September 13, 2021 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 additions or corrections to the Minutes? If not they will be approved on the consent agenda.

Rationale:  Attached find registration information for the NARD Fall Conference being held September 26-28 at the Younes Conference in Kearney.  Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending.  The pre-registration deadline is September 1st. 

Attached is the resolution that was submitted to NARD for consideration at the 2021 Annual Conference.

The following are currently registered for the NARD Conference - Hilger, Mountford, Elliott, Benal and Oaklund 

Rationale:  Attached find Director Ruzicka, Yosten and Bailey absence request from the August Board Meeting.

Ruzicka was in Phoenix on business to try and list and sell his house, Yosten had a contractor hired to move cement with side-dumps and Bailey hosted an Open House/Customer Appreciation dinner. 

Rationale:  Attached find Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Membership Dues in the amount of $30,118.22.

Rationale:  Discussion is needed and arrangements will need to be made if we wish to hold our November Board Meeting in Newman Grove or Schuyler. 

A request has been made to have the Board Meeting at Schuyler High School cafeteria at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8th.  Newman Grove, Lakeview and Schuyler students who are involved in the Shell Creek water testing will be presenting their findings.
 

Rationale:  We have received a bid from FNIC - Glatfelter Insurance.  Staff have asked for additional information/coverage and prices.  A motion will be needed at Board Meeting.

Rationale:  The NRD currently owns lots at Thomas Lake and east of Lake Wanahoo. We have asked Jovan for some guidance.

If the decision is to move forward with selling the lots what procedures/steps must we take?

Do we need all properties surveyed? The assessors lines are not accurate.

Do we auction, sealed bids?  I know the two neighboring homeowners on the south end of Thomas Lake would like those 2 lots.

What restrictions (no building on Thomas Lake lots) can we put on these if any?

I would guess a movable/mobile unit could be used on the Thomas Lake lots.

Jovan's comments are listed below:
You wouldn’t need to have the properties formally surveyed as they are defined as tax lots but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a surveyor perform a stake survey so that the boundaries are clearly marked.  This will advise anyone interested in the properties what the usable spaces are and will ensure there are no encroachment issues that need to be addressed before a sale. 
 
We certainly can record any conservation, ingress/egress, etc. easements that the district wants to maintain before the properties are marketed for sale. This is authorized by statute under Neb. Rev. Stat. 2-3234.01.  I would suggest the staff and committee discuss what possible uses the District might have of these properties.  If the easement isn’t going to be recorded against the full lot then we would also need to have the surveyor out to put together a metes and bounds description of the easement area. 
 
The one lot out at air park needs to have an easement through the cities property on the east side to E 31^st Street because title standards prevent us from selling a landlocked parcel.  This wouldn’t be an issue if either Skyline, LLC (owner on the north and west) or Lorenz (SE) were the buyer since they adjoin the tract. 
 
You are not a city or village so you are NOT required to follow a remonstrance process where you pass a resolution determining the land to be excess, notify the public and then wait to see if you receive objections.
 
While the statutes are silent on this issue I would maintain that all political subdivisions have the obligation to maximize the purchase value of their property.  Since it would be difficult to argue this was the case with either a direct sale or a private listing, I believe that means a public auction is the safest option.  The exception to this is if the property is sold to another political subdivision (example would be 002063619 lot next to the hospitals property which could be sold to the hospital since its owned by the county).  If you wanted to sell the property via informal means (i.e. sealed bids without an auctioneer) then I would suggest we follow the process that controls counties (Neb. Rev. Stat. 23-107.01) which is that the property is appraised to determine its FMV and then a public hearing takes place wherein people can come to object either the FMV.  The county then publishes notice of the sale and allows for bids on the property through sealed means. 
 
Before you commence the actual sale process it would also be a good idea for us to order title searches from one of the two local title companies just to make sure there are no blemishes in the title record that need to be addressed for any parcels intended to be sold. 
 
In summary, once the District decides its ready to sell a parcel the steps would generally be as follows:
 

1. Determine what easements need to be recorded first and finalize filing.
2. Conduct updated title search.
3. Conduct stake survey.
4. Clean-up any title blemishes and/or access issues.
5. Determine if a political subdivision will be a direct buyer.
6. If the answer to #4 is no then take proposals from auctioneers for the sale.
7. This is where the board would need to be involved as they would approve entering into an auction agreement and decide if there will be a reserve.  Provide the easements, title record, etc. to the auctioneer so everything can be fully disclosed.   
8. Auction takes place and the highest bidder is sold the parcels.  

 
*Note that Steps 6 through 8 above would be substituted with an appraisal and public bid process if that option is selected.   
 
 

Rationale:  As after each census, the U.S. Census Bureau releases data for States and other political subdivisions to use for the purpose of determining sub-district boundaries.  As in the past, it is our intention to have Chris in our office review the data and generate sub-district boundary lines as needed.

This may also be a good time to review and re-visit the potential of transferring the 2+ sections of Butler County land currently in the Lower Loup NRD into Lower Platte North NRD.  This is land on the south side of the Platte River and the only Butler County land in Lower Loup NRD.

Rationale:  Due to a network issue at HBE we will not have the July Financials until next week.  We will send the Financial Statements along with Grant's comments/summary to each Director when we get them. 

Rationale:  Attached find Gottschalk's time and expense sheets.

Rationale:  As discussed at last month's Board Meeting, our plan is to once again maintain the same tax asking of $3,480,715 as it has been in the past five years. We were able to use a portion of our cash carry-over to achieve this tax request even though our total LPNNRD budget increased $7,782,546 to $8,217,366. 

Due to the increased district property valuations, we will also be lowering our tax levy from .03383044 to .03344902.  After our Levy Hearing on September 13th, the Board will be asked to approve this new levy amount so we can finalize our Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget Report. 

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting - to approve the State Budget that includes total expenditures of $8,217,366 with tax levy rate of .03344 for a tax asking of $3,480,715 that same asking as the past five years.

Rationale:  We have no unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  In July, it was mentioned that Staff and Game & Parks would like to pursue a NAWCA Grant through Ducks Unlimited for the renovation/development of the wetland on the Wanahoo property just west of the dirt burrow site. DU will be applying for the grant to the Fish & Wildlife Service in February with the rankings come out in May. The NAWCA grant would cover 50%, NRD 40% and potentially G & P 10%. Funds could be available in late 2022. If the May ranking is favorable, we can also apply for a NET grant to assist in this project. A letter of support maybe requested of the District in January.

Rationale:  The O & M staff has started the mowing circuit. We have just finished the Rawhide Ditch system. We will move to Ames and Cotterell Levees.
We continue to go over watershed dams after rainfall events and annual inspections. We have sprayed Phragmites along Clear Creek Levee, five dams and on Wanahoo property.

Rationale:  We are currently waiting for Valley Corp to provide us with a Water Management/Dewatering Plan for the basin project. Their sub-contractor Griffin Dewatering did a pump test on one relief well on August 13. Their report (attached) recommends a system of 6 deep wells capable of pumping significantly more volumes of water. A well profile from Griffin is also attached. We do not know how they plan to proceed.
We may not be able to proceed immediately until FEMA give us direction. We need to know if this plan is part of the original contract or if this is a change of scope.

Attached find FYRA invoice 022-064 in the amount of $12,713.36 for services through July 23, 2021 and invoice 022-066 in the amount of $2,501.25 for services through August 13, 2021.

Rationale:  Saunders County Hwy Dept. has completed the Railroad Ave/Czechland shoreline project. (see attached pictures) Staff is asking for invoices from Saunders County with the hope of approving this at the September Board meeting.  Mountford will forward the needed invoices and information to NEDEE 319 for reimbursement. The Projects Committee will handle this item.

Rationale:  Schuyler Coop rented the grass drill to 9 cooperators for $1,155.50 of revenue of which $577.75 was sent to the District. This revenue period is for the first half of the year.

Rationale:  Wanahoo Dirt Sales via M.E. Collins
To date in 2021, we have received $14,062.85. The total since June 2012 is $281,140.85.
The agreement shall renew automatically for an additional two-year term unless written notice is given by either party on or before July 1st of the final year of the term. If renewal occurs then this agreement shall terminate automatically as of  December 31, 2021.

Rationale:  For 2021 the camping revenue at Czechland Lake is $11,082.00.

Rationale:  We have received a request for payment from Don Medinger for Platte River bank stabilization in Butler County. The invoice amount is $8,975.00. The District can reimburse at 50% or up to $4,000.00. The District can pick up the rest at the end of the fiscal year if funds still exist.

Rationale:  For the month of August, the District received $2,700.00 in annual park permit revenue. Year to date annual permit and day pass revenue total equals $96,063.86. The year by year breakdown for annual permits sold during the month of August is listed below. 
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD Total
August 2021	2,700.00	82,282.50
August 2020	5,035.00	92,507.50
August 2019	4,302.50	79,612.50

Rationale:  For the month of August the District received $8,143.00 in camping revenue at Lake Wanahoo. For the calendar year, as of 8/31, camping revenue totals $90,655.76. 

Rationale:  During the month of August, the building was rented 16 times. This number includes 2 NRD-involved meetings. Revenue for month of $1,120

Rationale:  The August KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper e-Ad are attached. These ads featured the upcoming deadlines for variances - Restricted Development Areas: August 15, Hydrologically Connected Ares: September 15. Early September, the ads will switch to cost-share assistance available to upgrade septic systems with open discharge in Shell Creek and Wahoo Creek Watersheds.
 

Rationale:  LPNNRD Website: We continue to see traffic directed to our website from Game and Parks website, NARDs website and visitnebraska.com. Our top pages continue to remain nearly the same.

LPNNRD Website	# of Users	Top Pages/views	Viewing Device
June 2021	1,601	Lake Wanahoo 1,305 Home 877 Czechland Lake 346 Outdoor Recreation 208 Downloads 147	Mobile 49.66% Desktop 47.66% Tablet 2.69%
July 2021	1,623	Home 1,516 Lake Wanahoo 1,038 Czechland Lake 275 Outdoor Recreation 179 Downloads 153	Mobile 49.17% Desktop 47.87% Tablet 2.96%
August 2021	1,368	Lake Wanahoo 970 Home 737 Czechland Lake 309 Downloads 180 Outdoor Recreation 171	Desktop 50.99% Mobile 46.24% Tablet 2.78%

Facebook:
Our top posts for July on Facebook included the dedication ceremony and open house of the Clint Johannes Education Building pictures and press release, pictures of Newman Grove students taking samples on Shell Creek, August's coffee Lakeside event and upcoming variance deadlines. Sabatka added pictures of the Clint Johannes Education Building because we continue to get requests of wanting to see it - there were 8,454 views which contributes to the large jump in views and reach for August.

Facebook	Total Views	Total Reach	Followers
June 2021	4,858	4,627	1,273
July 2021	3,951	3,801	1,278
August 2021	12,418	12,326	1,289

Twitter:
Our top posts for July on Twitter included the dedication ceremony and open house of the Clint Johannes Education Building, Newman Grove students testing Shell Creek, reminder of board meeting and budget hearing, and the 2021-2022 school year education flyer. 
We continue to see more traffic to our Twitter page.

 

Twitter	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
June 2021	2,450	83	338
July 2021	2,212	42	342
August 2021	2,742	104	344

Rationale:  The Summer issue of the Viaduct has been shipped from the printer to area newspapers. It went out in some of the area newspapers the week of 8/23 and 8/30. Due to Labor Day holiday and a two-week requirement for some newspapers, the remainder will go out the week of 9/6. It was also sent out to email subscribers on Monday, August 30.

Rationale:  Attached is the first draft of the Long Range Plan. Please review this and address any changes before September 13^th. A final draft will be prepared by board meeting and board approval will be requested.

Rationale:  Education flyer for the 2021-22 school year is attached. Land Judging and Range Judging contests have been canceled for 2021.

Rationale: 

• August 5th: went up to Newman Grove where we got to watch the students do some shell creek water sampling.
• August 8th: Rain Barrel Day. 8 attendees learned about issues facing our watershed, why it's important to harvest rainwater, and then they all made a rainbarrel and took it home that day. 
• August 11th: attended the Nebraska R3 (recruit, retain, reactivate) Summit in Lincoln.
• August 12th: Coffee, Lakeside on Bats of Nebraska. 10 attendees learned about bats: anatomy, common misconceptions, the species found in our state, and how to be bat friendly.
• August 19th: Gave a presentation to the Rotary Club about the NRD and what we are busy doing. 
• August 31st: Attended the state fair and ran the crumpled watershed activity booth. Elementary to middle school aged kids stopped at the booth and learned what a watershed is and then made a model of one. 
• September 1st: District Greenhand Day in Columbus for FFA students. Presenting on NRD's, nitrates, and water testing; expecting roughly 50 kids during our 4 sessions. 

Rationale: 

• September 7th: Coffee, Lakeside talking about Lake Ecosystems (what is a fish kill and why it happens, spring and fall turnover, etc.).
• September 8th: Classroom visits at Newman Grove and Schuyler high school talking about nitrates and running through the water testing kits in preparation for test your well nights. 
• September 9th: Fremont middle school outdoor day. Stations the NRD will be running include: tree planting, drone flying, lake ecosystems, and wildlife CSI. Roughly 350 kids will attend the day.
• September 10th: Region V outdoor day at Lake Wanahoo. 150-200 attendees will be at the lake taking boat rides with Live Well Go Fish, playing disc golf, and going on nature hikes.
• September 15th: Prairie Discovery Day at the Wachiska prairie in Yutan. Fourth graders from DC West Elementary will attend to learn about prairie ecosystems. 
• September 20th: East Butler high school classroom visit to discuss careers in natural resources and prairie ecosystems.
• September 22nd: Test your well nights at both Newman Grove and Columbus Lakeview.
• September 27th: East Butler middle school classroom visit to discuss prairie ecosystems. 
• Planning dates for St. Wenceslaus pre-k program and with Wahoo Middle School for Survival club. 

Rationale:  On August 8th the RWD was notified by Butler county landfill personnel of an apparent leak at the new 2" service connection.  Gottschalk was able to get to the line and locate the cause of the leak; a gasket became dislodged at the flanged joint of the meter.  The issue was temporarily resolved by closing the upstream valve for the meter.  The gasket has been replaced (picture) and service has been restored.
The Bruno RWD was contacted by David City Utilities about our water purchase agreement expiring.  Apparently, it expired 3/31/21.  David City requests that we sign a new agreement.  Attached is the original agreement and, per Jovan's advice, a Second Amendment to the original agreement.
Meters read, bills mailed 8/31, routine monthly sampling completed.

Rationale:  Meters read, bills mailed 8/31, routine monthly sampling completed.

Rationale:  Staff reviewed the variances for the committee and public with no action taken at the meeting.  The Committee will review these variances at the September Water Committee Meeting.  Staff will be sending letters out to existing well owners within the area of each applied variance per LPN GW Rules and Regulation for Restricted Development Area (red).  

The variances were reviewed on what management area they border. 
Section 1-16N-5E - border blue on east and white on north
Section 29-15N-7E - borders blue
Section 30-15N-7 E - borders blue
Section 17-15N-7E - border blue
Section 34-15N-9E - borders blue
Section 28-15N-6E - borders white

Information is attached from all sites, with more analysis being completed for a couple.  

Restricted development rules:

Section P    Irrigation Development in the Restricted Development Areas (RDA)

Rule 1              The District will allow expansion of new acres but does not allow for any more consumptive use in the RDA.  Any development of new irrigated acres in the RDA shall be offset with an equal number of irrigated acres retired within the same aquifer subarea and shall be considered a transfer. The RDA areas within Lower Platte North NRD are on file in the District office and shown on Exhibit A.

Rule 2              LPNNRD shall require a water quality test from any well pumping from the Dakota Aquifer, due to its high variability in water quality.

Rule 3              If a transfer is approved, the new irrigation well shall not irrigate more than 160 acres in total.

Rule 4              The district shall send notices to adjacent landowners notifying them about the proposed well and allow them to testify at a Water Committee or Board meeting to present their case for or against the proposed well.  This shall be required before the permit for the proposed well can be approved by the NRD. Adjacent landowners are those whose land touches the tract that is requesting the variance. If the adjacent land is part of a city, village or SID then a single notice will be sent to the political sub-division.

Rule 5              The Board may grant a variance to Rule 1 if the relevant parcel of ground is within 1 mile of a Normal Development Area or Limited Development Area.  Such variance for new irrigation shall follow all rules as set forth in the applicable development area.

Rule 6              The well owner, landowner and tenant will allow the LPNNRD to measure the groundwater energy levels within the new well and add it to the LPNNRD GWEL network.

Rule 7              The well owner will install small diameter piping, placed in the gravel pack of the high capacity well, so LPNNRD can measure drawdown when the pump is operating and to measure the recovery rate.

Rule 8              Three test holes will be required to show the geology at and near the proposed well site.  One test hole will be drilled at the proposed well site with the second and third test hole drilled approximately 300 feet from the proposed well site and spaced from each other.  If a registered well with a well log exists within 1,000 feet of the proposed well site then this well log maybe used to replace one of the required test holes.

Rule 9              Any permit issued for development in the restricted development area is a "conditional permit". Conditional permits may be treated differently than other well permits within LPNNRD. With good cause these permits may have pumping restrictions placed on them, or withdrawn by the NRD. 

Rule 10       A pump test may be performed for a minimum of 24 hours, or until the flow stabilizes or slows down.  This pump test will be conducted during peak irrigation season.

Rule 11       A continuation of Stay Management Area Rules as defined in Section M, Rule 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, shall apply.
 

Rationale:  Deadline for applications are September 15.

Rationale:  Attached is the spreadsheet for the applications on hand by August 15th, 2021.  Committee reviewed the applications and recommended approving the applications that met the 300 point threshold. The Non HCA area (white) allows 75 acre feet of development per years, with these applications utilizing 41.745 acre feet of depletion.   

A development area map is attached along with an interpretation of Section 28-15N-6E located in the Red area.

Rationale:  Scenario 1:

A land tract in the S1/2 Section 32-18-6E, north of North Bend, has been split because of the new highway.  The landowners are planning to install a drip irrigation system south of the highway.  They currently have certified acres on that parcel of about 63 acres, leaving them short. But they have approved variances with Sequence numbers of 435, 289, and 290.  (shown on map)
 
Now to add more complication, because the highway bisected this parcel these acres never actually got developed, so the question becomes, are they still valid Variance Acres?  If yes, this would gain about 23 acres, so now we’re up to 86 acres, still short of what they’d need by roughly 9 acres.  They would like to drill a new well south of the highway for the SDI system.

Committee felt that a variance should be submitted as this tract of land would be over the 5 acre threshold.  

Scenario 2:
A land tract in the SE1/4 Section 30-17N-3E, SW of Schuyler, has been split up because the lake has been sold to a different owner.  The previous owner had been irrigating out of the lake, but the new owner wants to keep it for recreation.  They would like to drill a new well in this quarter, which would be a 2 acre increase as shown by the attached map.  

Committee felt that a new well permit would be sufficient as the extra acres would be below the 5 acre threshold.  A replacement well might not be an option as the original well would be under a different ownership.  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: #

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2020 is #

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2020:  Correct as of ####

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Boone
Madison
Platte
Saunders
Total

 

Rationale:  Platte County Highway Department has applied for a well permit to drill a new well for the purpose of filling brine tank for road salt.  

Rationale:  James Klassen has submitted an application for a supplemental well in S15-T20N-R5W in Boone County. Well G-086029 currently irrigates 212 acres (one full circle pivot and one wiper pivot) The land is being divided between family members, and they would like a separate well for the 69.8 acres irrigated under the wiper pivot. Attached is a copy of the application, a map of the section, and the well log information from well G-086029.

Rationale:  Staff have received a few calls from producers and citizens on wells within Platte County throughout the heat of the growing season. Their concern is that they pumped heavily in 2019 & 2020 and were worried that they would not have enough left in their 27 inch rolling allocation during the current (2021) growing season. Here is an example:

2019 Usage : 6.39 Acre inches
2020 Usage: 14.12 Acre Inches
2021 Remaining Allocation: 6.49 Acre inches

Another concern is for next year's growing season (2022). Another example:

2020 Usage: 12.92 Acre inches
2021 Usage: 10.65 Acre inches (for example) 
2022 Remaining Allocation: 3.43 Acre inces

Discussion? Ideas? Comments? Irrigation management classes?

Rule 3    Annual Reduction Formula
If, at the termination of the three year rolling term, any groundwater user has exceeded the Rolling Allocation by more than one-half (0.5) inches per acre, the Rolling Allocation for the following three year term shall be reduced by the amount the groundwater user exceeded his Rolling Allocation times a factor of 6 (e.g. an excess by one acre-inch shall result in a six acre-inch reduction in the users Rolling Allocation for the following three year term). For purposes of calculation of the reduction, all fractional figures shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

If any groundwater user fails to follow any timing and/or rotation restrictions imposed by the District the user shall have his Rolling Allocation reduced up to 6 acre inches for each offense.

Rationale:  Attach is information from Flatwater Group and NeDNR on data supplied by LPN staff, to start the process of analyzing the next 5 years allotment increments.  This is only the west part of the District that CNEB covered.  The other part will be using the statistical model called the Jenkins method. 

The technical group met on Tuesday, August 17 to discuss the preliminary information.  The plan is to have a draft ready by November for the Management Group.  The information then will be presented to all the NRDs Board in December and January for approval.  The Directors group will then approve it at the April 2022 meeting.  

Items discussed at the technical meeting is actual meter data compared to estimated data from 2012-2020.  It was suggested that the goals and objectives should be reviewed if other changes are needed.  Updates were given on Database Development, irrigated acres accounting and other models.  

Staff will keep Committee informed as this process moves forward.  

Rationale:  334 kits to producers so far in 2021. 289 of these have been returned.  Seventeen of these were in Tuesday's mail.  

Rationale:  The inspection schedule for the 2021-2022 maintenance cycle is attached. It is labeled as year 2 (2021-2022) on the excel tab.  A map is also attached indicating the maintenance zones (1-4). The meters that are to be maintained this upcoming November are located in zone 2. 

Rationale:  Water Sample was collected as part of the well permit condition.

Rationale: 

2021 is the nineteenth year for this Phase 2 Area. (In 2015 this area was reduced from 32 sections to 21 sections.)

a

Year	Nitrate-nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 0 to 8.0 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 8.01 to 10.00 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 10.01 to 15 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen greater than 15 ppm
2004	0 to 25 ppm	46.3% (44 of 95)	8.4% (8 of 95)	45.3% (43 of 95)
2005	0 to 25 ppm	47% (44 of 94)	15% (14 of 94)	38% (36 of 94)
2006	0 to 24 ppm	41% (29 of 71)	14% (10 of 71)	45% (32 of 71)
2007	0 to 31 ppm	48% (48 of 100)	9% (9 of 100)	43% (43 of 100)
2008	0 to 28 ppm	53.75% (43 of 80)	7.5% (6 of 80)	38.75% (31 of 80)
2009	0 to 22 ppm	45.5% (41 of 90)	15.5% (14 of 90)	39% (35 of 90)
2010	0 to 35.7 ppm	48.65% (54 of 111)	11.71% (13 of 111)	39.64% (44 of 111)
2011	0 to 26.6 ppm	51% (56 of 110)	6% (7 of 110)	43% (47 of 110)
2012	0 to 28.9 ppm	57% (61 of 107)	9% (10 of 107)	34% (36 of 107)
2013	0 to 25.8 ppm	50% (53 of 107)	9% (10 of 107)	41% (44 of 107)
2014	0 to 22.3 ppm	51% (55 of 108)	13% (14 of 108)	36% (39 of 108)
2015	0 to 32.3 ppm	43% (31 of 72)	8% (6 of 72)	49% (35 of 72)
2016	0 to 35.1 ppm	34% (25 of 74)	11% (8 of 74)	55% (41 of 74)
2017	0 to 23.5 ppm	36% (27 of 74)	15% (11 of 74)	49% (36 of 74)
2018	0 to 30.9 ppm	40% (25 of 63)	11% (7 of 63)	49% (31 of 63)
2019	0 to 24.5 ppm	46% (22 of 48)	10% (5 of 48)	44% (21 of 48)
2020	0.0 to 20.5	33.33% (20 of 60)	13.33% (8 of 60)	35% (21 of 60)	18.33% (11 of 60)

2021 - Five sample results have been received and sent to producer(s):  0.90, 2.36, 15.8, 16.4, 19.7. 
53 sample results have not yet been received from lab. 
Staff collected eleven water samples from sections that border this Phase 2 Area.  Most of these results have not yet been received from the lab.  

 

Rationale: 

2021 is the sixth 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 Area in 2004.  The ten sections that were in Phase 2 are now in Phase 3.  As such, the 2020 and 2021 numbers (at bottom of table) are for 65 sections. 

Year	Nitrate-nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 0 to 8.0 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 8.01 to 10.00 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 10.01 to 15 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen greater than 15 ppm
2004	0 to 47 ppm	30% (42 of 139)	10% (14 of 139)	60% (83 of 139)
2005	0 to 120 ppm	31.3% (74 of 236)	10.2% (24 of 236)	58.5% (138 of 236)
2006	0 to 53 ppm	28% (50 of 181)	14% (26 of 181)	58% (105 of 181)
2007	0 to 99 ppm	32% (75 of 231)	10% (22 of 231)	58% (134 of 227)
2008	0 to 46 ppm	28% (53 of 190)	12% (23 of 190)	60% (114 of 190)
2009	0 to 57 ppm	33% (72 of 216)	6% (13 of 216)	61% (131 of 216)
2010	0 to 57.5 ppm	31% (70 of 229)	7% (15 of 229)	62% (142 of 229)
2011	0 to 65.8 ppm	28% (67 of 241)	9% (21 of 241)	63% (153 of 241)
2012	0 to 52.6 ppm	29% (70 of 241)	9% (21 of 241)	62% (150 of 241)
2013	0 to 94.0 ppm	25% (63 of 252)	9% (23 of 252)	66% (166 of 252)
2014	0 to 101.0 ppm	27% (68 of 251)	9% (22 of 251)	64% (161 of 251)
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)
2017	0 to 53.4 ppm	25% (60 of 238)	6% (14 of 238)	69% (164 of 238)
2018	0 to 56.9 ppm	26.5% (50 of 189)	6.3% (12 of 189)	67.2% (127 of 189)
2019	0 to 39.4 ppm	25% (53 of 209)	11% (22 of 209)	64% (134 of 209)
2020	0 to 50.8	26% (69 of 261)	6% (15 of 261)	26% (67 of 261)	42% (110 of 261)
2021	0 to 43.0	23% (24 of 104)	9% (9 of 104	26% (27 of 104)	42% (44 of 104)

130 sample results have not yet been received from the lab.  Results have been sent to producers.  

Rationale: 

For 2021, we have 658 renewals and 46 new permit applications for a current total of 704 active permits.  Inspections on 281 permitted sites have been completed. There are 13 sites that are still up for inspection but may need to be moved into next year's inspection cycle because of engine or electrical issues with their wells. Of these 13 permits, 3 are new permits. 
 

Rationale: 

# new wells has been reviewed and approved 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 Payment	County
David R. Pieke	Irrigation	$1,000.00	Madison
Kerry Knuth	Stock	$712.50	Saunders

 

Rationale:  Garrett Buckley from Pivot Bio gave an interesting presentation.  “Pivot Bio has transformed the way fertilizer is produced and used by the world’s farmers. From their environmentally sound fermentation production process to their zero waste and zero footprint, Pivot Bio’s microbes offer farmers a more efficient and sustainable nitrogen to fuel their crops.”  This product could have potential to help prevent nitrate leaching into the groundwater.  

The vadose and water sampling report from the Phase Areas is attached for review.  A brief discussion on the report was done at the Committee, with Dan Snow - UNL making a presentation at a future Committee meeting. 

Committee would like a joint meeting with neighboring NRDs to discuss these studies and other opportunities for joint cooperation in the nitrate areas. 

Some information is attached on cover crops being used in the Waverly Wellhead Protection Area.  

Rationale:  Staff participated with the other members on a couple desktop scenarios concerning drought situations.  One scenario was a flash drought and the other a 5-year drought.  The purpose was to show how prepare each agency was to the scenario.   

Committee and staff discussed the concerns on the projects and regulations that could be within the NRDs boundaries to provide water into the Platte River.  

Rationale:  Attached is the information from the test hole and proposed depth and screening information for 1 monitoring well north of Richland.  Staff would like approval to send out RFPs to well drillers for quotes on drilling this monitoring well.  The plan is to drill around the first of November.  

Committee gave direction to staff to proceed on obtaining RFPs for the dedicated monitoring well north of Richland.

Rationale:  Health Alerts are available on NDEE website.  Currently, no lakes within LPN are on the list.  

Rationale:  Information is attached for a program call Know Your Well (KYW).  The University of Nebraska - Dan Snow is asking for support from the NRDs.  He is asking for a letter of support and a cash match up to $3,200 per school that would participate.   

Committee asked staff to send a support letter for this project, with no matching dollar amounts.  

Rationale:  State Sentor Bruce Bostelman, Lumir Jedicka, Joe Heavican and John met with LPNNRD staff (Eric, Tom, Daryl, Russ) to discuss tile drains within the district. Discussion was trying to find a reasonable solution on this issue. Senator Bostelman is planning on having a followup meeting with state agencies and other NRDs.  

Rationale:  The winter conference is scheduled for January 18-20 in San Antonio, TX.

Rationale:  It is that time again to approve our Long Range Plan which is updated annually. The plan, which is a State requirement, outlines what we accomplished in FY 2021 and what our plans are looking forward from FY 2022 to F Y 2027.  Please review the attached draft and give input by the September 13th Board Meeting where Board approval will be requested. 

Rationale:  There is no unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  No application approvals presented.

Rationale:  No payments presented.

Rationale:  No application cancelations presented.

Rationale:  No applications presented.

Rationale:  As previously reported, Pruss Construction has completed tree removal on the Shell Creek South Channel Improvement/Benching Project and will finish the project work after fall harvest. U.P. Railroad has completed their bridge replacement project near Country Road 15. 

 As part of the Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan Phase II, JEO continues to work with NDEE on the Plan update. Attached is JEO's $6,953 invoice and  progress report.  After this payment, $15,317.50 will remain under our $31,630 contract. We are requesting NDEE reimbursement for this expense.

Rationale: 

KEITH RUNGE

$4,800.00

Rationale:  Janel Kaufman reports that state NRCS economist (Doug Christensen) has reviewed the economic write-up for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan and didn’t have any comments. FYRA has finished removing Site 83 and finalizing the other comment responses in the document and submitted it to NRCS.   She mentioned there were a ton of comments and changes between updated econ and the site removal, so there will be some clean up that will need to happen after NRCS reviews the additions/changes. Attached is FYRA 8/23/21 invoice totaling $6,791.25. After this payment, $24,355.25 will remain under contract.

Rationale:  Attached is JEO's August 27, 2021, $710 invoice and progress report for work completed on the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan update. This expense will be reimbursed by NDEE. After this payment, $15,560.50 will remain under contract.

A project that is being supported by NET and NDEE grant funding is the  Czechland Lake Shoreline/Railroad Road Stabilization Project. Attached is a $174,763.07 invoice from Saunders County for our portion of the project expense. Also attached is the county's contribution toward the construction and pictures of the completed project.  The county is also contributing their engineering expenses, and that amount is forthcoming. The committee is asked for a recommendation for payment.

Rationale:  No new information to report. Olsson remained on hold for completing Dam designs until the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan is approved by NRCS.

Rationale:  At our joint Partner Zoom Meeting on August 13th, the participants reviewed options for establishing cameras and sensors along the Platte River later this year (November 2021 is the goal).  After much discussion, it was decided that the best long-term option was to work with USGS for providing this service.  While there will more initial local expense for equipment and for continued monitoring, the big advantage is USGS would handle everything without requiring LPNNRD to coordinate with two or more vendors to provide the same services (equipment purchase, operation & maintenance of equipment, website establishment & upkeep, etc.).  There is also peace of mind that USGS has proven experience and an excellent track record for quickly taking care of problems when they arise.  Since the initial equipment costs will be higher, PMRNRD has offered to provide additional monetary assistance towards the equipment purchase to bring costs down for the other local partners. 

Jason Lambrecht and Ben Dietsch, USGS, joined the LPNNRD’s Projects Committee meeting (Zoom) to discuss their proposal for moving forward. Attached is a draft USGS agreement and a draft Interlocal Agreement between LPNNRD, PMRNRD, Dodge County and City of Fremont to share the local expenses.   

Rationale:  This project has been substantially completed and a project walkthrough was held on August 20th. JEO is working with the contractor on a few remaining items. LPNNRD has committed up to $50,000 toward the local project expense.

Rationale:  As reported last month, the Dodge County Attorney recommended not to accept the Burns and McDonnell proposal and readvertise for new Requests for Proposals (RFP's).  Dodge County, LPNNRD and Fremont representatives met on August 17 to discuss RFP proposals received for completing the Wateshed Plan Environmental Assessment for the Rawhide Creek Watershed. Two firms submitted proposals (FYRA, &JEO) as attached. Burns & McDonnell decided not to resubmit a proposal. The review committee acknowledged that both firms are highly qualified to complete the work.  After much discussion and weighting the strengths of both firms and their project approach, the group recommendation was for Dodge County to consider hiring  JEO to complete the watershed assessment.  

As mentioned,  NRCS has obligated funds for planning and conceptual design costs for surveys and investigations, environmental studies, evaluation of alternatives, and preparation of plans and design prior to the authorization of assistance for the installation of works of improvement.  The assessment will evaluate feasible flood reduction projects that can hopefully be eligible for future federal Watershed Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program. While LPNNRD is a participating partner, this planning effort is 100% funded by NRCS, so we have not obligated any funding at this point.

Rationale:  Becky Appleford, JEO, sent a adoption resolution from the Linwood Fire Department as part of the Lower Platte North NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan (passed August 24, 2021). It is her understanding that the final day for jurisdictions to adopt this plan was August 25, 2021. As such, we have collected and sent 54 of the 55 possible jurisdictional adoption resolutions. Please note the East Central District Health Department is the only jurisdiction that has not provided a resolution to us. However, they are now participating in the Lower Loup NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan.

As reported a few months ago, our HMP plan update has been approved by NEMA/FEMA with the next HMP update being required in five years.  
 
 

Rationale:  Attached is SID No. 8 latest project assistance request for a new bank stabilization project at Woodcliff Lakes.  Their request is for up to 50% of the total project cost of $216,185, or $108,092.50.  Jake Miyosky, JEO,  joined the meeting to discuss SID No. 8's request. The committee took no action, but plans to visit the Woodciff Project area on September 9th, starting at 3:30p.m. 

Rationale:  The LPNNRD was notified that Drew Wolfe is nearing completion of a sediment removal contract with FSA in relation to the 2019 flood.  Elliott and Bailey updated the committee on this project. While we have no objection to this work, the LPNNRD is not involved and does not have any official jurisdiction over the work. However, we may be asked to send a letter explaining this to FSA. 

Rationale:  It is that time again to approve our Long Range Plan which is updated annually. The plan, which is a State requirement, outlines what we accomplished in FY 2021 and what our plans are looking forward from FY 2022 to F Y 2027.  Please review the attached draft and give input by the September 13th Board Meeting where Board approval will be requested. 

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

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.