August 30, 2017 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

There are no CREP payments.

The O & M crew started the shredding circuit, we started at Czechland Lake, shredded Cottrell & Ames Levees and have moved to Rawhide Ditch 8. We sprayed areas of Czechland where Black Locust has come back rapidly, these areas were cut last winter by the tree removal contractor. We rented a Rone disk from M.E. Collins and disk the Todd Valley wetlands on the Wanahoo property. We picked up the landscaping block for the retaining wall near the Wanahoo kiosk and they started building. Also keeping up with equipment & vehicle maintenance.

The Lake Wanahoo Lake Level committee met Wednesday, August 30 at 7:30 am. Find attached the previous meeting minutes of August 2nd and the current agenda.

Mike Sotek and Connor Kelly gave a power point presentation on the science and engineering behind the hydraulics of the Wanahoo dam, Sand/Duck Creeks and Wahoo Creek watersheds and also covered methods in which we can influence water in the Wanahoo dam and watersheds. Options are 1) modify the weir with slides gates (which is costly), 2) develop modeling, policy/procedures for operating the existing gates with a weather forecast, 3) Leave all alone and use funding to expedite and develop flood reduction practices in Wahoo Creek.

The Lake Level committee made a motion by McDermott, seconded by Bartek to go forward with a weather modeling policy/procedures in operating the current gate system on the Wanahoo Dam.

Find attached the most current revenue and expense sheets from G & P.

Game & Parks Administration gave approval to spend last years income funds on landscape block for the retaining wall at the kiosk (see picture) and crumb rubber for the playground surface.

Staff put the finishing touches on the disc golf pads leveling dirt, etc... now the educational signage will be put in.

Chairman Birkel will appoint five directors to review the Wanahoo SRA Inter-local Agreement and meet with G & P Administration in the near future.

Construction is started on the bird viewing platform by G & P and bird viewing personnel, this is located south of County Road O (see picture).

There will be a Monarch Butterfly tagging event on Saturday, September 9th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. See attached flyer. Learn about these important pollinators and get a hands on experience. 

On Sand/Duck Dam 16 the terrace and tile was restructured by the contractor. Some fence was replaced and seeding will take place later this fall.

Other projects adjacent to Sand/Duck Dams will be worked on this fall weather permitting.

We met with the Corps and partners in Fremont on Tuesday, August 22nd to review the Corps Recommended Plan which they will present to NW Headquarters. The recommend plan is to provide nonstructural alternatives to the Fremont community at a total estimated cost $15 million, that is if every household and business participated. Cost is paid 65% by the Corps of Engineers, 35% from non-federal sources.  The 35% will come from the landowner and can be supplemented by the city, county or NRD or any combination.

Since the cost is estimated at $15 million or less the study could be pushed back to a 205 Study but, to keep it simple the COE will continue to fund the study with GI funding at this time.

Regarding the flood plain mapping, whether to wait for FEMA/Corps and a possible completion date of 2024 or consider FYRA's $2 million plan that could be completed in 2018/19 (See attache Matrix). Some non-federal partners feel the FYRA plan would be very feasible if all or almost all communities and counties along the Platte River participate.

Lausterer put together a global agreement between the NRD, City of Fremont and Paul Gifford. The District agreed to pay Mr. Gifford $73,800 and other stipulations for the construction of a box culvert. The City of Fremont would reimburse the District $18,400. The District's cost is $55,400. The due date for Mr. Gifford's signature is August 31.

We had another inquiry from a landowner on Skull Creek to repair a hole in his levee/berm.  A cost share application was mailed to him.

We have receive a verbal complaint in Butler County near Bellwood. A letter was sent to the potential violator regarding the law and the availability of cost-share assistance to use conservation measures to slow the erosion and sedimentation process on his 15-30% sloped property. The property will be inspected by NRD staff and NRCS personnel after harvest.

The current ads promote the deadlines for variance requests to expand irrigated acres.  The deadline is September 15^th.  The ads beginning September 16^th will promote the recreation areas and will continue through October 31.

The advertising agreement with KTIC Radio ends on September 17^th.  The cost to continue advertising with the current Display Ad Agreement is $2,190 at a rate of $6.00 per day.  This includes a display ad that rotates on the KTICRadio.com website, a link to our website, listing in the marketplace directory, 6 (30 second) ads per week on KTIC AM 840 and 6 messages a week on FM 107.9 The Bull.  It includes Best Time Available Rotation.  Half are scheduled 5 am-9 pm and half are scheduled Midnight-Midnight.  They are preemptable during the sold out days.  The agreements are attached.

We received a letter from Tim Knott, from the Wachiska Audubon Society, thanking the LPNNRD for supporting the Fertig Prairie Project.  The letter also notes that a new species has been identified in the prairie, the Purple-headed sneezeweed.  It is believed this is the only site in Nebraska where the plant has been identified.  The letter is attached.

Dave Ruder, Founder and C.D.O. of Live Well.Go Fish, met with Desirae about the Live Well. Go Fish program.

This program provides fishing and boating activities for senior citizens, veterans, youth, and people with disabilities.  The program has been very active in taking many groups on Lake Wanahoo on the pontoon boat.

On Friday, September 8th from 9-11 am any interested LPNNRD staff and directors are invited to go out on Lake Wanahoo on the pontoon with Live Well. Go Fish to learn more about the program and see Lake Wanahoo from a different perspective.

If you are interested in joining, please let Desirae know by Friday, August 25th.

Lead and copper samples were taken and submitted to the State.

Monthly water samples were taken, meters read and bills will be going out this week.

Monthly water samples were taken, meters read and bills will be going out this week.