer sent Paul Gifford's attorney a letter after the last board meeting. The letter explained our reasons per the agreement as to why a box culvert can not be placed in the large portion of Ditch 10.  We have not received a response back.

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 the transfer of our 2005 Dodge pick-up to Czechland Lake, we will need a topper.  Heimann has inquired to three companies in Omaha, the price range for a topper with side Win-doors is $1,700 to $2,000.  The old topper on the 2002 Chevy will not fit and will be sold with the truck.

Rationale:  Heimann has updated the Emergency Action Plans for the Districts three high hazard dams in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety.  All updated information was send to plan holders and plan holders responded by returning a post card. This acknowledgment was then sent to DNR as required. 

Rationale: 

Through the NRCS Watershed Rehabilitation Program the NRCS did assessments on Clear Creek 22-A and Bellwood 2-C in 2014.  The assessments are to provide a "snapshot" of the condition of the structures and used to make decisions for future actions.

Heimann and Miyoshi met with Kevin Gustafson, NRCS Dam Safety Engineer and Tim Gokie, DNR Chief of Dam Safety. The two dams were low hazard structures.  Today since housing development has increase in the rural areas these two dams will now be classified as significant hazard dams.  Below these two dams there are 1 - 2 homes that may be effected by flood water approximately 1 foot deep if the dams failed.  If they were to be classified as high hazard then a Emergency Action Plan would have to be developed.

Tim Gokie and his staff do appreciate the effort the Lower Platte North NRD puts into our dam maintenance program.  He said our structures are in good shape and typically have just minor deficiencies if any at all.

Rationale:  St. Peter Lutheran Church of North Bend would like assistance in developing a windbreak of Douglas Fir and Black Hills Spruce north of their church.  This is a continuation of the project they started and the NRD assisted on in 2014.  Through the District Community Forestry Program, we can assist at 50% cost-share up to $1,000.

Rationale: 

Kay Poppe with the assistance of her tenant will be re-establishing a washed out levee on Skull Creek.  This site was observed by staff and directors last October and mentioned at the late October Committee meeting. Standing C Excavation will be doing the work for $4,100. Through the Bank Stabilization Program the District can cost-share at 50% up to $2,000.

A short email note from Kay Poppe:  

Dear NRD board

Att. Bob Heimann                                                                                                     

A number of years ago after some local storms in the area, skull creek overflowed out its bank.  It washed away at my farm as well as surrounding neighbors. In October of 2016, I asked a group of NRD directors to view the creek and see if there were some financial aid to repair our damages. Therefore this is my request to the NRD board for financial assistance to repair this.        

Thank You

Kay Poppe

Rationale: 

The KTIC radio ad and the Wahoo Newspaper eAd for April will promote the chemigation deadlines for new permits and renewals.

Rationale: 

An awards picnic, similar to the event in 2015, has been scheduled for Sunday, June 4^th at Czechland Lake.  It was recommended to have a social hour at 5:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, and awards at 7:00 pm.  It was suggested to invite all past and current staff and directors.

Rationale: 

Spring Conservation Sensation will be May 3^rd at Czechland Lake.  Online Registration opened March 7^th and the deadline to register is April 10^th.  Currently, 173 students are registered from St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo), Logan View, North Bend, St. Mary’s (David City), Bellwood, Lindsay Holy Family, and Wahoo.  The registration flyer is attached. 

Sessions from guest presenters include Helpful Hydrogels (Nebraska Extension- Colfax & Butler Counties), Wildlife CSI (Lower Platte South NRD & David City FFA), Reptiles of Nebraska (Nebraska Game & Parks), and Wildlife Round-Up (Mike Luben, Nebraska Game & Parks).

Lower Platte North NRD staff will present sessions including: Lake Ecosystems, Cast-o-Rama, Tree Planting, and Hunger Games.

This year Raptor Recovery/Fontenelle Forest will present a culminating session at the end of the day with all students.  Their program includes 3 live raptors. 

Rationale: 

Soil & Water Stewardship materials have been ordered.  The 2017 theme is “Healthy Soils Are Full of Life”.  There were 12 orders from schools and churches within the district.  Printing was coordinated with Lower Elkhorn NRD and Lewis & Clark NRD.   

Rationale: 

TePoel presented several educational activities in February & March.

• February 16^th: Bishop Neumann High School (FFA meeting)- 20 students
• February 27^th: Aquinas Middle School (7^th Grade)-40 students (2 sessions)
• March 8^th: North Bend Elementary (4^th Grade)-41 students (2 sessions)
• March 17^th: Aquinas Middle School (6^th Grade) Mini Courses- 58 students (3 sessions)
• March 21^st-22^nd: Earth Wellness Festival (Lower Platte South NRD)- 222 students (10 sessions)(approximately 3,500 students attend this festival)

Rationale:  Met with Neil with Phoenix Group regarding our pressing need for new meter reading equipment.  They have reviewed both lines and are working to develop frequency reader that will work with our existing meters and read all meters remotely.  Initially, their intentions were to fit all our existing meters with their own radio transmitter but we soon discovered the initial cost per meter would not be in our total price range.  Neil will be getting back to me in the near future with additional information.

Rationale: 

Monthly water samples were taken and delivered to the State for testing.  Bills for this system will be sent out by the end of this week.

Scheduling to repair Oak street service line as soon as weather permits.

Rationale:  Monthly water samples were taken and delivered to the State for testing.  Bills for this system will be sent out by the end of this week.

Rationale:  None

Rationale: 

Certified letters, on the hearing date set by the Board, were sent out to the following producers that didn't have flow meters installed as of March 15, 2017.  

Bryce Grotelueschen 
Smokie Joe Farms (Larry Beiermann)
Terry Lutjens

Larry Beiermann called and notified staff that the meters have been installed.  Staff inspected and verified that the water flow meters were correctly installed on March 28. 

Terry Lutjens has an invoice in the NRD office showing that the water flow meters have been purchased. Staff is waiting to hear from Mr. Lutjens or the installer that the meters have been installed.

Bryce Grotelueschen has an invoice in the NRD office that the water flow meters have been purchased.  Staff is waiting to hear from Mr. Grotelueschen or the installer that the meters have been installed.

These producers are working in good faith with staff to get the flow meters installed in a timely matter.  Staff recommends that the Board gives these producers until May 1, 2017 before further action is needed. 

 

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale:  Wells Permits Approved: 1

Landowner	Number Of Wells	Number Of New Irrigated Acres	Type Of Well	County	Subarea
David Rasmussen	1	0	Irrigation	Platte	Upper Newman Grove

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2017 is 8


Location of Approved Well Permits for 2017:  Correct as of 3/22/2017

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Colfax	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dodge	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Boone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Madison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Platte	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
Saunders	4	0	0	0	0	0	4
Total	7	0	0	0	0	1	8

Rationale: 

John Vandenberg has applied for a supplemental well in the SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Section 34-T15N-R3E Butler County, David City subarea. Mr. Vandenberg currently irrigates 118 acres from well G-167673 but this well is producing 350-400GPM which is 1/2 of the projected output. Mr. Vandenberg hopes that by adding a second well, and nozzle the pivot at 550GPM, he can still continue to irrigate his field. Attached is a map of the field, a well log provided by Sargent Irrigation Co., and the ENWRA flight line from 2015 (1/2 mile from well location).

This well is two miles west of SQS #1.

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale:  No activity

Rationale: 

 #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.  2017 will be the third year of their allocation for this SQS area.

 

#2 (Platte-Colfax)

Flow meter cost-share applications continue to be received.  Flow meter reporting forms are also being returned.  Staff is working on allocation calculations.

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  No new information to report

Rationale:  No new information to report

Rationale: 

a.   Irrigation Well Sample Kits

A couple of requests have been received for 2017.  Kits will be mailed out prior to irrigation.

Rationale:  At certification meetings there were little interest.

Rationale: 

The flow meter maintenance tools (crimpers, dies, cable) have been delivered to Tri City Meters so they can begin inspecting the flow meters in SQS #1 and SQS #2. Information about Tri City and our meter maintenance program was sent out to the land owners and tenants. 

Initially we thought there were approximately 330 high capacity irrigation wells in these two areas. After inspections we realized that actually 25 of the 30 irrigation wells in SQS #1 are being used. In SQS #2 there are approximately 260 active irrigation wells in use. Therefore we have approximately 285 total irrigation wells that Tri City meters is contracted to do meter maintenance on.

Tri City plans on starting there inspections/maintenance on a quarter of these wells beginning after April 1st; weather permitting. Typically they would do the inspections in the late fall after harvest but some wells in these areas had flow meters installed prior to the requirement of flow meters in the SQS areas. It would be best to make these wells with existing flow meters our first priority and have them checked before the irrigation season in 2017. Tri City meters will inspect one quarter of the wells each year and it should take around a week for them to do so. 

After delivering the tools for the meter maintenance discussion came up about the electromagnetic flow meters. Mark Vansodall (Tri City Meters President) recommended that these types of meters have "grounding straps" installed. Grounding straps help protect the meters from lightning or any other form of electricity that might occur in the pipe. There are only 7 electromagnetic flow meters installed currently in SQS #2. There are zero installed in SQS #1. Six of those meters are the SeaMetrics brand of meter and they should have these "grounding straps" already installed. The one other meter is a Growsmart meter. After talking with him he gave an estimate on what it would cost to install them if they don't already have one and if they do already have one installed what it would cost to repair them if damage occurs. Here is his estimate: 

The SeaMetrics meters that are in our District SHOULD HAVE the ground straps already installed on them.  In that case, the only ones I would replace would be the ones that had been damaged by rodents, or such. 

The ground straps are $15.00 for a set.  Labor would be 1/2hr (based on a $65.00/hr rate), so your total would be $47.50 installed.

 

Rationale:  A request was sent to Kent Zimmerman on March 15, 2017 to approve expansion of the flow meter cost-share from the Water Sustainability Fund grant. The request was asking to offer cost-share to producers in the Butler - Saunders Special Quantity Subarea (SQS #1) and to producers one mile outside the sections of the SQS #2 border, except to the north as this is a different NRD.  Kent commented that a decision on this request could come within a couple of weeks.

Rationale: 

As of March 27, 2017 we have received a total of 184 applications.  

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 April 10, 2017 Board Meeting, we will have a total of 12 cost-share applications to approve.

 

Water Sustainability Fund (WSF)
8 inch meters	10 x 8" meters or 10 x $770 = $8,470
6 inch meters	3 x 6" meters or 3 x $577 = $577
WSF Total	$9,047
	So Running Total WSF Grant = $127,235 of $200,000 grant
	So Remaining Total of WSF Grant = $72,765

 

Total For Flow Meter Cost Share Program
WSF	For approval at April 10, 2017 Board Meeting = $9,047

 

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

 

Rationale: 

2016 is the fourteenth year for this Phase 2 Area. 

134 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports for 2016 have been received.  Matt Mimick (tenant) has turned in reports for the Stuart Gerhold tracts.

 

 

 

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)

61 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports for 2016 have been received.  Reports from Chuck Emanuel, Brian Goff, and Mark Horejsi were received in March.

 

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)

409 Annual Fertilizer Application Reports have been received.  Mark Horejsi’s reports were received in mid-March.

 

Rationale: 

Online testings in March:

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
6904	3/1/2017	Curtis Tisthammer	Yes
6956	3/8/2017	Colten Schafersman	new
6957	3/8/2017	Ryan Mullenhoff	new	SQS #2
6973	3/10/2017	James Macholan	Yes
6974	3/14/2017	David Polacek	Yes	Frontier CO-OP
6975	3/14/2017	Ross Nantkes	new	Frontier CO-OP
6976	3/14/2017	Seth Robeson	new	Frontier CO-OP
6977	3/14/2017	Trent Jakub	new	Frontier CO-OP
6978	3/14/2017	Alex Rezac	Yes
6979	3/14/2017	Gregory Rezac	Yes
6980	3/14/2017	Jerome Rezac	Yes
6981	3/14/2017	Joseph Rezac	Yes
6982	3/14/2017	Thomas E Rezac	Yes
7063	3/21/2017	Matt Jedlicka	Yes
7064	3/21/2017	Gary Nelson	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	Thursday, February 7th @ 9:30 a.m.	David City – Hruska Library	28	3
# 5	Friday, February 10th @ 10:00 a.m.	Lindsay - Village Office	22	5
# 6	Wednesday, March 1st @ 9:30 a.m.	Columbus - Pinnacle Bank	25	5
#7	Tuesday, March 7th @ 9:00 a.m.	Fremont - Extension Office	26	2
# 8	Thursday, March 9th @ 1:30 p.m.	David City – Hruska Library	15	2
# 9	Wednesday, March 15th @ 7:00 p.m.	ARDC - Mead	40	7
# 10	Thursday, March 16th @ 7:00 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park	40	8

                                                                                                     Totals             320           55

316 letters with class schedule for those expiring 4/1/2017 were mailed in December.       [84]

84 letters with class schedule for those that expired 4/1/2016 were mailed in December.  [48]

88 letters with class schedule for those that expired 4/1/2015 were mailed in December.  [56]

320 reminder letters for the March classes were mailed in February, after Lindsay class.

Rationale: 

The District has received approximately 1/3 of the approximately 650 reports sent out. The current average district-wide is 2.7 in/ac. One point of interest is the Fremont Health dewatering well report shows a usage of 304 million gallons of water. In comparison, a 135-acre pivot that puts on 7" of water pumps 25 million gallons of water.

Water Use Reports

There were 12 meters that installation happen after the 2016 crop season. in which a list is attached. A water use report utilizing a required flow meter was not received for 2016, which has a 27 inch/acre 3-year rolling allocation.  A number should be assessed to these wells without flow meters.  If 27 inches is taken as the base amount and put over a 3 years period, that would come up to 9 inches for the water use. 

Rationale: 

Currently there are 573 active permits throughout the District. The renewal letters for these active permits were sent out on March 27th.  

 

For 2017 we have 2 renewals and 2 new permit applications for a current total of 4.  Inspections for 0 renewal permits have been completed.

 

The breakdown by County for the Total Number of Renewals within the LPNNRD.

County	Number of Renewals
Boone	1
Butler
Colfax	1
Dodge
Madison
Platte
Saunders

 

 

The breakdown by county of the number of renewal inspections completed.

County	Number of Renewal Inspections Completed
Boone
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Madison
Platte
Saunders

 

 

The breakdown, by county for the ## new chemigation permit applications, are listed below:

County	New Chemigation Applications
Boone
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Madison
Platte
Saunders

 

 

 

Rationale:  The LPNNRD has received # ==== livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County

 

 

 

Description of permit application

 

Rationale:  Two 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
Morbach Inc.	Irrigation	654.34	Butler
Terry McDonald	Irrigation	568.89	Butler

Rationale:  No new information to report

Rationale:  A meeting is scheduled for April 18 at LPNNRD starting at 1:30 pm.

Rationale:  No new information to report

Rationale: 

A meeting was held on March 27 at LPSNRD.  The group approved the sites proposed which are going to be used for the drought study.  It was decided to add site 2c on the Elkhorn River and eliminate site 13, which is located in LPN, for groundwater monitoring.  A map is attached showing all of the sites.

The Consortium is hosting a workshop on May 16 at LPSNRD to discuss the draft drought tool, thresholds and existing and potential projects.  This workshop is designed for Consortium and key staff members.  

Rationale:  Dana Divine, Sue Lackey and Katie Cameron will be meeting with staff on April 24 about monitoring wells within the District.  This was a budget item on the 2016 - 17 budget but the wells didn't get installed.  With the new AEM flight lines maps being done sometime in August, potentially better locations can be considered for these wells in the Fall of 2017.  Discussion at the meeting on the 24th will be on location, installation time-table and costs.  Hopefully the Committee and Board will consider keeping this budget item for next year's budget. 

Rationale:  Groundwater levels were started on March 27 in the Upland Areas.  At this time the Uplands and Todd Valley have been completed.  Staff is working on the Platte Valley and plan on doing Shell Creek next week.  

Rationale:  No new activity to report

Rationale:  No new information to report

Rationale:  No new activity to report

Rationale:  Sampling for bacteria and toxic algae usually begins the first part of April

Rationale: 

Neil Johnson - CEO from the Phoenix Web Group would like the Board to consider approving the agreement to proceed with modules agreed upon at the March 13, 2017 Board Meeting.  These modules were Phase II and Phase III Reporting, Water Use Reporting, Static Water Levels (SQS) and Chemigation. Staff at the Phoenix Web Group would begin working on these modules but the LPNNRD will not be billed until next budget year. If the NRD would proceed before the budget year it will receive a 30% discount.  Attached is summary of these modules and costs.  

A copy of the proposed contract is attached with a firm price of $80,000 (the range on the old contract was $80,000-$125,000).  This is 36% less than the maximum price listed.

Rationale:  The GMDA Summer Conference is planned for May 24-25, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

Rationale:  Received a few applications but hoping for a lot more.  Normally applications increase after spring break.

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.

A copy of the meeting invitation is attached.

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:  Edward Kratky               Terraces                  $8,013.35

Rationale:  The NRD's will be celebrating their 45th Anniversary and the NARD is offering shirts.  See Attachement. 

Rationale:  Todd Gronenthal            Windbreak Renovation           Platte County         50% up to $1,000

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.