May 14, 2018 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:  Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda?

Rationale:  Are there any corrections to the minutes? If not they will be approved on the consent agenda.

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  No new information was presented.

Rationale:  No new information was discussed.

Rationale:  Attached find absence requests from Director Feala from the February and March Board Meeting and Director Sobota from the March meeting.  Discussion is needed.

Rationale:  Attached find a membership renewal notice from Keep Fremont Beautiful.  Last year we donated $100 to Keep Fremont Beautiful.

Rationale:  During a meeting with Kent Zimmerman this past month, he informed us his intention is to make final RDF payment of $123,186.54  before the end of this fiscal year.  This payment would reimburse LPNNRD for all requests currently submitted to the Commission.  Balance remaining on outstanding Wanahoo loan is approximately $118,356.70

Rationale:  Discussion and possible action to move forward with construction of  Recreation/Education building on the East side of Lake Wanahoo and to develop boat/kayak accessible campsites on Wanahoo's Pork Chop island.

Gottschalk and Mountford have been in discussion with Kent Zimmerman regarding potential 60/40 cost-share towards these projects.  If direction is given to move forward, a request for up to $125,000 of Commission funds will be requested at the May 17th Natural Resource Commission meeting to be used towards the building.  During our meeting with Mr. Zimmerman, we were informed he can administratively approve up to $ 25,000 of Commission funds to be utilized for Pork Chop island, also 60/40 split.

Staff recommendation is to proceed with bid requests to construct Recreation/Education building to be built this year on the East side of LPNNRD's Lake Wanahoo property.

Staff also recommends proceeding with the development of kayak/boat accessible camp sites on Wanahoo's Pork Chop island.
 

Rationale:  In the past, all Wanahoo dirt sales have been held collectively in an account and allowed to accumulate while hay sales have been deposited into the general account.  Staff recommendation is to deposit future hay and dirt sales into the existing NPAIT account to be utilized for the Wanahoo property.

Rationale:  Gottschalk presented  information and lead discussion regarding LPNNRD property owned east of Lake Wanahoo in Wahoo Airpark development.

Rationale:  Attached find our Final Workers Compensation Audit Worksheet and invoice from LARM.  This year we received a credit in the amount of  $1,958.53.  

Rationale:  Attached find the Monthly report from Water Strategies.

Rationale:  Chris has reviewed our office computer needs and is recommending the purchase of 4 total machines:  (2 desktop and 2 notebook)
There is also a need for 2 hubs (one for each notebook).
Total purchase price for all equipment is approximately $ 3,864.00

Rationale: 
 

Rationale:  General Manager Gottschalk made the decision to terminate Mitch O'Reilly's employment with Lower Platte North NRD effective the end of the work day April 13, 2018.  We have a signed severance agreement from Mr. O'Reilly on file and he has an unused balance of 37.25 hours of annual leave to be paid.

Rationale:  Management team will be completing annual evaluations on all LPNNRD employees over the next 4-6 weeks.  

Rationale:  Skye Sabatka has been hired to fill the vacant NRD/NRCS Conservation Field Technician. Her first day will be May 7th.

Rationale:  Interviews will be held Friday, May 4th for the Butler County NRD/NRCS Field Office Assistant.  A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to ratify the hiring of the selected person.

Rationale:  Grant Nuttelmann and Cindy Love were present to review the March Financial Statements.

Rationale:  Nothing on the table.

Rationale:  At Czechland, for the Grassland Renovation through the Wild Nebraska Program, we will do some final spraying and then re-seed the area. Through the Wild Nebraska Grant program and Game & Parks, the District covers 25% of the cost.
We are a man down because Mitch O'Reilly is no longer employed. We will sub contract out the spraying and planting to Dan Ourada at $20/hr.  Mr. Ourada will use the District's JD 4430, sprayer and grass drill.

Rationale:  The O & M staff burned a few more tree piles and repaired fence at Homestead Lake, assisted in a prescribed burn on the Wanahoo Property, started to remove the dirt heaved up by ice along the shoreline at Lake Wanahoo, preparing for tree planting, bagged trees for customers, prepared sites for Conservation Sensation at Wanahoo, removed a beaver dam at the Rawhide diversion culverts and the riser intake on Cottonwood 6-E, west of Prague, was plugged as well as the culvert under the county road downstream of the dam. Both have been unplugged.

Rationale:  The water level has been at elevation 1209 or one foot down for the past four weeks.
There is a lighting problem with the overhead lights on the west side of the park. Lights have been blinking, not coming on or staying on continuous. Kubr Electric will be taking a look at the problem.
The park is staffed with a Superintendent and three other individuals.

Rationale:  The rubber compound or grout in the concrete joints in the Weir Spillway is coming out in most of them (see attached photo from DNR Dam Inspection Report). Heimann contacted Olsson Associates who recommended a company by the name of Peerless Compaction Grouting, Inc. of Iowa. They use a product called ST-591 Hydrotite which is a special dry oakum in rope form which can be used to make Reinforced Foam Seals in leaking concrete joints and cracks. A company rep did an inspection with Heimann and has sent three options for repair.  Heimann is requesting opinions from Olsson's and the Engineers with the Dept. of Natural Resources as to which option they would recommend. We may have a quote for the Board meeting.

Rationale:  The Corps of Engineers finally received federal funding for the Fremont Section 205 Study for the non-structural process. All of the Amendment No. 3 Agreements must have been signed by all the non-federal partners. This study has been previously approved, January 8, 2018, and is budgeted. The District will send $175,000 to the COE for the completion of this study. We will also send letters to our non-federal partners asking them for their percentage of the $175,000.

Rationale:  The electricity to the three new camper pads has been installed, they are all 50 Amp service.  Fire rings and picnic tables have been placed. Our seasonal employee Dave Odvody started April 2.

Rationale:  To date the District has ordered 12,425 trees of which 7,100 will be machine planted. We have distributed most of the hand plants. One nursery in Minnesota is having trouble digging their conifers because the ground is still frozen. We should be started planting the first of May.

Rationale:  We have hired three college students as summer interns. Ross Kirby is returning from last summer and Dawson Moore and Brittnay Haw will be newcomers.

Rationale:  Currently, nothing new to report.

Rationale:  The KTIC Radio Ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd for May will promote the chemigation deadline for renewals and new permits.
 

Rationale:  LPNNRD has submitted two nominations for the NARD Awards.  TePoel has completed nomination materials for the Director of the Year and the Hall of Fame awards.  We would like to keep these nominations confidential at this time.
 

Rationale:  It was reported that Spring Conservation Sensation would be held on Wednesday, May 2^nd from 9 am to 2 pm at Lake Wanahoo (east entrance- day use area).  A recap of the event will be provided prior to the Board of Director’s meeting on Monday, May 14^th.
 

Rationale:  TePoel has several educational activities scheduled for April-May 

• April 11^th: Mead Public School Natural Resources Class- 6 students (1 activity)
• April 13^th: Aquinas Middle School Mini-Courses- 65 students (5 sessions)
• April 25^th: North Bend Public School Natural Resources Class- 6 students (1 activity)
• April 26^th: Wahoo Public School HeadStart Program (preschool)- 40 students (4 activity stations)
• May 3^rd: Wahoo Public School 7^th Grade Science- 90 students (3 activity stations)
• May 10^th: Schuyler Elementary (4^th grade)- 150 students (7 sessions)

TePoel has partnered with Wahoo Kids Summer Institute to provide several workshops to youth in the community during the month of June at Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area.  NRD staff will lead these workshops.

• June 7th: Water Workshop (Daryl Anderson/Water Department, Desirae TePoel)
• June 14th: Water Workshop (Daryl Anderson/Water Department, Desirae TePoel)
• June 15th: Disc Golf Workshop (Bret Schomer, Sean Elliott, Desirae TePoel)
• June 22nd: Disc Golf Workshop (Bret Schomer, Sean Elliott, Desirae TePoel)

TePoel has partnered with Saunders County 4-H to provide an Outdoor Recreation Workshop at Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area.  This workshop will be open to youth ages 8-18 and will provide sessions on fishing (Nebraska Game & Parks), boating (Live Well Go Fish), kayaking (Nebraska Game & Parks), and turtles/owls (Papio-Missouri NRD). Saunders County 4-H is coordinating registration to 4-H’ers.  Non-4-H members are also eligible to participate.  Registration costs are $5.  Please see the attached flyer.

• June 1^st: Outdoor Recreation Workshop (Saunders County 4-H, Desirae TePoel)

Rationale:  There were two "Test Your Well Nights" scheduled during April in partnership with the Mead and North Bend FFA Chapters. 

• Mead: April 18th: 6:00-7:00 pm, Mead High School
  • 7 FFA students, 9 participants, 19 water samples tested
• North Bend: April 30^th: 6-8 pm, Tiger Arena- North Bend High School (This will take place during Mayfest.)
  • 4 FFA students, 17 participants, 27 water samples tested

Rationale:  LPNNRD received four outstanding applications for the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded to two high school seniors, participating in the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program, who plan to pursue higher education relating to science or natural resources.  A committee of staff have reviewed all applications and would like to recommend Payton Nelson and Abbie Pieke as recipients for this scholarship.

TePoel would like to notify the students and Newman Grove High School immediately following the OERW Committee Meeting and prior to the Board of Directors Meeting in order to notify students prior to graduation.
 

Rationale:  Elliott completed Grade 6 Backflow and Cross-Connection licensure class at Nebraska Rural Water Association (Wahoo) April 9-13.  This license will allow Elliott to test/repair RWD's backflow prevention devices and forgo paying for testing.

Rationale:  Monthly coliform testing completed and bills went out last week.
 

Rationale:  Monthly coliform testing completed, and bills went out last week.

Rationale:  A hearing was conducted on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 starting at 5 pm.  Bob Hilger was the presiding public hearing officer.  Testimony was presented by Daryl Andersen and Amy Zoeller - DNR.  Daryl presented the V-IMP document, agreement letter sent to NeDNR and proof of publications.  Amy then presented a letter from DNR director, Jeff Fassett, Nebraska Administrative Code document and Lower Platte Basin Management Plan. Hearing was left open until 5:30 pm. The IMP final draft and hearing notice are attached.

Editorial Changes to the IMP:     

• Acre-feet:  The volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. 
• Cubic Foot Per Second--The rate of discharge representing a volume of 1 cubic foot passing a given point during 1 second
• Basin—see River Basin.
• River Basin-the land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries.
• Subbasin--A portion of a river basin that is drained by a portion of tributaries in that basin.

 
And for changes to the SW permits table, see the red text below:
 

Surface Water Permits In The Lower Platte North NRD (February, 2018)
Purpose of Permit	Number of Permits	Permitted Acres for irrigation	Natural flow grant in cubic-feet per second	Storage grant in Acre-feet
Diversion from naturally flowing source for irrigation	157	11,618	147	NA
Diversion from a reservoir for irrigation of land that is also approved to receive water from naturally flowing source	1	(209)	NA	(17)
Diversion only from a reservoir for irrigation	6	432	NA	(240)
Total Irrigation Permits	164	12,050	147	(257)
Domestic use	1	0.5	0.01	NA
Dust control	1	NA	0.89	NA
Instream flow	2	NA	Variable1	NA
Induced groundwater recharge	6	NA	Variable1	NA
Total Miscellaneous Permits	10	1	1	NA
Storage of water in reservoir (permits held by District)	39	NA	NA	14,017
Storage of water in reservoir (all non-District permits)	19	NA	NA	896
Supplemental Storage2	7	NA	NA	256
Total Storage Permits	65	NA	NA	15,169
Totals	239	12,051	148	15,169

 
 

 

Rationale:  A potential well permit for a poultry operation could be applied for within 1 mile of the red area.  Michael Connely addressed the Committee on the possibility of constructing a poultry breeding operation at a site 2 miles south of Linwood.  Since the committee meeting, Mr. Connelly has talked to a well driller and was informed that he would need numerous wells to reach the 80 GPM capacity.  At this time he will not be pursuing a well permit.  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: 9

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
CVW Farms Inc	1	62	Irrigation	Saunders	Todd Valley
Dan Wondercheck	1	36	Irrigation	Boone	Upper Newman Grove
Lonny Schaad	1	58	Irrigation	Platte	Lower Shell Creek
WMW Family Farms LLC	1	0	Irrigation	Platte	Middle Shell Creek
Kenneth Hallgren	1	78	Irrigation	Madison	Newman Grove
Duane Nelson	1	130	Irrigation	Madison	Newman Grove
Eugene Volnek	1	53	Irrigation	Dodge	Fremont East
Scott Cassels	1	0	Other (Pond)	Saunders	Leshara Platte Valley
Timothy Mueller	1	0	Livestock	Platte	Lower Shell Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2018 is 11

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2017:  Correct as of ####

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2018:  Correct as of 3/27/2018

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	1	0	1	0	0	0	2
Boone	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Madison	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
Platte	2	1	1	0	0	0	4
Saunders	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Total	10	1	2	0	0	0	11

 

 

Rationale:  Keith Rasmussen is requesting a transfer of 55 certified irrigated acres in Boone County. The acres will be coming from four separate parcels.

Acres Transferring From:
-19.55 acres in the SW1/4 of S13-T20N-R5W Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea
-12.91 acres in the W1/2 NW1/4 of S13-T20N-R5W Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea
-12.65 acres in the E1/2 NW1/4 of S13-T20N-R5W Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea
-10.49 acres in the S1/2 NE1/4 of S18-T20N-R4W Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea

Acres Transferring To:
-55.61 acres in the N1/2 NE1/4 of S18-T20N-R4W Boone County, Upper Newman Grove Subarea
(see attached map; from is in pink, to is in yellow)

Rationale:  The NRD needs to set a net irrigation requirement either by county or zone (attachments). DNR goes by sections and if the NRD uses the 27 inch rolling allocation as the baseline, the NRD will need to calculate the difference in the Acre Foot Allotment.   An example is if 9 inches/acre is used and Saunders County parcel is 6.8 inches/acre.
(160*.57*.50*30 = 13.68 AF (6.8 inches)
160*.75*.50*.30 = 18.00 AF (9 inches)
 
4.32 AF would be charged against the Allotment.  The irrigation requirement difference will play a role in the expanding or transferring of acres.   

The Committee would like to discuss this agenda item at future committee meetings before deciding on a particular number or which document to consider.  

Rationale:  Public Hearing on the GW Rules and Regulations is scheduled for Monday, May 14 at 5 pm.  After reviewing the testimony from the public hearing at the May Board Meeting, potentially there could be 2 or 3 motions needed. 

Rationale:  The attached draft was shown to the Committee in November.  Do we want one policy to handle everything, group by similarity or individually? 

Committee directed staff to draft policies that are similar in nature.   

Rationale:  Bob Hilger, Larry Feala and Daryl attended the Director's meeting in Ord on April 20.  Presentation were made on water efficiency and the Lower Platte Drought Plan.  A budget was approved with no dues being needed in the next fiscal year.  One thing that was pointed out by DNR is when a V-IMP is completed the state doesn't issue an annual appropriation report for the Basin.  

Rationale:  Tri-City Meters has been working on repairing flow meters within the SQS areas.  One of the meters was a SeaMetrics which was still under warranty.  The following is Mark's comments on this particular meter and replacing batteries.  

"On a warranty replacement such as this SeaMetrics we are coming out to do, 
1.  the fact that in most all cases it will require at least 2 trips to the meter location.  One to inspect and diagnose the problem on the meter. And one to replace the meter...
2.  Dialog with the factory, back and forth... min of 1/2 hr.  This one for example was worse, as we had to "go to bat" for the customer, which is the right thing to do in my opinion.  SeaMetrics really wanted us to pull the meter, take pictures of the liner of the meter and send them the pics,,, then reinstall the meter until a decision was made... I Didn't want to do all that work, so we had to convince them the water came from another source, and show pics of issue, which happened to be on the exterior of the meter.  
Now fast forward to current and we have a meter to bring out to replace for the farmer, with no replacement cost except for labor to physically replace it.  We've replaced hundreds of these years ago, so we have a good idea on what it takes.  Some are easier than others, but some can be a real pain in the butt, we've had them installed so tight before that we had to hook a come a long to the truck and put some pressure on the downstream end of pipe to make a gap in the line so we could actually pull out the meter!  I expect the minimum time to spend back at the meter doing the replacement to be an hour, that's on top of the drive back.
With all that said, to cover labor, time, travel, on single replacements like this, we will need to be at $150.00.

Battery replacements I agree are on a scheduled visit, but weren't included in the bid we gave your district.  This will also take more time at each site, as well as expose us to more liability should something not be done correct, or fail after we have been there, such as not getting the meter sealed up correctly, gasket slip out of place and leak, etc...   I think to be fair, I could make do with 1/4 hr labor to change batteries, ($65 x .25 = $16.25 ea)"

Rationale: 

There is still a couple of flow meter applications that have not been approved as they aren't installed.  There may be applications to be approved at the Board meeting.  Dicke's livestock wells still does not have meters installed.  A letter was sent to them after the Board meeting with Jovan assistance. 

At the June 28, 2017 Water Committee, motion (1) offer cost-share for flow meters to producers within 2 miles of the SQS #2 Boundary with-in LPNNRD and (2)to offer cost-share within the SQS #2 area to convert gallons reading registers to acre-inches. Cost-share for registers conversion will be $225 with producer paying the labor cost. Deadline for invoices will be by March 1.

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)

 

Water Sustainability Fund (WSF)
8 inch meters	XX x 8" meters or XX x $770 = $0
6 inch meters	XX x 6" meters or XX x $577 = $0
WSF Total	$0
	So Running Total WSF Grant = $79,459 of $200,000 grant
	So Remaining Total of WSF Grant = $120,541

 

 

LPNNRD For GWEL Cooperators
8 inch meter	0 x 8" meters or 1 x $230 = $0
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	$0

 

Total For Flow Meter Cost Share Program
WSF & LPNNRD	For approval at September 9, 2017 Board Meeting = $0

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

 

Rationale: 

An article is attached showing some recent research on nitrate levels and the risk for cancer.  Some ideas were presented to the Committee at last month's meeting on pursuing a grant to help in the nitrate areas.  Staff is planning on starting the process of writing the grant, so dollar amounts can be included in next year's budget for the Committee to review. 

Rationale:  One online test request was received in April.  Two passed the test in April and a certification card was mail to each.

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
7128	4/3/2018	Bryan Kasik	New
6131	4/16/2018	Eric Nelson	Yes

Rationale: 

For 2018 we have 304 renewals and 5 new permit applications for a current total of 309.  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	40
Butler	15
Colfax	22
Dodge	65
Madison	6
Platte	46
Saunders	110

 

 

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	1
Colfax
Dodge
Madison	1
Platte
Saunders	3

 

Rationale: 

The LPNNRD has received # 3 livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting as shown below.

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County
Rosendahl Farms, Inc	Swine	Modified	SW SW 7-19N-01E	Platte
Harry Kurtenbach	Swine	Modified	NW NW 13-20N-04W	Platte
Stephen Wieser	Swine	Modified	SW NW 6-19N-01W	Platte

 

 

 Description of permit application

 

Rationale: 

1 new wells has been reviewed and needs to be discussed before approval of the decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Tom Christopherson	Injection Well	$280.24	Saunders

 

Rationale:  A meeting will be held on May 3 from 1 to 3 pm at the NRD Board Room in Wahoo. 

Rationale:  Russ and Daryl gave a tour to Jesse Korus and Jacqueline Polashek from UNL Conservation and Survey Division of an area called Platte-Colfax Study Area. One of the ENWRA projects that was originally proposed was a study utilizing the AEM information.  They are looking at 2 areas, with the second site being the Brazil Creek Area.  This study will be looking at AEM flights information to determine if the data obtained can distinguish between a confined and an unconfined aquifer.  The NRD also asked that part of study looks at trigger levels in a confined aquifer to determine if pumping or draw down levels can be used in making management decisions.  UNL will be installing some additional data loggers in this area to compliment the ones that the NRD plans on installing.  The data loggers will provide information for comparison purposes the resistivity data obtained from the AEM flights.    

As the project started to involve the NeDNR asked to participate in the project.  DNR is willing to provide extra funding through a 60-40 match for additional data loggers to increase the coverage in the area. DNR purpose is to obtain information in the calibration of the Lower Platte Basin Water Model.  They want to see if the AEM data will assist in the accuracy of the model. Part of the agreement is that DNR has to be able to receive this information for the life of the data loggers. Per conservation with Jesse Bradley and Jesse Korus the funding could be $12,0000 from UNL, $22,000 from DNR and the NRD portion at $10,000.  Option that was discussed is that DNR would work out a agreement with UNL, with the NRD buying the equipment separately, as planned.  UNL will put a agreement in place to turn the equipment over to the NRD with the understanding that the information will be shared.

Once the data loggers are installed, will the NRD Board be willing to maintain the equipment for the 5-10 years of useful life? The NRD is still working with the Phoenix Group to receive remote reads throughout this area.  If the NRD considers a different management approach more data loggers would be invaluable.  Potentially we could have around 20 additional sites.  

Rationale:  A meeting was held on May 9 at Lower Platte South.  The main discussion centered around the upcoming workshop and open house.  The workshop will be Tuesday, June 19 starting at 3 pm at North Star High School in Lincoln.  The workshop will discuss drought indices, forecasting tools and how to get supplemental water into the Platte River during a drought situation. All NRD Board Members are welcome and encouraged to attend. 

Following the workshop a public open house will begin at 5:30 pm on June 19 at North Star High School.  This open house will update the general public on the drought plan being prepared.  Special invites will be going out to elected officials with a media blast planned for the end of May. 

Consortium members include NeDNR, MUD, LWS, PMRNRD, LPSNRD and LPNNRD.  This group was formed to discuss management options on handling a drought with two grants received from Bureau of Reclamation and Water Sustainablity Fund.  The project primay tasks includes Data Review and Conveyance Forecasting Tool Design, Develop Mitigation/Response Actions and Conveyance Forecasting Tool Enhancements.  The project is about half way through the tasks and the open house will show what has been accomplished and what still needs to be accomplished. 
 

Rationale:  An invoice will be arriving from UNL the first part of May for around $136,000.   

Rationale:  Field collection of the Spring measurements were completed in mid-April.  Summaries and information for landowners are still being put together as the hydrographs are being converted to ‘elevation’ rather than the distance from ground level to water level.
 

Rationale:  A letter was received from the Corps of Engineering on May 4.  A open house will be Wednesday May 16 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm with a bus tour leaving at 5:30 pm.  Meet at the Main Groundwater Treatment Plant located at the Junction of County Road 6 and F near Ashland, NE. 
 

Rationale:  After the last Committee Meeting some suggestions were given to staff on correcting the graphs along with other changes.  Staff contacted the Phoenix Webgroup and they determined that these changes are not within the initial contract agreement.  A change order is attached to make these changes for $3400.

Rationale:  The agenda for the conference is attached. 

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address at this time.

Rationale:  Elliott reviewed the current SWCP Projects' spreadsheet with the committee as attached. 

Rationale:  None for consideration.

Rationale:  None for consideration.

Rationale:  None for consideration.

Rationale:  None for consideration.

Rationale:   As authorized by the Board, Assistant Manager Mountford has been working with Mainelli Wagner and Associates on starting the process for completing the next Shell Creek Bank Stabilization Projects (Hamata and Vavrecek) as contract extensions (change orders) to the completed Kramer stabilization project.  The contractor, Kohl Construction, has submitted a contact change order for the Hamata project extension at the units costs used for the Kramer Project, which totals $66,404.   NDEQ grant funds will be used to cover 100% of the construction cost.  Director Bailey has been very involved working with Colfax County to get their participation with the project and the County has approved up to $10,000 for engineering, permitting and construction oversight.  We are ready to authorize Kohl Construction to begin the construction on the Hamata project as soon as possible.  The Board is asked to ratify the Projects Committee recommendations as shown below.  Change Order No.1 signed by Chair  Birkel and Kohl Construction is attached.

The Vavrecek project extension n which is the next project is still awaiting a permit, but we would like to be in the position to authorize that work immediately after the permit is received. 
 

Rationale:  Ken Kotera continues to work with Tom Sprunk in Platte County on possible options for a Grade Stabilization/Wetland Enhancement Project. NRCS conducted a wetland determination at the site and requested that Mr. Sprunk contact the USACE for obtaining a 404 permit. 

Rationale:  Attached is David Geilenkirchen's application for a septic system update in the Shell Creek Watershed.  Upgrading septic systems is an eligible practice for 319 grant assistance within this watershed. Maximum assistance is 60% up to $3,000. 

Rationale:  NDEQ has informed us that EPA has officially delisted atrazine as an impairment in the Shell Creek Watershed. This is a huge accomplishment and a direct result of many years of partners working together to improve water quality in the watershed.  As a result, there will be a watershed celebration on June 15th to recognize this major milestone.  The Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Advisory Group is working out the details for the celebration where over 300 people will be invited.  As LPNNRD contribution to the celebration, we maybe asked to cover some of the expenses. It is not know what those expenses are at this time, but they will be reimbursed from our NDEQ/EPA approved grant funds.  Director Bailey will provide more details. 

Rationale:  There is one more cost share payment to Schuyler for the completion of the Shell Creek 205 Levee Project.  LPNNRD orinally approved up to $600,000 toward the local construction costs for this project. To date, the District has made four $125,000 payments to Schuyler totaling $500,000, leaving one more $100,000 assistance payment which is in our FY18 budget. Schuyler's attached letter is requesting $125,000 which would exceed the Board's original total intended assistance by $25,000. A committee recommendation is requested.

Rationale:  On April 10, Director Sabatka and Assistant Manager Mountford met with Steve Mika, Saunders County Road Superintendent, Larry Mach, County Supervisor and JEO representatives to discuss proceeding with the design and funding of prioritized county road dam sites.  LPNNRD has grant funding from Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to assist with completing a few of the first selected dam sites.  Steve Mika said there is state assistance that can also help toward replacing poor bridges with road dams.  It was discussed that the county would be asked be in charge of hiring an engineering firm to design and obtain permits for the dams and contribute that expense toward LPNNRD grant matching requirements. LPNNRD will continue to offer input and at this time we plan to focus our available funding toward construction. 

On April 18, Sean Elliott accompanied Saunders County and JEO representatives to inspect potential road dam sites and gave an update.  JEO has been in discussions with the county and we may know more details by the committee meeting.  

Rationale:  Director Thompson asked some very good questions about the Wahoo Creek Planning effort that is underway.  Below is Mike Sotak's (FYRA) answers as shown in red.   
Sites 26 & 27 
1. Planning is 83+ % complete according to invoicing.  That is about right, except that part of the way through the 26&27 planning effort, we learned it would not be a Plan supplement for 26&27, but rather a Plan re-write to include all sites, so effort switched to that.  26&27 are further along than other sites, though, and we’re happy to share that info at any time.  Now as good of a time as any to let the cat out of the bag on Site 26...we found that by moving the dam off of the road, even with two small dams on each trib, total costs are less than the road dam.  More on that soon....
 
2. What kind of a "plan in hand" do we have for these sites now?    Plan for 26&27 include developed plan views, sections, etc that we would expect to see in the plan.  As for the others, we are still working off of a watershed map...no detailed layouts.
 
3. Does FYRA provide preliminary design plans that the committee can look at when the planning is complete?  Yes...we need to chat soon about 26&27 and then next topic is site selection.  Once that is finalized, we’ll have individual sites to look at.
 
4. Is the cost to benefit analysis part of the planning process?  Yes.  I can have an update on that probably next week...initial look is later this week.

5. Minutes from the meeting with Saunders County regarding bridge replacement with potential road structures from last month.  Attached.

 Remaining 6 or 8 Sites  
1. Overall timeline for completing planning & design by Aug. 2022  Schedule on top of Page 8 of attached meeting minutes.

Mike Sotak also reported:

"We had a productive consultant team meeting two weeks ago and have been working on site selection ever since.  The bridge cost savings info from Saunders County took a while longer than we had hoped to get, but we’re off and running now.  We’ll need Board input pretty quickly once this is set, so one topic of conversation might be to discuss how they want to handle an approval to move forward...a subcommittee, the entire Board or what?  We don’t have time for lengthy decision-making periods within the current schedule."

"Also...on Site 26, let’s say that building two dams upstream of the road IS less expensive than a road dam.  The County will still benefit from having whatever larger culvert/bridge they would have had to construct to a smaller diameter culvert (about size of principal spillways of dams...).  If the County WAS going to cost share on a road dam, would they still contribute those bridge/culvert cost savings to the project if the dams are upstream?"

Mike suggested scheduling an update meeting next week with staff and a few other Board members which was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10th at LPNNRD.  An update at Board Meeting will be given.

FYRA Planning invoices:
Following the Committee meeting, we received the attached Wahoo Creek Planning Invoices. These invoices were e-mailed to Board members last week for review. While no committee recommendation or Board motion is required since the invoices are under a Board approved contract,  Mountford has talked with FYRA about changing their billing dates so that the Projects Committee can review invoices prior to the Board meeting.

1. Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan Invoice 022-014 (Sites 26 & 27): We will be making a $462.50 payment (60% will be reimbursed from the Water Sustainability Fund) to FYRA on this $135,790 contact.After this payment, there will be $23,091.57 remaining for future work. 

2. Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan/EA Invoice (Remaining Watershed Site Planning)  022-015: We will be making a $20,937.33 payment (100% will be reimbursed from NRCS) to FYRA on this $574,990 contact. After this payment, there will be $526,923.92 remaining for future work. 
 
Attached find notes from the May 10th Wahoo Creek Planning Meeting. Mike Stoak will be at Board Meeting to give an update.  A motion will be needed to schedule a Wahoo Creek Scoping Meeting the week of June 11th. 

Rationale:  In April, USACE contacted LPSNRD and indicated that in preparing their budget submittals for consideration in  FY2020, as well as their FY18 workplan,  they are planning to include a request for the Lower Platte Watershed Restoration GI Study (new start) and are requesting a new Letter of Intent (LOI) from the three NRD's for moving forward with the restoration study.  Last year, In an effort to encourage Congressional funding, the Lower Platte South NRD (on behalf of the LPRCA) submitted a Letter of Intent to USACE last year to sponsor a "new start" comprehensive watershed study. Sending the intent letter was supported LPNNRD on August 14, 2017, with the following Board approved motion:  " To approve LPNNRD signing the letter of intent to be a partner with LPSNRD and PMRNRD for completion of the Lower Platte River Restoration Study as attached to the Projects committee minutes" (attached).  Based on the three NRD's previous support, LPSNRD submitted another letter of support on the NRD's behalf on April 16, 2018 (see letter attached).   Besides updating the committee and Board of this effort moving forward, we felt it important to re-educate everyone of LPNNRD's 2017 action and the renewed effort to move this forward in 2018.  The previous and new Letter of Intent to USACE from the three Lower Platte NRD's requested the comprehensive study be done at a maximum total $3 million estimated cost. The USACE would commit 75% of this study cost or $2.25 million. As local sponsors, the NRDs would equally share fund 25% of the study  ($750.000). over a three year period.  LPNNRD has $83,333 in our FY 2018 budget for the first 1/3 of our $250,000 share in anticipation that the USACE may get federal funding to begin this study.
    
In 2017, USACE asked for our local partnership interest in being part of the Lower Platte River Restoration, which was one of the LPRCA priorities.   The initial goal of the restoration study is to develop an integrated water resource development plan to restore riverine and floodplain habitats by improving natural channel for forming processes, restoring connectivity between the river and its floodplain along the corridor, and restoring side channel and wetland/riparian habitats to support native species. However, this study caught our attention because this authority could potentially lead to future assistance for "project feasibility planning, design, and construction assistance for water resource and watershed management in the natural resources districts, including projects for environmental restoration and flood damage reduction". 

  The Watershed Study on the Lower Platte and its tributaries stated the following tasks to be completed:

1. Characterize needs of the basin for flood risk, ecosystem restoration, recreation, resiliency, etc;
2. Develop a shared vision to potentially serve as a framework for future land use decision making;
3. Identify projects that contribute towards realizing that vision; and
4. Prepare an implementation strategy, which would prioritize how to achieve that vision.

The USACE has indicated that the study is to develop a comprehensive plan that could also be used by state, regional and local governments to guide ongoing and future development that supports critical social and economic values in a sustainable manner.  Of particular interest to the LPNNRD in 2017 for being a partner was the potential for future federal funding assistance for projects in Shell Creek, Wahoo Creek, Skull Creek, Bone Creek, and Otoe Creek.   

The committee suggested continuing our support to move forward with the study process but send a message to the USACE that before LPNNRD considers any future financial obligation toward the Restoration Study, that our present federal projects (Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project and the Western Sarpy/Clear Creek project) need to be closed out.   

Rationale:  Update on Executive Committee minutes.

Rationale:  Attached is a $75,000 project payment request No. 1 for Woodcliff's (Saunders County SID # 8) completed Bank Stabilization Project.  LPNNRD has approved a total of $300,000 toward the project to be paid over a four year period. John Peterson, JEO, was present to give an overview of the completed project as attached.   There was 6,000 tons of rock rip-rap placed on the 2-mile road/levee stabilization project.

Rationale:  PMRNRD has requested our annul $150,000 payment to them on our balance for the completed Western Sarpy Clear Creek Project. Before this payment, PMRNRD indicates that we have an outstanding balence of $283,680.94. 

Rationale:  To approve the leave time payout to Patty Holmberg in the amount of $1,891.08 less deductions

Rationale:  Two payment requests came in after Water Committee.
Sara Bongers - $1,397.77 - Irrigation Well - Butler County
Calvin Dietrich - $789.88 - Irrigation Well -Colfax County

Rationale:  The 24 foot enclosed cargo was sold on May 4th.  Further discussion is needed.

Rationale:  No action needed at this time.

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.