December 12, 2022 at 1:30 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:  The 2023 Legislative Conference will be held January 24-25 at the Embassy Suites - Lincoln.  Registration deadline is January 4th. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending. 

Discussion is needed if we wish to sponsor a Senator reception at the Legislative Conference. 

Rationale:  JEO and a representative from the NRCS will present the Dam Assessment reports for 21-A and 7-A at the December Board meeting.

NRCS would like the District to send a letter of request and statement of commitment for Federal Assistance when applying for funding for "Planning" through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Rationale:  Gottschalk will update the Executive Committee on the JEDI Funding agreement to provide funding up to $19,667,600 for Flood Reduction Structures Wahoo Creek Watershed. 

Rationale:  Attached find the 2023 Board Meeting Schedule.  

Rationale:  LPNNRD was notified earlier this week the NRCS Chief has officially signed our Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan.  This was the final step in our long process to received NRCS's official approval of our plan and projects.

ALSO...We have received the required DNR agreement approving our JEDI funding for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan.  The agreement has language for renewable 99 year easements instead of perpetual easements due to an existing Governor Ricketts Executive Order and a total dollar amount of $ 19,667,600 and not the $ 22,000,000 we were expecting but both of these points can be worked out down the road.  This is great news and will allow us to begin requesting project reimbursements dating back to April 7, 2022.
     There is expected to be a motion coming out of the Projects Committee to approve signing the DNR agreement after Jovan has reviewed and approved the document.

Rationale:  JEO has completed a large portion of the preliminary planning and initial design for LPNNRD's potential new office.  Review and discussion for potential next steps.

Rationale:  Gottschalk will share Wanahoo recreation revenue vs expense information for th e 2022 recreation season

Rationale:  Chair Pollard will appoint a Officer Nominating Sub-Committee.  

Rationale:  We need to replace laptop computers for Daryl Andersen, Will Brueggemann and Noah Franzen.  Poole recommends the following:

HP ZBook Studio 15.6 inch G8 W11P-64 DG10-64 i7-11850H 1TB NVME 32GB 15.6 FHD T1200 No-NIC WLAN BT FPR Rfrbd NB PC
 $1079.10 each = $3,327.30

We would also need to add a docking station for each computer at a cost of $229/each = $687.00

Rationale:  Attached find the October 2022 Financial Statement. Grant will be available to update the Committee on the October Financial Statements.

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

Rationale:  We have nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Nothing new to report.

Rationale:  The O & M staff continued to assist the Saunders County Sheriff with their 1969 cold case investigation at Cottonwood 6-C. The lake was lowered approximately 7'. An excavator was brought in to excavate the area and found nothing. (pictures attached).
We did O & M and inspections on 6 Belllwood dams. We had Collins dig out a beaver den on a Swedeburg dam and repack the area. Staff reseeded and mulched the site (picture attached). We had two new panels made for a trash rack on another Swedeburg dam and staff installed them. 

Rationale:  M.E. Collins started on the basin apron repair by de-watering the basin pool. The milling machine started on Monday, November 28th and made good progress. The north wind put the project on hold for a day as the basin filled with water. The basin was pumped out again on Wednesday, November 30 and they are grinding the surf down in the corners where the large grinder can't access. All directors should receive progress reports via email from Eric Suing of FYRA/Houston Engineering.

Rationale:  JEO and a representative from the NRCS will present the Assessment reports during our education segment at the December Board meeting, December 12.
NRCS would like the District to send a letter of request and statement of commitment for Federal Assistance when applying for funding for "Planning" through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Rationale:  Dan Ourada paid the District $5,865.75 for 74.25 tons of hay from Czechland Lake. He had 110 bales.

Rationale:  Jason Scott who purchased the NRD property around Sand/Duck Dam site 15, has an 8.5 acre parcel which is landlocked by water and neighboring property (photo attached). Mr. Scott was wondering if the District would assist in some way in providing access by staying on his own property and crossing the backwaters of the lake with a bridging device. His other option would be to request an ingress/egress easement from his neighbors, Ourada's.
The Ourada's have an easement to access the water's edge. The dock they have installed crosses the Scott property line. (Picture attached).

Rationale:  The City of North Bend is requesting maintenance assistance for the North Bend Levee. Before the 2019 flood, the District along with Dodge County and the City would contribute $2,000 each for maintenance of the levee. With the time lapse of about 4 years, the City is asking each entity if they can contribute $5,000 each this year. In the coming years, to get back on schedule and to keep up with maintenance, bumping the annual contribution to $3,000 each per year. (letter attached).

Rationale:  Mike McGinn submitted an invoice for $5,554.54 for jetty repair work completed on the Platte River. Staff have not inspected the site.

Rationale:  As reported last month, Staff found 10 beaver dams in the 3rd mile of the Lake Wanahoo property. Noah and Kaiden have trapped approximately 6 beavers in the last three weeks. Staff is looking into options for draining the flooded areas and breaking the dams. Attached are pictures of the affected areas as well as a map of the dams in the area.

Rationale:  For the month of October, the District received $790.00 in annual park permit revenue. The year by year break down of annual permit sales is listed below. 

We will start selling 2023 permits 12/1/2022.
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
October 2022	$790.00	$75,160.50
October 2021	$867.50	$85,626.85
October 2020	$512.50	$95,957.5
October 2019	$572.50	$82,200.00

Rationale:   For the month of October, the District received $12,951.50 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is listed below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
October 2022	$12,951.50	$127,326.74
October 2021	$4,714.00	$114,640.11
October 2020	$10,236.02	$131,137.03
October 2019	$4,362.36	$90,939.60

Rationale:  Gottschalk will review the 2022 Wanahoo recreation season and report on final revenue and expense totals.

Rationale:  During the month of November, the building was rented 21 times, with 7 NRD events. Revenue for the month was $960.

After discussion, we are planning to increase the rates for the building.

Current rates: $100 refundable deposit
$150 refundable deposit if there is alcohol
$60 day rental (7am-2pm)
$100 night rental (4pm-midnight)
$120 full day

Increase to: $150 refundable deposit (regardless of alcohol or not)
$75 day rental (7am-2pm)
$125 night rental (4pm-midnight)
$150 full day

Rationale:  Director Johnson has had a few discussions with Director Seier, and Sarah Heideman who is the State FFA Advisor with the Nebraska Department of Education. They want to take the creek sampling/testing statewide. There will not be any action taken at this time, simply discussion and what the NRD could possibly provide for this.

Rationale:  November's KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper e-ad featured the upcoming water reports deadline of December 15. These will continue through December.

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
November 1-27	6,264	184	1,413
October	5,042	5,343	1,409
September	5,098	153	1,408
August	17,232	387	1,408

 

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
November 1-27	2,658	124	383
October	2,324	174	385
September	2,654	185	381
August	4,784	207	380

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Fall festival flyer
• Native American Heritage event flyer
• Upcoming December trivia event flyer
• Coffee Lakeside November flyer
• Tree order promotion



 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel	Top Pages	Devices
November 1-27	937	Organic 62.2% Direct 27.4% Referral 7.1% Social 3.3%	Home Lake Wanahoo Board of Directors Czechland Lake Staff	Mobile 49.73% Desktop 47.92% Tablet 2.35%
October	1,526	Organic 67.6% Direct 24.1% Referral 4.5% Social 3.7%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Board of Directors Outdoor Recreation	Mobile 58.46% Desktop 39.60% Tablet 1.94%
September	1,702	Organic 74.3% Direct 19.9% Referral 5.8% Social 0.29%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Outdoor Recreation Staff	Mobile 59.21% Desktop 38.98% Tablet 1.81%
August	2,270	Organic 66.6% Direct 24.6% Referral 7.6% Social 1.3%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Outdoor Recreation Downloads	Mobile 59.73% Desktop 37.77% Tablet 2.51%

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: 27 from Facebook, 5 from Twitter.
Referral clicks: 26 from NARD, 22 from NGPC, 1 from ad on Wahoo Newspaper’s site.
 

Rationale:  November featured the O&M video. We will have the list of times the spot aired by board meeting.

Rationale: 

• November 5th: Fall Festival. 4:00-9:00 pm at the lake. Chilly day but roughly 30+ people attended this event. Hayrack rides, activities in the building, a campfire took place.
• November 8th: Aquinas Middle School. Talked with middle school students about keystone species. 
• November 10th: Coffee Lakeside. Leaving your leaves and other helpful winter tips for the wildlife in your yard.
• November 12th: Native American Heritage Day. 8 people attended--artifact ID, kids activities, and food with recipes was offered. 
• November 14th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K we talked about birds, winter adaptations, and made pinecone bird feeders.
• November 15th: Survival Club. Wild edible foods. We continue to have 20-24 kids attend, most are 6th and 7th graders. 
• November 18th: Wahoo High School Careers Class. Talked with seniors about my career path and did some hands on activities to show them what kinds of things I do now. 

Rationale:  December 2nd: R3 Conference at Mahoney State Park
December 3rd: Trivia and Game Day
December 8th: Coffee Lakeside, Nebraska Phenology
December 16th: Survival Club
 

Rationale:  Phoenix Web Group (PWG) migrated RWD's WaterWorks site to the NRD's home server.  This move will provide added security to the billing software.  The RWD has been working with PWG to repair/replace meter transmitters that are not functional.  
As winter approaches and the drought conditions persist the RWD is aware of potential negative impacts to infrastructure.  Extra vigilance in observing field conditions will be necessary.

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, and bills mailed 11/30.

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, and bills mailed 11/30.

Rationale:  Craig Wemhoff applied for an expansion of acres variance within SQS #2 area.  He is asking for 112 new acres in the E1/2 and NW1/4 of the SE1/4 Section 7-19N-1W.  (Shown on map).  The well G-128214 is located in the NE1/4 of the NE1/4 Section 18-19-1W.  Section 18 is not in the SQS #2 management area, so the well does not have any allocation associated with it.  Section 18 currently has 59.18 certified irrigated acres.  If Craig utilizes the expansion of acre variance with an allocation, this will come out to 9.33 acre inches over a 3 year period.  

Craig is requesting a 27 inch rolling allocation as the well is currently not in the SQS #2 area.  

* Item 2
Second  item concerning SQS # 1 and SQS # 2:
Stay with current boundary?
Stay with 27 inch rolling allocation?

*Item 3
Attached is a quote for $2,719.66 from In-situ on installing data loggers in wells within SQS#2 with a data logger as part of the conditions of the well permit. 
A second quote for $1,127.00 on a new data logger came on 12/5/2022 explaining that the original data logger could not be repaired.   
Per purchasing policy 4/13/2015, Board approval is needed for purchases exceeding $2,000. (Board Motion is needed)  

Rationale:  Todd Yindrick is requesting to add 66 acres of dryland acres located E1/2 SE1/4 Section 22-15N-3E, adjacent to his current well (G-050744) which irrigates 75.56 acres in W1/2 SE1/4 Section 22-15-3E.   Todd is agreeable to add these acres for a 3-year commitment of 14.30 rolling acre inch allocation. He would be eligible for a normal variance on 10/15/2025.  

Attachments.

Rationale:  Shawn Nelson is asking for a supplemental well in E1/2 NW1/4 and W1/2 NE1/4 Section 24-15N-8E.  Currently, he is utilizing well G-057527, located in the NE1/4 SE1/4 Section 13-15N-8E that irrigates 265.27 irrigated acres.  The last 3 years, his average water use was 5.6 inches/ acre. 
This well (UP-38) is a well where staff does water level measurements with a graph attached.   Both of these sections are in the Restricted Development Areas (Red) but within 1 mile of the Hydrological Connected Area (Blue), so the well is eligible to be considered.  

Rationale:  The University of Nebraska is requesting a supplemental well for NE SW Section 18-14N-9E.  This well will be part of the irrigation system with well G--087929.  The system will irrigate 161.23 acres, which is a Class 3 well permit. 

The committee asked staff to inquire with UNL about the need for a supplemental well in a good water area.  

Attachments are attached with provided information from UNL.  

Rationale:  Brad Williams is requesting to transfer 7 certified irrigated acres from Pt NW NW S24-17N-5E and Pt of N1/2 NW1/4 of S19-17N-6E to SE SE 33-17N-6E.  The SE SE Section 33-17N-6E would then increase to 11 certified irrigated acres.  In the past, the Committee allowed a 5 acre allowance on acres without a variance.  The ranking score for Section 33 is 462.4, utilizing the LPN scoring system.   
The staff have received a transfer application form, 2 applications for the transfer of acres between landowners, maps, tax records and the $300 application fee.   

Rationale:  Attached is Contract WSF (Water Sustainability Fund) 10014 from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, which will need approval by the Board so cost-shared best management applications can be accepted.   The reimbursement from the WSF grant will be $233,100, which is 60% of the total cost of the $388,500 project for implementing  best management practices and developing a hydrogeologic assessment.  

Attached are forms for cost-share items within Schuyler - Richland Phase Three Area.  (Update 12/8/2022)  Staff met with a group of stakeholders within the area.  They commented that regulations will probably be needed along with increased education.   
Does the Committee want to move forward on developing a Phase 4 area, with rules and map presented at the next Water Committee Meeting?  This would require a public hearing, which could include a public meeting. 
The Committee will continue discussing the Schuyler - Richland management area at the Water Committee.  Staff will continue to evaluate the boundary and present options for this area.  

Motion on cost-share items and dollar amounts would be appreciated.  
Cost-share items proposed

• Cover Crops
• Chemistry/Fertigation equipment
• Water Flow Meters
• Gravity to Pivot/SDI conversions
• Iron Chlorosis Products
• Soil Moisture Sensors
• Grid Soil Sampling
• Varialble Rate Nitrogen

Rationale:  Staff have been working on updates to the "Land Class" section of the ranking form. As a reminder, this portion of the ranking form looks at the suitability of irrigation on the overlying land and not specifically the type of soils found on the property. The initial request from the Board was to look into the potential of giving credit to low ground that currently receives zero points. During the investigation and research of current criteria and future changes, other issues with the current system have been found (see attached map). Staff will continue working on this and hope to have a solution shortly.

Rationale:  Attached is a map of nitrate water sampling throughout the District.  

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 Estimate	County
Jeff Fadschild	Irrigation	$1,193.51	Platte
Randall E. Nelson	Domestic/stock	$614.40	Madison

 

Rationale:  Attached is information provided at the Consortium meeting on 11/17/2022.  The group discussed projects going forward with more discussion at the meeting in January.  Projects that would potentially be within the LPN District that are still being discussed:

• Sand pit pumping
• Pumping from a high capacity beyond the 90 day time of travel of the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers. (East of Fremont)
• A storage dam on Skull Creek.  

   

Rationale:  Items below show water retreat discussion points that will have future discussion at Water Committee Meetings.  

The Committee discussed options on Nitrogen Certification Classes and requirements. An option was presented that all producers who apply nitrogen, would be required to present a nitrogen certification card to purchase nitrogen fertilizer.  The question is, does NRDs have the jurisdiction to require this within its responsibilities?  Staff would need to ask legal counsel if this is even a possibility.  

1994 GW Management Plan Update? The Committee directed staff to start the process of updating the plan and what it would take to rewrite it.  
Water Flow Meters? The Committee decided to discuss the possibly of installing water flow meters district wide.  Before this item should be considered, the Committee needs to have concise objectives and goals on why meters should be installed.  

The agenda below showed other items that were presented at the retreat, with attachment of handouts given at the retreat attached.  

The staff and Water Committee held a retreat on November 30th from 3 to 5:30 pm at the NRD Board Room in Wahoo.  This is open to all Board members. The Water Committee meeting was held at 6 pm. 

Tentative Discussion Items

• Groundwater Quality
  • Phase Areas
  • Triggers
  • Cost-share Practices
• Groundwater Quantity
  • Management Area Adjustments
  • Allocations
  • Flow Meters
• Nitrogen/Irrigation Certification
• 1994 Groundwater Management Plan
• Other items?

Rationale:  Does the Committee want to consider a different time or date other than Wednesday Night?  Factors to consider are church events and winter weather at night.  
The next Water Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, January 3 at 6 pm.  The next Committee members will set the time for future dates and times. 

Rationale:  SCWIG Meeting Planned for Tuesday 12/6, 10:00 AM, at Bill and Melissa's office.

Rationale:  We recently received news that our NRCS WFPO Watershed Plan Environmental Assessment was signed off by headquarters.

Our NRCS grant for Wahoo Creek Watershed Planning/Design was extended for 1 year with a new expiration date of 12/1/2023.  NRCS is aware the project will need several more extensions with an anticipated completion date of 1/31/2024.  If unanticipated delays or permitting delays occur, we could be looking at an August 2025 completion date for planning, design, and permitting.

Rationale:  Olsson is working on setting up a meeting with the Corps in December to discuss permitting.  They are also setting up a meeting with NRCS to update them.
Invoices were received after the committee meeting and attached along with the progress report.  These are being paid per Olsson agreement and will be submitted for reimbursement though NeDNR WSF, NeDNR JEDI funds, and NRCS WFPO funds.

Rationale:  We received a draft agreement from NeDNR for $19,667,600.

Rationale:  An Alliance meeting was held at LPSNRD on November 9th.  The agenda, public notice, and May meeting minutes are attached.  A few items of interest to the LPN:

• The LPNNRD was re-instated as a voting member.
• USGS reported on stream gage sites and the potential for a detailed long term water quality trend analysis.
• The success of our ice camera project and the partnerships were discussed in detail.  Papio is interested in adding additional cameras at their cost.
• Papio and LPS submitted a joint 319 grant for their priority areas.  LPN will be setting up stakeholder meeting soon in their priority areas (Skull & Bone) with the intent of submitting a 319 grant application in the future.

Rationale:  JWMAB public meeting was held on 11/15 at Fremont City Council Chambers with several dozen attendees.  Project grant updates were given along with a public presentation on the East Fremnot/Elkhorn Township Drainage Improvement Project.

Rationale:  As previously mentioned, a public presentation was given during the JWMAB meeting on 11/15.  The PowerPoint is attached.  An additional meeting occurred on 11/28 where it was generally agreed that the City will be the lead agency to apply for the grant(s) and lead the project(s).  An agreement between the sponsors is due in June 2023 regarding how the 25% local match will be split.  This is roughly $12 to $15 million in local costs within 5 to 7 budget cycles.  O&M agreements are not needed until construction begins.
What is a reasonable contribution from the NRD?

Rationale:  A project kickoff meeting occurred on 11/22.  The project area along problem areas were presented and discussed (maps attached).

Rationale:  After the public JWMAB meeting on 11/15 a Rawhide presentation was given by JEO - attached.  A "60% Status Meeting" is scheduled for 12/1 with NRCS.

Rationale:  We reviewed a draft workplan with JEO based on the RFP.  A contract will be developed soon reflecting the estimate from JEO's RFP proposal of $155,000.  Staff are suggesting a grant submittal to NEMA/FEMA of additional funds to cover any unforeseen circumstances or NRD requested additional assessments.  Additional assessment examples include a drought management plan, water supply/access for fire response, among others.  Direction form the Water Committee meeting was to seek the possibility of developing a Drought Management Plan.  Projects committee recommended staff to work with JEO to come up with an appropriate amount to cover a desired Drought Mitigation Plan and any potential additional assessments.

Rationale:  A Morse Bluff Levee Coalition meeting was held on November 16, with 20 attendees.  The Coalition is requesting Saunders County to provide designs and cost estimates that will then be used to engage potential funding sources.  The County Board is in the process of requesting two estimates from the county engineer for design and rough construction estimation:

• From Highway 79 west to Co Rd 27
• From Highway 79 east to the east side of Wolf Lakes

Rationale:  Colfax County is currently coordinating with the City of Schuyler to partner on the project.
There is the potential to create an IPA (Individual Project Area) that would accept JEDI funds to complete construction, leaving longterm maintenance costs up to landowners that benefit from the project.

Rationale:  Elliott met with Joe Placek to discuss options regarding an ongoing erosion complaint on ground he inherited.  His farm's tenant was sued by the neighbor over fenceline erosion and has a court order to repair the damage (attached).   Elliott explained the NRD's cost-share options and discussed structural/vegetative options; e.g. fenceline basin and perennial vegetation.

Rationale:  A company called Magnolia Land Partners reached out to us looking for opportunities to complete wetland restoration.  They recently received funding from NRCS to create a mitigation bank for Farm Program compliance.
There may be potential for the NRD to utilize some of the funding for our required wetland/stream mitigation work that is required within our Wahoo Creek Flood Reduction Plan.  Staff will be meeting with ACOE, NRCS to discuss mitigation specifics later this month and will discuss this option.

Rationale:  Request for a letter of support for the development of a "rail-with-trail" from David City to Columbus.  See attached request.

Rationale:  We received a request to facilitate reestablishing a bike trail link between Old Hwy 8 and a frontage road to US Hwy 275/30 that is being removed during building of the interchange.  The request was forwarded on to the City of Fremont mentioning that we may entertain a request to help but typically do not lead projects like this.

Rationale:  Abandoned Well Cost-Share Payment
Lucille Cox Estate - $2,147.48

Cost-share for one unregistered hand dug domestic well in Butler County. 

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.