November 2, 2023 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We have nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Ducks Unlimited has redesigned the wetland renovation area to a depth of 18" in the center of the design, which is approximately 5 acres. The entire area to be worked will be approximately 16 acres. We corresponded with the COE and have found we do not have to obtain a 404 or 408 permit but, must keep them up to date on the construction of this project for their records. We received a Right-of-Way permit from the Saunders County Highway Dept. The project has also been cleared by Game & Parks and Fish & Wildlife Service in regard to Threatened and Endangered Species. We received confirmation to proceed from the State Historic Preservation Office on November 7th. DU can now advertise the plans, specs and bid documents for contractors.

Rationale:  The O & M staff have been cutting & spraying trees. We had a drone spray Phragmites on the upper end of the Wanahoo property. We had John Andel trap beaver at Cottonwood 6-E, he caught two. We also assisted in breaking down beaver dams in the wetland area of Wanahoo.

Rationale:  A public meeting was held on Thursday October 12th from 5:00 to 7:30 at the Malmo Fire Hall. Staff attended along with the engineering firm's personnel. Five interested individuals inquired about the project. A couple of  long time locals gave a lot of historical background to the area. HDR and the other firms will continue to analyze the project.

Rationale:  As previously mentioned in December and February, landowner Jason Scott has 8.5 acres land locked at the Sand/Duck Dam 15. He installed a UTV bridge to cross the creek for access. A motion was made in February to cost-share on a bridge and installation at 50% up to $4,000. Mr. Scott's final cost is $6,537.75 (see attached). Funds can be taken from the Bank Stabilization budget line or another special projects budget line. Mr. Scott did provide all receipts (not attached).

Rationale:  Hexogon Helicopters completed the spraying of Phragmites on the Platte River, its tributaries and many other locations. We believe they did a very good and timely job and communicated very well with the group as they sprayed.

Rationale:  With the camping season coming to a close, we received $10,516.50 from RV camping at Czechland Lake from March to early Nov.

Rationale:  All areas hayed on the Wanahoo property have been completed. We  received $2,938.80 from Dan Kadavy on 24.8 tons. His bid was $118.50/ton.

Rationale:  We received a request for payment from the Timberwood HOA located in Dodge County. The work accomplished was a result of the 2019 flood event and erosion thereafter. The invoice is for $19,590. Our policy after 2019 is to cost-share 50% up to $4,000 for individuals and $6,000 for Diking Districts. This site was inspected by staff.

We received a request for payment from Dennis Medinger for jetty maintenance on the Platte River in Butler County. The invoice is for $5,605. This site was inspected by staff.

Rationale:  For the month of September, the District received $2602.50 in annual park permit revenue. The 2024 annual stickers have been ordered and should be ready for purchase in December. The year by year break down of annual permit sales is listed below. 
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
September 2023	$2060.00	$72440.00
September 2022	$2602.50	$74370.00
September 2021	$2496.85	$84789.35
September 2020	$2937,50	$95445.00
September 2019	$2015.00	$81627.50

Rationale:  For the month of August, the District received $13,989.38 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is listed below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
September 2023	$13989.38	$111866.44
September 2022	$19008.27	$113053.01
September 2021	$16007.74	$109926.08
September 2020	$15057.66	$120901.01
September 2019	$11151.60	$86577.24

Rationale:  Staff was approached by a Live Well Go Fish (LWGF) Board Member regarding the potential of building an addition to the Lake Wanahoo equipment shed. This would be a 20'x115' lean to located on the west side of the shed. There would be two garage doors, one on either end, as well as a pass through door located inside the current building. LWGF would have the north side of the addition and LPNNRD would use the remaining area (approximately 60-70 feet). They believe that they can get a Union Bank Grant to cover 50% of the cost. Staff is seeking Board direction on this project. 

Rationale:  During the month of October, the building was rented 18 times with 3 NRD events. Total for the month was $1,175.

Rationale:  October’s KTIC radio ad featured the no-till grass drill rental options. November will advertise the tree order availability.

October’s Wahoo Newspaper e-ads will feature the no-till grass drill rental options. November will advertise the tree order availability.
The ads are attached.

Rationale:  The LPNNRD Facebook/Twitter pages, and the website are some of the fastest ways to get information out to the public. Tracking analytics are a way to see how many people are seeing the information. Sometimes a decrease in reach or impressions can mean there is an error with the Facebook/Twitter pages or the website. Facebook and Twitter posts range from 10 - 15 posts per month. 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
October	3,103	137	1,499
September 2023	4,517	215	1,493
August 2023	5,101	550	1,489

 

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
October	1,148	54	411
September 2023	1,490	69	406
August 2023	3,292	123	405

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• October Coffee Lakeside flyer
• Dodge County Scrap Tire event flyer
• Tree orders
• Shared article from UNL about fall tree watering
• Environmental Education flyer

 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel	Top Pages	Devices
October 2023	1,328	Organic -31.36% Direct -0.54% Referral -21.79% Social +245.45%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Staff Downloads	Mobile -33.66% Desktop -8.26% Tablet +3.45%
September 2023	1,726	Organic 75% Direct 20.1% Referral 4.1% Social 0.8%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Outdoor Recreation Staff	Mobile 59.9% Desktop 38.4% Tablet 1.7%
August 2023	2,402	Organic 63.1% Direct 30.3% Referral 4.7% Social 1.9%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Downloads Staff	Mobile 53.28% Desktop 45.59% Tablet 1.13%

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). As of mid-September changes for traffic channels and devices will show increase or decrease for the month.

Top referral clicks from: visitnebraska.com 6, nrdnget.org 23, Wahoo newspaper website (our digital ad) 1
Clicks from Facebook: 33.
Clicks from Twitter: 3.
 

Rationale:  The 30-second commercial for Nebraska Public Media began airing on October 11. The commercial airs on Wednesday nights during science programming. This will continue for a total of 14 weeks (minus two weeks for PBS pledge drives), ending on January 24, 2024. A report will be provided once available. Attached is the commercial.

Rationale: 

• September 29th: Arlington public schools: 43,1st grade students learned about soil. 
• October 10th: Trinity Lutheran Survival 1/2 day. Kids came out to the lake where they learned about knot tying, everyday carry kits, foraging for wild foods, campfire building, and more survival skills. 
• October 3rd-6th: The Ag literacy festival hosted 622 youth from 14 different schools. LPNNRD helped with the water station, talking to kids about ground water and having them make aquifer models. Noah, Will, and myself presented. 
• October 12th-13th: LPNNRD hosted the quarterly I&E Meeting in Wahoo.
• October 18th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K visit. 28 students learned about spiders by going on a spider hunt, spinning webs, and making a spider craft.  
• October 19th: Coffee Lakeside, 6 people attended to learn about Nebraska's agriculture. 
• October 24th: Aided the Papio NRD with a field trip for 75 3rd graders. 
• October 25th: Wahoo 1st grade first field trip. 86 students came out to Lake Wanahoo to play disc golf, go on a nature walk, play at the exploration station, and read along with our Story Walk book. 
• October 30th: Survival club with Wahoo Middle schoolers. Over 20 students learned about foraging for wild foods. 

Rationale:  November 9th: Coffee Lakeside, Climate Change and its impact on Nebraskans. 
November 14th: Midland University Careers presentation.
November 15th: Wahoo 5th graders, Ecosystems/Food Chains/Food Webs.
November 17th: Wahoo High School Careers Class.
November 20th: Newman Grove Test Your Well Night. 
November 29th: Survival Club, Knot Tying.
November 30th: Presentation at the Senior Citizen Center--Nebraska Agriculture.

TBD: St. Wenceslaus, other classroom visits. 
 

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, bills mailed 10/31.

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, bills mailed 10/31.