February 25, 2021 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  Attached is the proposed 2021 SWCP policy for your review.  We will plan on approving this at our April 12 Board meeting.  As per usual, bring any questions/comments/clarification points to the March Projects committee.  Main change for this year is the LFC program going district wide.

Rationale:  None

Rationale: 

20-S-7	PAID	Robert & Linda Fickes	$                  10,000.00	TOT/WASCOB w/TO
20-S-4	PAID	Elaine Kaspar	$                     6,218.65	WASCOB/TO

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  An update was given on the SCWIG meeting held on February 22, 2021.  Attached are the January 12, 2021, SCWIG meeting minutes and the February 22nd minutes will be attached when received. . Much discussion was on proceeding with the Shell Creek South Channel Improvement/Benching Project, proceeding with the Shell Creek Watershed Survey, anticipated upcoming landowner conservation projects and additional 319 grant assistance. Details on specific agenda items and needs are outlined below. 

Rationale:  As discussed last month, we need to update our Shell Creek Water Quality Management Plan with NDEE/EPA to remain eligible for future 319 grant funding in that watershed.  Since we need to move forward very soon, the Board moved to contact JEO about remodeling the pollutant loads for Shell Creek (and Wahoo Creek).  Elbert Traylor's, NDEE, put together what is needed to revise both the Shell Creek Water Quality Management plan and attached is JEO's service agreement proposal to compete those tasks. We have  grant funds in the Wahoo grant for that plan update and will be reimbursed by NDEE for at least 60% of the costs. The committee is asked for a recommendation to approve JEO's Agreement. 

Adam Rupe, JEO, and Elbert Traylor, NDEE, joined the Projects committee meeting to discuss the proposal. 

Rationale:  At the SCWIG Meeting, it was brought up that Colfax County has been negotiating with Pruss Excavating on proceeding with completing the Shell Creek South Channel Improvement/Benching project south of the U.P. Railroad Bridge Replacement Project located near County road 15. Pruss Excavating completed the Shell Creek North Channel Improvement/ Benching Project in 2020 and they have agreed to complete the South Channel Work at the same unit prices.  A follow-up meeting with SCWIG members and Pruss estaimates a maximum project cost of $240,000. This proposal will be brought forward for a committee recommendation to proceed with the south project. LPNNRD has committed to reimbursing Colfax County for all the construction costs, while the county is providing all engineering services. We have been working with NDEE for additional grant assistance to help cover a share of the additional costs.

Rationale:  At the last several SCWIG meetings, the group has been working with UNL about conducting a watershed survey (attachments) to approximately 1000 producers to help direct future priorities and projects. UNL has been working with a group to conduct the work at approximately $22,000. This survey is strongly supported by NDEE and since the survey falls under the Shell Creek Plan Update process and will be eligible for EPA 319 grant assistance from NDEE.

Rationale: 

20-P-3

PAID

Allan Zimmerman*

$                     9,288.39

Livestock well/solar pump

Rationale:  As previously reported, we have used approximately $200,000 of our approved NDEE/EPA 319 Shell Creek grant that totaled $365,000.  In addition, there is about $23,000 remaining of our approved Nebraska Environmental Trust grant that totaled $104,688.  It is anticipated that the remaining grant funds will be expended by this spring/summer. With that in mind, Mountford has requested NDEE to allocate another $225,000 of EPA 319 grant funds for use in 2021-2022. NDEE has said that they will start putting together an amendment for our existing funding agreement for our future approval. 

Elbert Traylor, NDEE, also has mentioned that there is a great opportunity to "wave our flag" again when we get the Shell Creek Channel Improvement/Benching Project (At UP Railroad Bridge Replacement site) completed.  This would involve a possible press conference at the bridge and tour of the site with agency leaders, SCWIG, County officials, UP officials and maybe Governor.  It’s a good example of cooperation among agencies that don’t normally interact.  If this happens next fall when things have greened up, we might be positioned to announce the launch of the new Shell Creek Watershed Water  Quality Management Plan. 
 

Rationale:  FYRA has been in the process of completing the final model runs on the Wahoo Creek Watershed economics and their email report is attached. The required cost/benefit ratio needs to be 1:1  for NRCS approval of the 13 Dam Watershed Plan and at this point things look encouraging. There is the pending cultural resource issue at Dam Site 83 and questions about what effect it will have on the final plan outcome, should that structure need to be removed from plan.

FYRA's invoice totaling $17,597.50 is attached for review. After this payment, $24,750 will remain on our $95,469 contract addendum. NRCS will reimburse LPNNRD for this expense. 

NRCS Nebraska Engineer Allen Gerhing and Missy Baier, NRCS Archeologist, joined the Projects Committee Meeting (Zoom) to discuss the outlook for completing the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan. FYRA and NRCS representatives plan to be available for the March 8th Board Meeting. 

Rationale:  As reported every month, Our hired engineering firm, Olsson, has been put on hold with further dam design work until NRCS approves the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan. No invoice is anticipated until that time.

Rationale:  On February 23 Elliott and Director Sabatka met with NRCS personnel to develop a plan for moving forward with the landowner outreach portion of our Wahoo Creek Water Quality Phase 2.  
Renee Hancock, Water Quality Specialist with NRCS, is in charge of assessing the watershed's water quality concerns from an NRCS point of view.  She plans on completing her field assessment by the end of April.  Once completed she will have a better idea as to where focus needs to be placed.
Director Sabatka is in charge of coordinating the landowner group that will tasked with "spreading the word" to masses.  A list has been developed and will be finalized this summer once our plan has been finalized.  We will plan to meet with the group towards the end of summer.
Currently NRCS' new NWQI funds are frozen and they don't expect to start allocating any funds to the NWQI Phase 2 projects until FY23.
 

Rationale:  As discussed last month, we need to update our Wahoo Creek Water Quality Management Plan with NDEE/EPA to remain eligible for future 319 grant funding in that watershed.  Since we need to move forward very soon, the Board moved to contact JEO about remodeling the pollutant loads for Wahoo Creek (and Shell Creek).  Elbert Traylor's, NDEE, put together what is needed to revise both the Wahoo Creek Water Quality Management plan and attached is JEO's service agreement proposal to compete those tasks. We have  grant funds in the Wahoo grant for that plan update and will be reimbursed by NDEE for at least 60% of the costs. 

Adam Rupe, JEO, and Elbert Traylor, NDEE, will join the Projects committee to discuss the proposal. (NOTE: A similar need is required to update the Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan, so that item will be discussed as well.)

Rationale:  An update was given on Dodge County Projects at the February 23, 2021, JWMAB Meeting.  Attached is the meeting agenda including Dodge County's Project Summary that was discussed. 

Rationale:  No new information. JEO continues to work with entities provide their approved Hazard Mitigation Plan resolutions.

Rationale:  No new issues to report. 

Rationale:  On February 18 the NRD hosted NRCS' annual Local Work Group (LWG) meeting.  The meeting is open to any interested party learning how NRCS allocates it's local funds.  The NRD benefits from participating with the LWG by providing input as to our goals and resources, as well as, getting a potential "heads-up" as to any policy shifts that may be on the horizon.
This years LWG was held at the Wanhoo Education Building with 8 participants in person and ~25 particpants on Zoom.  Mark Walkenhorst, District Conservationist with NRCS, gave a presentation detailing NRCS programs and funding policies.  Throughout the meeting feedback was given as to potential areas the programs could benefit local landowners, the NRD, or possible changes to incentive payments.
The presentation provides a large amount of material to process at one time, so all participants are encouraged to follow-up their responses with NRCS/NRD staff.

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 8:57 a.m.