July 1, 2021 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We have no unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  G & P and LPN have revisited the invasive tree removal plan. We have updated the aerial photo's and narrative to make it more clear to the contractors. We will submit the new information to those contractors (4) that have interest in the project. The grant is through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program. Bids are due July 26.

We have been in conversation with G & P and Ducks Unlimited on a conceptual plan to enhance the wetland west of the dirt borrow area, see attached. The area outlined in black, 16 acres, would be excavated out to an 18" depth to hold water most of the time. The Ducks Unlimited grant is 50/50, the G & P's may be able to assist and the District's share can be in-kind or cash. The next grant application is Feb. 2022. If accepted, dirt won't be moved until Fiscal Year 2022/23 at the earliest. 

Rationale:  The O & M crew has been inspecting watershed dams and maintaining vehicles & equipment.

Rationale:  As reported at the previous Board meeting, the repairs to the Salt Creek Floodway in the National Guard Camp and the fencing at the north breach hole on the Clear Creek Levee were completed Thursday, June 10.

Rationale:  The most current invoices from FYRA are attached.

FYRA is asking Valley Corp 1) When you can provide us with a justification for not completing the project by the contracted completion date?
2) When do you expect to hear back from your de-watering contractor so that you can get back to us on a potential time to complete the project?  As discussed above, this is important to the NRD so that they can report to State Dam Safety on any contingency plans necessary for emergency action while we are waiting.
Valley has been in discussion with Griffin Well Drilling about de-watering the area.
Last week Valley placed "I" beams in the basin to hold the metal sheets in place to make a holding cell for the filter materials. The depth of the basin was measured by the on site engineer of which found that the depth was still 8' short. The lake level rose above the weir from last week's rains, and now is being drawn down. Now they are going to move filter materials to the west side of the basin to attempt to convey it into the basin instead of using buckets.

Rationale:  Staff is researching possible equipment purchases through FEMA's 428 Program which is alternate funds not used to repair damaged property from the March 2019 flood event. The equipment essentially needs to be used on or for the project sites we repaired using FEMA funding. Staff is looking at a utility tractor (approx. 45hp) w/ a loader for approx. $27,319-$31,839 (see attached quotes), UTV for $10,000, replace our Bobcat T770 at $62,416.60, and replace the JD 4450 with a newer slightly used front wheel assist tractor at $105,000 - $120,000. We need more specifics from FEMA/NEMA on how we can utilize these funds, but would like to keep it in discussion for budgeting.

Rationale:  In working with Saunders County Hwy Dept. and Mainelli Wagner Engineering on the Czechland Lake Shoreline/Road Stabilization Project, all permitting has been obtained and the County has started dirt work on the Southwest shoreline/Railroad Ave. The County is taking bids on the fabric, and hauling of the rip-rap which will be placed when the dirt work is completed.
We plan to use available EPA 319 and NET grant funding at 60%.

Rationale:  Kent Merryweather, Platte Valley Drainage District is asking if the NRD would be willing to loan PV Drainage District funds, with the agreement that the Drainage District would pay back the NRD in full when the Drainage District receives their FEMA reimbursement. This would be on an as needed basis, in the event construction happens quickly, and they need to pay a larger sum of money than they have in their account plus what they are able to obtain from a local lender.  The estimated cost to finish their project is approximately $250,000. We have obligated $65,000 to their project. To date have paid them $33,208.10.

Rationale:  The Papio-Missouri NRD has sent an invoice for the ice removal inter-local agreement for $399.47, see attachment for explanation. Lower Platte North is paying 5% of the current expense.
 

Rationale:  Don & Dave Medinger have submitted an invoice for $2,025.00 for Platte River bank stabilization in Butler County. The Medingers continue to repair their jetties after the 2019 flood event. The District also assisted them in August 2020.
 

Rationale:  For the month of June, the District has received $10,142.50 in annual park permit revenue. Year to date revenue totals $72,737.50. The year by year breakdown for the month of June is listed below. 
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD Total
June 2021	10,142.50	72,737.50
June 2020	13,030.00	80,140.00
June 2019	12,290.00	67,385.00

Rationale:  For the month of June, the District recieved $20,101.11 in camping revenue. The year-to-date total is $70,491.33.

Rationale:  Lake Wanahoo will again be hosting the Wahoo Firework Show on July 4th at 10pm. This year the display will be shot from the northernmost jetty on the east side of the lake instead of the breakwater trail, which was used in 2019. Visitors will again be allowed to park in the day use area free of charge. The District will require permit entry to the boat ramp and campgrounds. Staff met with local law enforcement on 6/30 to make a traffic plan that will hopefully allow for a smooth exit for visitors.

Rationale:  During the month of June, the building was rented 22 times. This number includes 8 NRD/NRD-involved meetings, and 6 education events. Revenue for month of June was $840.

Rationale:  Please save the date for August 20th - we are planning an open house/building dedication with the new name!

Below are some name suggestions for the building. 
Clint Johannes Education Center at Lake Wanahoo
Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo
Clint Johannes Learning Center at Lake Wanahoo
Johannes Education Center
Johannes Education Building
Johannes Learning Center
Lake Wanahoo’s Clint Johannes Education Center
Lake Wanahoo’s Clint Johannes Education Building
Lake Wanahoo’s Clint Johannes Learning Center

Rationale:  June's KTIC ads and Wahoo Newspaper e-ads were a reminder of the June 1 deadline for chemigation permit applications. If producers did not get their permits in before deadline, a new permit would have to be issued.

Rationale:  LPNNRD Website: In June, users were connected to the LPNNRD website through browser searches, links from Nebraska Game and Parks website, Visit Nebraska website, NARD’s website, Wahoo Ashland Waverly newspaper and others. We had 19 clicks from Facebook and 3 from Twitter.

LPNNRD Website	# of Users	Top Pages/views	Viewing Device
May 2021	1,678	Lake Wanahoo 1,496 Home 819 Czechland Lake 300 Outdoor Recreation 206 Downloads 141	Mobile 50.48% Desktop 45.95% Tablet 3.58%
June 2021	1,591	Lake Wanahoo 1,294 Home 869 Czechland Lake 346 Outdoor Recreation 207 Downloads 145	Mobile 49.53% Desktop 47.77% Tablet 2.70%

Facebook:
Our top posts for June on Facebook included posts about the opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the new trails at Lake Wanahoo, Wahoo 151 events at Lake Wanahoo, Nebraska Pollinator week facts and photos, and updated drought monitor maps.

Facebook	Total Views	Total Reach	Followers
May 2021	4,355	4,176	1,256
June 2021	4,858	4,627	1,273

Twitter:
Our top posts for June on Twitter included posts about phragmites and its threat to wetland areas, the opening of the new trails at Lake Wanahoo, safety risk of decommissioned wells (linked to our website about cost-share and viewed 5 times), pollinator week facts and pictures, and the 4^th of July fireworks to be held at Lake Wanahoo.

 

Twitter	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
May 2021	4,824	169	334
June 2021	2,450	83	338

 

Rationale:  We are conitinuing to rotate through 3 videos with News Channel Nebraska: the Operation and Maintenance video, the Projects video, and Lake Wanahoo video. We did not receive a report for June's shared times (usually received at the end the month), I will plan to attach it before the board meeting.
 

Rationale: 

• Kids Summer Institute: Disc Golf 15 students, Friendship Rocks 10 students, Water wonders and nature hike 10 students.
• Camp RC: Raymond Central after school/summer program came out to the lake for activities (team tent set up challenge and a nature hike).
• 151 celebration: Movie night moved to July 26th. Fishing tournament had 13 teams and the kayak scavenger hunt had 50-60 participants. 
• July events:
  • Coffee, Lakeside (8th)
  • Wildflowers and Wine (20th)
  • The Sandlot (26th)
  • National Envirothon (26th-28th)

Rationale:  This was sent from Tim Knott to Tom.
This email is a request to the Lower Platte North NRD
Board for a reauthorization of a matching grant that was made last
July to the Wachiska Audubon Society. As you recall the LPN NRD Board
authorized a conditional matching grant of $1,000 to Wachiska that
would help us in applying for a larger grant to the Nebraska
Environmental Trust. The purpose of the NET grant application was to
get us started on a prairie management plan, involving a prairie
manager, to maintain our 33 native tallgrass prairies in Southeastern
Nebraska.

We did apply for that larger grant in September 2020 and we mentioned
the smaller matching grant pledges we received from Lower Platte
North, Lower Platte South and Nemaha Natural Resource Districts in our
grant to NET. However, we were not successful in being awarded our NET
grant this past spring.

Wachiska is going to apply again this September to the NET for a very
similar grant of approximately $190,000. This time we are asking the
LPN NRD to pledge a matching grant of $1,000 again, but without the
requirement that it be a conditional grant. That is we would receive
it whether or not we are successful with our NET grant application
this fall. We believe our chances of success will be better this
coming year. The NET has been approving  some very large million
dollar projects in the last few years and we hope once those are
funded, there will be more money for smaller projects.

On the other hand, if the Lower Platte North Board prefers to keep the
language exactly the same as last year's matching grant, that is with
the provision that it be conditional on the approval of the 2021-2022
NET grant application, that would be appreciated and helpful to
Wachiska.

Wachiska is moving forward with our prairie management plan. This May,
as a first step, we hired Kay Kottas, a well known expert on native
prairies, to do prairie inspections of all our conservation easement
prairies twice a year. This should make management a little easier for
us. Wachiska is responsible for five native prairies in the LPN NRD
District. Two of the best are near Richland and Yutan and are
available to anyone for education.use. We hope the Lower Platte North
NRD can help Wachiska Audubpn again this year.

Tim Knott, Wachiska Conservation Committee

Rationale:  Account 057 - Shad and Regina Hejhal - service has been off since May '20, and the property has been vacant since the end of 2019.  We currently sit at $891.00 due for water service, and $360.00 due to Colon for sewer collections.  No water usage has occurred at the property since 2017.  It has been advised that we write off the expense from our accounts receivable.   
Normal monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills in the mail 7/1.

Rationale:  The double check valve for the new Butler county landfill service arrived this month and has been installed.  Waste Connections has run their line from the pit to the new service area.  The month of July will be the first month for billable service.
Normal monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills in the mail 7/1.