March 3, 2022 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale: 

21-B-5	SEC. 36-16-4 (SKULL)*	CARL SOUSEK	$                  12,500.00	WASCB TO
21-B-4	SEC. 36-16-4 (SKULL)*	DAVID HANIS	$                     2,909.94	WASCB TO

Rationale:  NRCS submitted the proposed 2022 Lands for Conservation (LFC) for the LPNNRD to approve.  There are no requested changes to the existing LFC policy.  The 2022 per acre payment rate is $192.00/acre.  The rate is based on the average non-irrigated cropland cash rent submitted by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Rationale:  Attached is JEO's final $1,142 invoice for work completed on our Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan update. The total amount under contract that will be paid is $31,630. This amount will be submitted to NDEE for grant reimbursement. 

Rationale:  No new information from last month.

Rationale: 

RIVER ROAD INC

$ $10,470.24

SOLAR PUMP/WELL

Rationale:  The Shell Creek Research Group (led by the Newman Grove Science Club) has made their annual request for water testing supplies and equipment for 2022. Attached is a summary of their request. The final equipment expense will be submitted to NDEE for grant assistance. 

Rationale:  An ongoing topic over the years has been the design of the Wahoo Creek Watershed dams.  Traditionally, flood reduction dams are designed to store permanent water up to the principal spillway inlets. While dry dams were evaluated as a possible option, the preferred economic alternative selected for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan were dams with permanent pools (wet dams). The plan has gone through NRCS final review and is expected to get final signatures this month.  Several landowners/tenants involved with Dam site 77 attended the Projects Committee meeting to discuss this topic and give input.  There were also landowners present who farm downstream from the dams. Andrew Phillips, Olsson, Janel Kaufman FYRA, Allen Gerhing & Rich Vaughn (NRCS) gave input on structure design and the NRCS plan review process. Allen and Rich explained that to change from the preferred alternative at this point, would require reworking the plan and go through the NRCS review process again with agencies, SHIPO and Indian tribes which would take at least another year, with no guarantee that the restructured plan would receive approval. We are also dealing with funding partner deadlines, which another delay would be problematic.  While landowner interest was expressed that site 77 be designed as a dry dam, this is not unanimous with all landowners involved with this site.

 

Rationale:  Andrew Phillips, Olsson, to give a project progress report on Wahoo Creek geotech soil borings and other related work. Most of the geotech activities are complete and they are ready to move into full design on all ten dams.  Attached is their February 16, 2022, $89,978.40 invoice for contract work accomplished. After this payment, $1,558.109.21 will remain under our $1,999,978 contract. 

The Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan has gone through the public review process and is now going through NRCS final review and eventual approval.  As previously reported, we have been approved for receiving $22 million from LB 406 funding that will accelerate building the ten planned structures.   We are ready to hold a public information meeting on our plans to move forward with completing ten floodwater reduction dams by the end of 2026, as outlined in the Wahoo Creeek Watershed Plan.  We are suggesting that this public meeting be held in late March. 

With the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan being through public review, NRCS has given us permission to move forward with completing designs and permitting for all ten Wahoo Creek Dam sites (26a, 26b, 27, 55, 66, 77, 82, 84, 85 and 86) as outlined in the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan. Attached are minutes of our February 17th meeting with NRCS.  NRCS representatives Allen Gerhing and Rich Vaughn and Janel Kaufman, FYRA, joined the Projects Committee meeting (Zoom) for discussion. As advertised by Public Notice, NRCS has placed the final draft of the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan for review on the following website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ne/technical/engineering/?cid=nrcseprd1492259

As reported at the last meeting and the Director's Retreat, Andrew Phillips is working on a proposed contract revision to reflect project delays/changes and to move forward with an accelerated schedule to complete all ten dams by the end of 2026. 
 

Rationale:  As mentioned, the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan is though the public review and is presently going though NRCS final review.

Rationale:  Attached is JEO's $1,142 invoice for work completed on our Wahoo Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan update.  After this payment, $243 will remain under our $31,630 contract. This amount will be submitted to NDEE for grant reimbursement. 

Rationale: 

KENNETH SOUSEK

$5,499.00

Rationale:  As has been reported, USGS has placed four Platte River cameras that are functioning on HWs 64, 77, 79 and 15.  There are also two additional gauges placed on HW 77 and 15 bridges as well.  USGS has been worked  with the Loup Power Canal to place a final camera on their property.  The USGS link for viewing the cameras/gauges is  https://apps.usgs.gov/hivis/ .  

At discussed last month, we have been working with Dodge County to find a way that FEMA can apply their grant funding for this project.  A partner Zoom meeting with FEMA was held on February 7, where they indicated to receive their assistance, we need to replace our existing agreement with USGS with two separate agreements. The two agreements are for the same total amounts in the previous agreement, but separate the equipment from the three-year operation and maintenance costs.  We anticipate FEMA will now reimburse the partners 75% ($29,160) of the $38,880 equipment cost. Attached is our  original USGS agreement and the two new replacements, 

Rationale:  The monthly Rawhide Creek WFPO meeting was held with JEO on February 28 at the Dodge County Emergency Management Office, Fremont (agenda attached). JEO is working on hydrology/hydrolics modeling and economic analysis for the Rawhide Creek Watershed which is also impacted by Shell Creek and Platte River flows.  The next step will be holding a public meeting tentatively scheduled 6-8 p.m., April 14 in North Bend. Identified  flood reduction alternatives will be discussed with additional public meetings held throughout the spring and summer.  

Rationale:  No new infomration was reported.

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 9:41a.m.