September 12, 2022 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:  Lower Platte River Basin Representative will be discussed. 

I spoke with Paul Zillig last week and it is time to caucus for the next Natural Resource Commissioner from the Lower Platte North and Lower Platte South NRD's.  Lower Platte South has had a representative seated on the commission for the past with years and it is now time for Lower Platte North to nominate an individual.  

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

Rationale:  Attached find a draft agenda for the NARD Fall Conference being held September 25-27 in Kearney. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending. The pre-registration deadline is September 1st.

The following Directors are currently registered - Hilger, Johnson and Saalfeld. 

Attached find one resolution submitted by the Tri-Basin NRD - Sustainable Farming Practices

Rationale:  Attached find absence requests from Kavan for the June meeting (spraying corn) and July meeting (broke down tractor on side of road) and Sabatka for the July meeting (forgot), Also attached is absence requests from the August meeting for Saalfed (COVID) and Bailey (Family business open house).  

Rationale:  Matt Greenway from Glatfelter anticipates that we will be getting our renewal policy prior to the Board Meeting with the effective date of 10/1/22. 

From Matt Greenway - 
I’m pleased to present a very uneventful renewal and truthfully, this is one of few decreases I have delivered. 

Just to reiterate, Lake Wanahoo is only covered for structural liability failure/downstream liability on the General Liability, not the excess of $4M.

Attached find the full proposal and premium summary. 

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to accept the proposal received from FNCI - Glatfleter effective dates of 10/1/22 - 10/1/23 with annual premium of $111,301.



 

Rationale:  Discussion is needed and arrangements will need to be made if we wish to hold our November Board Meeting away from the office.

Rationale:  JEO has been working on developing a draft floor plan for LPNNRD's potential new office located at Lake Wanahoo.  Once the rough floor plan is complete, they will move into the 3D design phase.  Plans are to have a New Building Subcommittee meeting within the next couples of weeks to gather additional input from staff and directors.

Rationale:  Attached to the Executive Committee agenda is Mountford's annual and sick leave payout calculations. 

Rationale:  Interviews will be conducted the afternoon of 9-1 and morning of 9-2.  The plan is to have a candidate hired and ready for approval at the September regular board meeting.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to ratify the hiring of Jessica Marty to fill the Dodge County NRCS Field Assistant position. 

Rationale:  Attached are the draft July Financial Statements and they will be approved after we receive the annual audit. 

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 six years. We are able to use a portion of our cash carry-over and reducing the budget from $8,217,366 to 8,177,580.

We will be lowering our tax levy from .033449 to .031404

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting - to approve the State Budget that includes total expenditures of $8,177,580 with a tax levy rate of .031404 for a tax asking of $3,480,715. 

Rationale:  We don't have any unfinished business.

Rationale:  Nothing to report under wildlife programs or areas.

Rationale:  O & M staff have finished our annual mowing circuit. We mow the face of the Cottonwood 21-A, areas at Sand/Duck Dam 2, Czechland, Homestead, Cotteral and Ames Levees, Rawhide Ditch 8 & 10, areas of Clear Creek Levee and Lake Wanahoo areas.
We have also been cutting & treating trees at Clear Creek Levee and Wanahoo.
We have accomplished O & M on 7 dams in recent days.
We have another beaver problem on a Swedeburg Dam. Our hired trapper has been notified. We also had a beaver problem at our diagonal ditch on Rawhide. A trapper from North Bend trapped two at the same rate as our hired trapper.

Rationale:  Mike Sotak and Ethan Miller were present for an update on the stilling basin apron floor design repair. Sotak stated that this project and design is a unique situation, there isn't anything out there to compare it to. They are communicating with other engineers and using other resources for the best solutions. The plan is to grind down the existing unlevel floor to have a minimum12" depth/thickness. The plan is to use fiber re-enforce concrete, which will give a more uniformed strength to prevent cracking.  The floor will be poured in 6 panels in a checker board fashion. There are 168 anchors in the floor, and waterstops around the entire perimeter and all joints.
The design will be passed on to the Dept. of Natural Resources Dam Safety for review and comments, hoping to have bids approved at the October Board meeting. 

Rationale:  Heimann and Gottschalk met with Tom Townsend, President of the Thomas Lake HOA regarding the sale of the six NRD lots. The HOA has an interest in acquiring some or all of the lots. The HOA would like some time to update their by-laws and policies regarding how the lots may be used and coincide with the easements that have been written. Updated by-laws and policies can then be properly disclosed when advertising the lots for sale. Townsend will notify the District after the updates and we can proceed with a sealed bid or auction for the lots.

Rationale:  In June 2021, the Board approved $10,000 to assist the North Bend Tree Board with completing their trail system. The trail was completed in July 2022. Find attached a letter of request for payment and an invoice for the concrete work.

Rationale:  Staff is inquiring to the Pheasant Forever Bohemian Alps Prescribed Burn Association and whether the district can be a member (membership $25) or provide an annual donation for the purpose of getting the group to do prescribed burns on the Wanahoo property annually. The PBA is also in discussion with UNL as they would like more local opportunities for prescribe burn training.

Rationale:  The District has worked with two irrigation water right landowners on Sand Creek downstream of Lake Wanahoo this summer. Next irrigation season, if necessary, the district will ask the landowners to request the Dept.of Natural Resources to investigate stream flows above and below Lake Wanahoo. The DNR will then determine, if necessary, how much water the district must release from the lake for downstream irrigation.

Rationale:  We have requested and are still waiting for the revenue report from the Schuyler Co-op.

Rationale:  We don't have any applications or payment request at this time.

Rationale:  For the month of July, the District received $6,292.50 in park permit revenue. The year by year break down of annual permit sales is listed below.
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
July 2022	$6,292.50	$68,865.50
July 2021	$6,430.00	$79,562.50
July 2020	$7,332.50	$87,472.50
July 2019	$7,925.00	$75,310.00

Rationale:  For the month of July, the District received $18,175.50 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is listed below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
July 2022	18,175.50	79,740.06
July 2021	15,326.94	82,512.76
July 2020	12,615.36	87,645.40
July 2019	18,046.00	60,916.46

Rationale:  During the month of August, the building was rented 19 times, with 5 NRD events. Revenue for the month was $740.
 

Rationale:  August’s KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper e-ad continued with the variance request applications.

Rationale:  The LPNNRD Facebook/Twitter pages, and the website are the fastest and low-cost ways to get information out to the public. Tracking analytics are a way to see if people are seeing the information and what ways seem to be most effective. If you are on Facebook or Twitter, please like, follow, share, or retweet the Lower Platte North NRD posts!

Total reach/impressions show how many people saw the post/tweet. Engagements include likes, comments, shares/retweets and link clicks.
 

FACEBOOK	Total Reach	Engagements	Followers
August 1-29	16,690	386	1,408
July	8,613	214	1,388
June	7,325	413	1,384

 

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
August 1-29	4,688	207	380
July	3601	158	377
June	3,114	140	372

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Back to school night flyer
• Cover crop demo pictures
• Wildflowers and wine flyer
• Variance request deadline
• Story Walk Grand Opening flyer



 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel	Top Pages	Devices
August	2,113	Organic 66.9% Direct 24.4% Referral 7.4% Social 1.4%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Outdoor Recreation Downloads	Mobile 59.73% Desktop 37.77% Tablet 2.51%
July	1,844	Organic 70.8% Direct 20.6% Referral 7.5% Social 1.2%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Outdoor Recreation Homestead	Mobile 60.68% Desktop 37.36% Tablet 1.95%
June	1,833	Organic 69.2% Direct 19.1% Referral 10.1% Social 1.6%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Outdoor Recreation Downloads	Mobile 60.67% Desktop 37.7% Tablet 1.64%

Traffic channels: organic traffic means they use a search engine then choose an option that includes lpnnrd.org, direct traffic means they type in lpnnrd.org directly (or have it bookmarked), and referral traffic is any other traffic not from a search engine or social (such as a link from another site).

Social clicks: 20 from Facebook, 2 from Twitter.
Referral clicks: 7 from NARD, 3 from Game & Parks, 3 from Visit Nebraska.

Rationale:  Attached is the first draft of the Long Range Plan. The appendices and levy information will be available after September's hearing.

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD is hosting the Land Judging contest on Wednesday, October 5. We will be looking for volunteers in the coming months for help on the day of the contest and the day after the contest for scoring. Also, we will need a board motion to pay the registration fees for all participants for the contest as we have in the past. Registration is $2 per student.

Rationale: 

• August 3rd: Back to School Night. Boat rides with live well go fish and lots of indoor and outdoor activities. Approximately 30 attendees.
• August 4th: Newman Grove day. Met with the students who are involved in the shell creek watershed project. Met with teachers and other educators to discuss getting this type of opportunity to more schools. 
• August 11th: Coffee Lakeside. This month we talked about fireflies. 6 people attended.
• August 12th: Nocturnal Night. Indoor and outdoor activities were available. We had a mothing station outside and an attendee caught a mole cricket. The night ended with a nature walk through the trails and smores at the building. Approximately 22 attendees. 
• August 17th: Wildflowers and Wine. Students from UNL's Bee lab came and talked about native bees. We walked the prairie for plant ID. Ended the night tasting wine from Cellar 426. Approximately 40 people attended. 
• August 18th: Story Walk grand opening. The current story is, Have you seen Mary?, by Nebraska author Jeff Kurrus and photographs by Michael Forsberg. 
• August 31st: State Fair. I went to the state fair to operate the large groundwater model at the sustainability pavilion.

Spent a lot of time answering emails and phone calls getting classroom visits set up for this school year. 



 

Rationale:  Kaiden is our CEO student for this semester. He is a senior from WHS who will be with us from 2:00-3:30 every school day until December 16th. 

Rationale: 

• September 1st: First Presbyterian Church group meeting. They want to know more about the LPNNRD, what I do specifically, and what events we have coming up. 
• September 6th: First Survival Club meeting with Wahoo Public Middle School. We are opening it up to 6-8th this year to hopefully draw in more kids. Last year only 3 students were involved and eventually they stopped coming as well. 
• September 7th: District Greenhand Day in Columbus. Talking about careers in natural resources and then playing some games. 
• September 8th: Fremont Middle School Outdoor Day. NRD will run 4 different stations (Tree planting, Wildlife CSI, Technology/drones, and Aquatic Ecosystems/Groundwater). 
• September 12th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-k classroom visit.
• September 15th: Helping Papio NRD run a Macroinvertebrate station for a field day they are hosting.
• September 22nd: Range Judging Contest. 
• September 24th: Apple Orchards and Cider event*

Rationale:  Elliott has been in contact with Neil Johnson of Phoenix Web Group in regards to issues with our remote meter reading.  We are currently in the process of replacing cell service for Bruno RWD and reworking the antennas for Colon.  Elliott is also working on battery upgrades for meters in both districts.
The RWD responded to 9 locate requests this month.  

Rationale:  Routine coliform sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 9/1.

Rationale:  Bruno RWD completed semi-annual disinfectant residual testing this month; this test is required for public water systems that continually treat their water.
Routine monthly coliform sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 9/1.

Rationale:  The annual V-IMP update was presented jointly by NeDNR and LPN.  Discussion on the next 5-year allocation, modeling progress and future plans.  

Rationale:  Shown below is an update email sent out by NeDNR on August 29th that highlights the Lower Platte Basin Drought Plan Triggers:

The current summer season’s high demand for both irrigation and domestic water along with hot and dry weather and predicted climatic conditions means that more frequent monitoring of drought conditions is sensible.

As of August 29, 2022, at 12am Central Time:
          the PDSI at Ashland is -2.93 and
          Platte River mean flow at Ashland is 984 cfs mean discharge  
According to the Plan, these conditions place the Consortium into "Severe Drought."

Plan Drought Triggers

Category	Level	Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)	Platte River Stream flow at Ashland
Mild Drought	Level 0	-1.0 to -1.99	--
Moderate Drought	Level 1	-2.0 to -2.99	3,000-1,500 cfs
Severe Drought	Level 2	-3.0 to -3.99	1,500-500 cfs
Extreme Drought	Level 3	-4.0 and below	Less than 500 cfs

Additional climate conditions can be found at, the LPDC Drought Dashboard: https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=c0b751c512a24b83a6ad1c3214941ea8.

The Plan is available here: https://dnr.nebraska.gov/water-planning/lower-platte-river-basin.

Both indicator values for the Plan exceeds a trigger value, so a virtual call between Consortium members may be warranted. Please respond Yes or No to this email if a virtual call will be necessary based on conditions within your jurisdiction. If any Consortium member replies Yes, a virtual call will be held.

NeDNR will coordinate and schedule needed virtual calls via Zoom and a calendar invitation for the call will be sent. NeDNR will provide a recording of calls for all members.

We anticipate that any scheduled call will have a focused and short discussion on these topics:

1. discuss drought monitor triggers that exceed identified values,
2. discuss current water supply issues being encountered by members, and
3. discuss the need for coordinated communication with the press, social media outlets and the like.

Please reach out to NeDNR if you have questions or concerns or there are other factors you would like included in the status update or the virtual calls.

****************

The Omaha/Valley National Weather Service Office on Thursday August 25^th put out a drought update packet for the region that you may find informative, particularly the historical comparisons and soil moisture information.

The Omaha/Valley NWS link: https://www.weather.gov/oax/
OR
Direct to the report here: https://www.weather.gov/media/oax/Climate/Drought/drought.pdf

Rationale:  Deadline for applications is September 15. 

Rationale:  No applications were submitted for these areas.  

Rationale:  Last year, the LPN had 6 variances that were in the Restricted Area (Red).  The legal descriptions of these sites are:
SW Section 1-16-5E (south of Morse Bluffs) 74 acres - scored 302
SE Section 17-15-7E (northwest of Wahoo) 45 acres - scored 252.5
SW Section 29-15-7E (northwest of Wahoo) 45 acres - scored 252.5
NW Section 30-16N-7E (northwest of Wahoo) 45 acres - scored 265
SW Section 28-15N-6E (between Malmo and Weston) 131 acres - scored 296
SE 34-15N-9E (south of Yutan) 68 acres - scored 342.5

Even though applications were scored, the stream depletion factor(which is part of the scoring system) utilizes the adjoining section.  All of these applications were ranked with other applications either in the HCA (blue) or NHCA (white) last year, but were not approved.  

Rationale:  Staff have received complaints about domestic wells running low on water in 3 areas of the District.

• 2 miles west of Bruno
• 2 miles west, 1 mile north of Bruno
• 2 miles SW of Wahoo
• 4 miles north of Ames right before going up the bluffs. 

Attached is some information from the Bruno Area, along with SW of Wahoo.  The Ames area map shows an irrigation well G-151426 close to the domestic well.  This well was completed in 1960 and registered in 2008 as shown by NeDNR records.

Rationale:  Some producers have asked about developing more acres with new wells in SQS 2.  UNL/CSD has been studying this area and has shown some extinct hydrogological boundaries, as shown in the attachment.  If changes are going to occur in this area, the Board will have to make a decision by December 15.   

The Committee will discuss management changes at a potential water retreat in the latter part of November. 
 

Rationale:  325 kits to producers so far in 2022.  280 of these have been returned - eleven of these were in today's mail.  

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

2022 is the twentieth year for this Phase 2 Area. 

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)	14% (44 of 107)	26%
2014	0 to 22.3 ppm	51% (55 of 108)	13% (14 of 108)	18% (39 of 108)	20%
2015	0 to 32.3 ppm	43% (31 of 72)	8% (6 of 72)	14% (35 of 72)	33%
2016	0 to 35.1 ppm	34% (25 of 74)	11% (8 of 74)	26% (41 of 74)	26%
2017	0 to 23.5 ppm	36% (27 of 74)	15% (11 of 74)	19% (36 of 74)	22%
2018	0 to 30.9 ppm	40% (25 of 63)	11% (7 of 63)	22% (31 of 63)	28%
2019	0 to 24.5 ppm	46% (22 of 48)	10% (5 of 48)	28% (21 of 48)	22%
2020	0 to 20.5 ppm	33.33% (20 of 60)	13.33% (8 of 60)	35% (21 of 60)	18.33% (11 of 60)
2021	0.12 to 27.7	40.6% (26 of 64)	15.6% (10 of 64)	25% (16 of 64)	18.8% (12 of 64)
2022	0.21 to 23.0	41.2% (7 of 17)	11.8% (2 of 17)	23.5% (4 of 17)	23.5% (4 of 17)

37 sample results have not yet been received from the lab.

Rationale: 

2022 is the seventh 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 2 Area in 2004.  The ten sections that were in Phase 2 are now in Phase 3.  As such, the 2020, 2021 and 2022 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)	30% (150 of 241)	31%
2013	0 to 94.0 ppm	25% (63 of 252)	9% (23 of 252)	31% (166 of 252)	36%
2014	0 to 101.0 ppm	27% (68 of 251)	9% (22 of 251)	27% (161 of 251)	37%
2015	0 to 53.3 ppm	23% (55 of 238)	12% (29 of 238)	25% (154 of 238)	41%
2016	0 to 50.5 ppm	25% (58 of 228)	10% (22 of 228)	26% (148 of 228)	40%
2017	0 to 53.4 ppm	25% (60 of 238)	6% (14 of 238)	29% (164 of 238)	41%
2018	0 to 56.9 ppm	26.5% (50 of 189)	6.3% (12 of 189)	25% (127 of 189)	42%
2019	0 to 39.4 ppm	25% (53 of 209)	11% (22 of 209)	23% (134 of 209)	42%
2020	0 to 50.8 ppm	26% (69 of 261)	6% (15 of 261)	26% (66 of 257)	43% (110 of 257)
2021	0 to 43.0 ppm	25.5% (67 of 263)	8.4% (22 of 263)	24.3% (64 o 263)	41.8% (109 of 263)
2022	0 to 58.5 ppm	16% (20 of 129)	3% (4 of 129)	29% (38 of 129)	52% (67 of 129)

86 sample results have not been received from the lab.  

Rationale:  The technical group met on August 24th to discuss a drought matrix within the coalition.  Each NRD will review what they have in place for drought plans and meet again in the first part of October. 

Does LPN want to develop a drought plan or discuss what would be involved? 

The committee and staff discussed what other NRDs have done with drought plans.  A lot of drought plans emphasis awareness and education, which LPN is already doing.    

Rationale: 

For 2022, there are 676 active renewals, 56 active new permits, and 1 active emergency permit application for a current total of 733 total Active Chemigation permits.  Inspections for 280 permits have been completed.
 

Rationale:  LPN, Baywest, LWS and USGS staff conducted summer water level measurements on August 30 in WANN Basin.  Attached is LPN water level measurements showing a 2.209 foot average decline.  

Rationale:  Encourage you to view the following videos. 

Videos on water quality in Nebraska:

Greetings from Nebraska WAVES!

We are excited to announce the release our latest video in a series regarding water quality in Nebraska. Entitled, "Managing Nebraska's Water Quality for Nonpoint Source Pollution", this short video explores how management differs between surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater, and drinking water and how agencies and NRDs are involved. Thank you to our colleagues at NDEE, DHHS, CPNRD, and LBBNRD for their assistance with script review, edits, and photos. You can view it at: https://youtu.be/j7ZVc3ldad8

We are also very happy to announce that our video released earlier this year, "Nitrate in Nebraska - The Basics" was the National Winner in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Communications awards in 2022. The video is part of a broader Nebraska WAVES effort to provide NRD Board Members and other water management leaders with the knowledge needed to make nitrogen management decisions through education about the role of nitrogen in Nebraska, the current state of nitrate in groundwater, the impacts of high nitrate concentrations, and a preview of how Nebraskan’s are addressing nitrate challenges. This is the first of three videos about nitrate in Nebraska released in 2022. You can watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9koZIifdIGY

Please feel free to use and share these resources and let us know if you do! To view any of our other videos, interactive modules and more, visit: https://nebraskawaves.org/

Many thanks to our partners at NET, NARD, NDEE, NDNR, UNMC and UNL. For more information about how we could assist with use of our materials or a facilitated group session/training with Nebraska WAVES, email me at carla.mccullough@unl.edu. Let me know if you have any feedback or questions, have found this to be useful, or have suggestions for future topics!

Regards,
Carla

Carla McCullough
Extension Educator - Watershed Science
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
School of Natural Resources
 

Rationale: 

# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Payment	County
Meadowbrook MHC	Domestic	$1,000.00	Dodge

 

Rationale:  All of the sites in Lower Platte North have been completed.  

LPNNRD has been assisting UNL with doing some inter-seeding of cover crops with a Highboy throughout Wahoo and Shell Creek Watersheds.  If you are interested in watching and even riding along through the field, here is an upcoming schedule.
 

• Tuesday, August 30, starting at 10 am.  Field site is East side of Section 35-18N-2E or just North of the intersection of Road 6 and G in Colfax County.
• Wednesday, August 31, starting at 10 am.  Field site is SW1/4 of Section 29-17N-3E or turn South onto Road 8A about 3/4 of a mile off of Road C in Colfax County.
• Thursday, September 1, starting at 10 am.  Field site is NW1/4 of the NE1/4 of Section 32-17N-2E or 1/2 miles west of the intersection of Road 3 and A1 in Colfax County.
• Friday, September 2, starting at 2:30 pm. Field site is SW1/4 of Section 18-16N-7E or NE of the intersection of Road 20 and U in Saunders County.
• Tuesday, September 6, starting at 10 am.  Field site is Center of S1/2 of Section 2-14N-2E (Saunders County) or 1 mile west of Starlite Event Center on Hwy 92.  The field is on the North side of Hwy 92.
• Tuesday, September 6, starting at 2 pm. Field site is E1/2 NE1/4 of Section 13-14N-5E or the intersection of Road 26 and J in Saunders County.   

The week of September 6-9 there will be more sites in the Wahoo Watershed.  An update will be sent out on these locations.
 

Rationale:  Draft version is attached.

Rationale:  No lakes are on the list from LPN District.

This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the NDEE web page (Current Health Alerts and Sampling Results For This Week). 
 

Rationale:  Reminder that Fall Conference registration is September 1.  Fall Conference will be held Sept 26-28.  

Rationale:  Grade stabilization structure project is complete.  Total invoice for $39,647.56 is attached.  Landowner share of the total is 25%.  We previously reimbursed Tom for $6,500 of rock in order to close out the NET grant.  Final reimbursement due to Tom is $23,235.67.

Rationale:  NET grant is in progress and due October 6th.
Old 319 grant has wrapped up and final reports are underway.
New 319 PIP is being drafted.
On 8/18 NRD staff, NDEE, Colfax county, and SCWIG members met at Bailey's to discuss/plan next phase of implementation for Shell Creek.  Of note: Bill Bos believes that the septic system upgrade will continue to be a big ticket.  He also is planning a couple more grade stabilization projects.

Rationale: 

KEVIN WEEDER

$6,143.78

Rationale:  NRD staff, Olsson, and FYRA met with NeDNR on August 24th to discuss JEDI funding.  We are jointly working on a memo to update and clarify funding detailed in the NRCS Watershed Plan Environmental Assessment.  We expect a funding agreement with NeDNR before the end of September.

Rationale:  Attached is Olsson's progress report and current invoice's for work completed on the Wahoo Creek Watershed design. 
On 8/17, Chapman and Elliott met with Olsson's to update and plan for the mitigation portion that is required through the ACOE permitting process.  The stream and wetland mitigation is planned to be completed during dam construction and will be included during the land rites process.
Total stream length needed to be mitigated for entire Watershed Plan is around 15,000 feet.  Actual length will be finalized depending on site locations.
 

Rationale:  On 8/29, Chapman and Elliott, along with Directors: Pollard, Thompson, Olson, and Saeger attended a JWMAB meeting that covered three different watershed plans:

• West Fremont/Platte Township BRIC NEMA kickoff - representatives from NEMA/FEMA were present to explain the plan development process and timelines.  
• East Fremont/Elkhorn Township FEMA Advanced Assistance - JEO presented to the group two options 

Rationale:  On 8/29 JEO presented to the JWMAB on the current status of the E. Fremont/Elkhorn Township Phase 1 Alternatives study.  The two best alternatives that JEO has concluded will reduce flooding in the southeast section of Fremont, but only one alternative would address rural flooding east to the Elkhorn river.  Attached is JEO's breakdown of the two alternatives.
Alternative 1 - ditch widening to the Elkhorn river (attachment 2).  JEO estimated total project cost $91 million.
Alternative 2 - ditch widening with detention pond.  JEO estimated total project cost $55 million.

FEMA Advanced Assistance Grant requirements require that all contributing partners send a letter of financial commitment to continue with the process.  This letter will be due in the near future.

The expected federal cost share is 75%, which means that the LPNNRD, Dodge County, and Fremont will have to share the remaining 25%.  According to current plan the local 25% share could be $11 million to $30 million depending on which alternative is pursued.  Local cost share is eligible for state funding (NET, WSF e.g.) to account for local entity portion.  

Rationale:  On 8/29 JEO presented to JWMAB on the current status of the Rawhide Creek Watershed (NRCS funded) WFPO study.  The study covers an area from Schuyler to west Fremont (attachment).  
JEO covered the complexities of Platte river influence on the Rawhide watershed and how the river would affect alternative choice.  They covered multiple alternatives from west of Fremont to west of North Bend.  
Potential alternatives include: Fremont Cut-off road raise, Rawhide creek berms, detention cells.  
Alternative cost estimates range from $5 million to $200 million.
JEO plans to meet with NRCS next month to deliver plan alternatives.  They will need confirmation from partnering entities to continue with planning effort.
 

Rationale:  On 8/29 FEMA/NEMA representatives presented to JWMAB, and JEO, for the West Fremont/Platte Township BRIC study kickoff.  JWMAB members were made aware of BRIC program deliverables and timelines.
This study will be similar in scope and scale as other area watershed studies.
FEMA will cover costs of study.
Dodge county is the lead agency on this project for JWMAB.

Rationale:  JWMAB has been informed that the request to include upgrades to North Bend levee will not be allowed within the approved scope of repair under FEMA.  See attached letter.
Tom Smith informed JWMAB at 8/29 meeting that the plan was to move ahead with planned repairs of North Bend drainage ditch.

Rationale:  Hazard Mitigation Plan RFP was sent to area firms, posted on our website, and posted on the American Planning Association's website.  RFPs are due October 26th.  Staff plan to meet with the three county emergency managers prior to the November 3rd Committee Meeting.  It is expected that a recommendation to hire a firm will be made at the November 3rd Committee Meeting for Board decision on November 14th.

Rationale:  A request from Village of Lindsay for the NRD to provide cost-share assistance for their pond rehabilitation project of up to $50,000 (attached) was discussed.  Gottschalk provided a Letter of Support for NET grant purposes with no financial commitment.

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.