March 11, 2024 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:  Tom Mountford will be present at Board Meeting to give a brief update on the February 21st Natural Resources Commission Meeting.  He will also be bringing two NRCS State office employees that are involved with watershed projects. Nicole Zimmerman is  a Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineer and Alessandra Sealander (Ali) is a Geologist. 

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

Rationale:  Directors Thompson and Sabatka are planning to attend the Washington DC meeting along with Gottschalk and Chapman.  

Rationale:  The Director's Retreat is scheduled for March 28th starting at 11:00 a.m.  Please let staff know if you have any specific agenda items. 

With the Director's retreat starting at 11:00 a.m. the following Committee start times have been modified:

Operations Committee - 9:00 a.m. 
Projects Committee - 9:00 a.m. 
Executive Committee - 10:00 a.m. 
Director Retreat - 11:00 a.m. 

Rationale:  Tom Mountford will be present at Board Meeting to give a brief update on the February 21st Natural Resources Commission Meeting.  He will also be bringing two NRCS State office employees that are involved with watershed projects. Nicole Zimmerman is  a Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineer and Alessandra Sealander (Ali) is a Geologist. 

Rationale:  Last week we received confirmation of the deposit of $2,497,729.59 from FEMA for reimbursement of our 2019 damages below our Wanahoo structure.  An additional $131,459.45 is expected to closeout this work which will complete our 100% cost-share reimbursement. Discussion is requested on the short term and long term placement of these funds.  I have contacted local banks as an option along with Nebraska CLASS for potential investment locations for this lump some of funds.

Rationale:  A Pre-Bid meeting was held on Thursday Feb. 22nd and was very well attended.  As of Wednesday, 2-28 there have been 10 contractors picking up designs documents for bid along with multiple sub-contractors so there appears to be significant interest in bidding the project.  All bids are due by 2:00 pm on Thursday March 7th with a formal bid opening to take place at that time in the LPNNRD board room.

Rationale:  I received a call from Jesse Bradley with DNR last week informing me he and his staff has met with the Governor's office regarding LB 1412.  Jesse stated the intent. is now to leave $15 million in the JEDI fund for this year and an amendment to put $10 million in JEDI next year.  This amount will leave a total of $25 million to cover all current contracts (including our $19.66 million)
 

Rationale:  Staff and Danielle Allen with Olsson have been working to finalize our easements for sites 26A, 26B and 27.  We have reached agreements with all landowners/parcels except for one.  Staff will inform the committee of the final situation we are facing and potential next step.  We are planning to be ready for a motion at the March 11th board meeting to proceed to closing on all sites where agreements have been reached.

Rationale:  Heimann and Gottschalk have met with John Peterson at JEO and he has nearly finished designs for the filters needed to mitigate the utilities currently running through our Wanahoo dam.  Nebraska DOT has approved our mitigation work to be included as a change order to their larger construction contract allowing us to utilize their contracted unit costs.  I will be meeting with Windstream and the City of Wahoo in the next couple weeks to share the plans and discuss estimated cost.

Rationale:  Who from the NRD signs the easements and purchase agreements.
A motion from the board will be needed to make payments for land rights.

Rationale:  Attached find Directors that have filed for re-election.

Rationale:  Tractor & Truck

Rationale:  After receiving high interest in this position and interviewing 3 quality individuals, I have offered the position to Jacob Stover, and he has accepted.  Jacob comes to us from The Flatwater Group in Lincoln, where he served as the Junior Water Resources Specialist.  The beginning salary for this position is $50,000/year.

Rationale:  This opening has also received multiple qualified applicants.  We are finalizing interviews this week and plan to have an individual hired and ready for approval at the March 11th board meeting.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to ratify the hiring to fill the vacant Operation and Maintenance Technician position. 

Rationale:  Funding assistance for this position is available on a cost-share basis and discussion is requested. This grant funded position will take effect in FY 2025.

Rationale:  With Kaitlyn moving into her first Wanahoo recreation season there is the potential of assistance needed from Bret Schommer regarding recreation issues that may arise.  Discussion and possible action requested  

Rationale:  Grant will be available at 10:00 a.m. to present the January Financial Statement. 

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

Rationale:  Marv Larsen with JEO presented the Bid Tabulation for the new office, which was opened publicly on March 7th at 2:00 p.m.  

Rationale:  There is no unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  The wetland restoration area on the Wanahoo property was burned off on Wednesday, February 21. The Ducks Unlimited contractor, Pruss Excavating, started excavating the site on Wednesday, February 28th. They estimate 3 weeks of work.
We are also working with M.E. Collins on where they will store the excavated dirt from the cat paws and restoring the soil borrow area to as natural as it was prior to taking the dirt.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has done maintenance of vehicles, tractors, and other equipment. Assisted with the prescribed burn and cut trees from the cat paw areas for dirt excavation.

Rationale:  Hazard Engineering organized seven Geotech borings on the neighboring properties at Cottonwood 21-A on February 26 -27th. The borings are in the areas where a potential redeveloped auxiliary spillway could be placed. The two landowners were notified by Heimann via letter and phone.
HDR is tentatively planning a 60% plan meeting in early March. 

Rationale:  John Peterson of JEO has developed a plan for diaphragm/filter systems around the utilities through the dam. He forwarded his plan to NDNR Dam Safety for comments and approval. When approved, it will be forwarded to NDOT for their review and added to the project plans. The plans will be passed on to the contractor and a change order will be processed.
The District is asking Windstream to cover this cost since the District has covered the engineering & design. The estimated start date for construction is early May.

Rationale:  On February 16th we received $2,521,156.26 which closes out the Clear Creek Fuse Plug in the National Guard Camp and the Wanahoo Stilling Basin & Apron Floor. Rawhide Ditch 8 was closed in March 2022. The only amount yet to be received is NEMA's share, $2,386.97, on the Wanahoo Breakwater. (Financial spreadsheet attached)
The District was also notified by the Dept. of Economic Development that we will be receiving a $14,984.62 CDBG grant for the Rawhide Ditch 8 project. This amount covers 100% of the cost to repair that project. We are also waiting on CDBG grants for the other three projects. 

Rationale:  The two-year warranty on Valley Corp's work on the Wanahoo Stilling Basin is up April 20th. Houston Engineering is organizing an on-site meeting with Valley Corp in March. The warranty will be extended so that a diver can inspect the underwater components in warmer conditions.

Rationale:  The District's JD 4450 is open for bids until Friday, March 8 at noon. We have a 2007 Dodge 3/4 ton pick-up for sale at $12,500 but, we received an offer of $11,500 and accepted the offer. We had Sanderson Auctioneering sell our government-made triple axle trailer for $3,525.

Rationale:  We haven't received any applications or request for payments.

Rationale:  For the month of January, the District received $6,825.00 in annual park permit revenue. The year by year break down is listed below. The YTD total includes sales from the month of December.
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
January 2024	$6,825.00	$11,070.00
January 2023	$9,455.00	$73,017.50
January 2022	$12,837.50	$75,017.50
January 2021	$12,277.50	$85,656.85
January 2020	$11,645.00	$96,317.50
January 2019	$10,372.50	$82,252.50

Rationale:  For the month of January, the District received $3,204.00 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
January 2024	$3,204.00	$3,204.00
January 2023	$4,030.01	$127,792.00
January 2022	$3,607.96	$129,922.83
January 2021	$4,751.53	$118,152.11
January 2020	$2,560.92	$134,027.78
January 2019	$2,367.00	$93,337.36

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 9 times with 1 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $675.

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ads and Wahoo newspaper e-ads during February featured the last few nitrogen certification classes in the area. March ads will feature limited trees and shrubs are still available. 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
February	7,096	7,073	1,531
January	13,669	1,078	1,513
December	2,381	135	1,501
November	4,072	138	1,501
October	3,103	137	1,499

Twitter is in the process of updating analytics still. Some of this data may not be measured the same as it was in the previous months.

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
February 1-27	932	59	416
January 2024	1528	86	417
December 2023	711	51	411
November 2023	682	16	411
October 2023	1,148	54	411

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Bees and Brews event flyer
• Multiple job openings at the NRD
• Schuyler FFA Test Your Well event
• Remaining Nitrogen Certification classes
• Snakes of Nebraska presentation flyer

 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel	Top Pages	Devices
February 1-27	1,603	Organic 0.8% Direct -9.6% Referral 64.3% Social -61.8%	Home Lake Wanahoo Forestry Downloads Czechland	Desktop 48.9% Mobile 48.6% Tablet 2.5%
January 2024	1,718	Organic 51.06% Direct 1.06% Referral 63.3% Social 937.5%	Home Lake Wanahoo Downloads Czechland Staff	Desktop 51.4% Mobile 47.3% Tablet 1.3%
December 2023	1,075	Organic -20.26% Direct 3.1% Referral -2.27% Social -81.58%	Home Lake Wanahoo Downloads Staff Czechland	No data
November 2023	1,332	Organic -32.42% Direct -25.96% Referral -42.86% Social -81.58%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Staff Downloads	Desktop Mobile Tablet
October 2023	1,328	Organic -31.36% Direct -0.54% Referral -21.79% Social +245.45%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Lake Staff Downloads	Mobile Desktop Tablet

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: nrdnet.org 78, 1011now.com (ad during February) 41, visitnebraska.com 9, Wahoo newspaper website (LPNNRD digital ad) 0.
Clicks from Facebook: 50.
Clicks from Twitter: 0.
 

Rationale:  Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) will be making a stop in Wahoo in early June (June 2-8). Wahoo will be a stopping point for Day 6 of the ride. This would be a good opportunity to advertise our recreation areas and mention the camping options available at Czechland and Wanahoo. BRAN has a booklet that each rider will receive showing the route, towns, places to eat and places to see along the way. The advertising opportunities are at a reasonable cost:
Full Page Ad (3.5" x 6.25") is $85
Half Page Ad (3.5" x 3.25") is $45
Quarter Page Ad (1.75" x 3.125") is $30

There are other sponsorship opportunities available from $500 - $5000 if this is something else we would want to consider. 

Rationale:  February 5th & 12th: Wahoo/Ashland/Cedar Bluffs(?) and Scribner Snyder Schools. Presented on aquifers and groundwater to 40 and 25 students respectively. 
February 8th: Coffee Lakeside: Snakes of Nebraska: 13 adults and 5 kids attended. 
February 12th: East Butler, test your well night in-classroom prep. 
February 13th: Survival Club: 18 students learned about hiking basics and how to read maps.
February 14th: North Bend Career Fair.
February 16th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K classroom: 28 students learned about woolly bear caterpillars. 
February 18th: Test your well event at Schuyler FFA Pancake feed.
February 21st: Test your well night event at East Butler.
February 28th-29th: Nebraska Environmental Education Conference at Ponca State Park. My presentation, Creating Unexpected Partnerships, will highlight the Story Walk at Lake Wanahoo; the quarterly Science and Scenes program; and the Movement in Nature night we held back in September. This will be a twenty-minute bright spot presentation. 

Rationale:  March 4th: Due to multiple comments on our Facebook page asking for another evening or weekend time, to repeat our Coffee Lakeside presentations, I will be presenting the snakes of Nebraska again. 6:30 pm.
March 6th: Linden Elementary (Fremont) Kindergartners. 
March 7th: Coffee Lakeside, Bees of Nebraska.
March 13th: Bees and Brews event.
March 19th: North Bend fourth graders.
March 20th: North Bend fifth graders. 
March 26th & 27th: I & E Meeting Hastings.
March 27th: Survival Club

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills mailed 2/29.  Included in this months is a lead line inventory fact sheet.  The RWDs will need to have submitted inventories to the EPA by 10/24.

Rationale:  The following item was referred back to Water Committee from the Board meeting on February 12, 2024 for further discussion.

Discussion and possible action on allocation overage.  A producer in SQS #2 water use was 17.28 inches in 2022 and 11.53 inches in 2023.  The 2-year total would be 28.81 inches for the 3-year rolling allocation.  

The committee discussed the option of deducting the 6-inch penalty and the consequences.  A motion at the December Board Meeting increased the allocation to 30 inches over 3 years. The Committee felt that if this producer is allowed to go to 30 inches, a requirement for soil moisture sensors is required and, if possible, work with the local extension on irrigation management.  Staff will also investigate if the flow meter is working correctly and visit the producer.  

The staff visited the producer about the situation.  He questioned the reading that was entered in 2021.  The staff looked into the reading and discovered that the reading was potentially entered incorrectly.  With the number entered correctly, the site will have 7.7 acres/ inches for 2024 on the site.  The producer did get his meter re-calibrated and found it was within the 2% allowance.   

Rationale:  Lee Comenzind owns a parcel of land in the NE1/4 S22-18N-R8E, Dodge County, located in LPNNRD.   The well G-064422 is located in the NW S23-18N-8E, Dodge County, located in LENRD also owned by Lee.  Keith Johnson wants to swing the pivot completely around on both tracts, as shown by the map.  LENRD has just completed its ranking process on variances for adding additional acres where the tract of land in LPNNRD qualified to be approved from the well located in LENRD.
Attached is LENRD ranking score and information on this tract.  LPNNRD would be required to accept the acre feet depletion for the Lower Platte Basin IMP.  The acre feet depletion is 7.14 AF.     
The committee directed staff to develop an agreement with LE to handle variances across district lines before proceeding.  The committee asked LPN staff to reevaluate the acres shown on the map and to utilize our variance scoring for comparison.  The agreement will include, but not limited to, in allowing neighboring NRD's scoring systems and which NRD would be accepting the acre feet depletion.  The staff started the conversation with LE staff.  

Rationale:  An email was received on February 19, 2024 from Tyler Fredrick - UNL asking for a 6-month extension on well permit LPN-023-1830.

The well permit and letter are attached. 

Hello Daryl,

Last year we had a supplemental well application approved but we weren’t able to get the project done. See attached approval letter. Is it possible to get an extension for the permit? Hoping to get this project completed this season. Thanks!

Tyler
 

Rationale:  Doug Bartek wants to drill a separate well in the SE SE S13-15N-7E, Saunders County.  It is currently being supplied by an existing well that Doug might not be able to use in the future.  

Attachments.

Rationale:  Lezlie Thomas has applied for an industrial well permit for Lake Allure.  Information is attached but NRD staff does not have enough information to approve the permit.  NRD staff's concern is well spacing, purpose and total gallons for the year.  
This agenda item was shown to the committee and will be evaluated when the necessary information is received. 

Attachments

Rationale:  Galen Juranek wants to add supplemental wells to his existing irrigation systems.  Galen explained to the committee how he was planning on utilizing the wells in series with all the existing wells.  The majority of the wells pump about 75–100 gallons per minute and are only used when the pivot is unable to keep enough pressure for the nozzles.   

Attachments

Rationale:  Tri City is currently doing meter maintenance in LPN.

Rationale:  Last class on March 14 at ENREC starts at 6:30 pm.

Rationale: 

3 new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting. Two are part of Shell Creek.

 

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County

 

Rationale:  A meeting was held in Schuyler on February 22 discussing a potential Phase Four area within the Schuyler - Richland Phase Three Area.  Discussion from producers were on flow meters, soil sampling and water use.  

Information from Jenna of NRCS
So far, I have 5 EQIP apps in the SWP area.

Erin Peterson (Pivot)
Daniel Wachal (Pivot)
Bohac Enterprises Inc (SDI)
Matt Bailey (SDI)
Lanny Schmid (Cover Crops)

The NRD has received 2 flow meter applications 
Jerel D Engel - $1,000
Keith Novak - $1,000

Attached is a flow meter cost-share application.  It says a $1,000 share if installed by April 1.  I am suggesting that a producer should get $1,000 if the application is received by April 1, 2024.  If the NRD moves forward with Phase 4, the Committee/ Board could revisit the dollar amount for the flow meter cost share.  


 

Rationale:  NRCS sent over Lands for Conservation 2023 payment certification for Austin Vermeline:  40ac * $235.00/acre 
 

AUSTIN & AMY VERMELINE

40

$                  9,400.00

9-15N-6E SAUNDERS

Rationale:  There is a Platte River stream bank erosion issue approximately 4 miles east of North Bend by Eason Lake.  Joint Water partners are engaged to better understand the problem and figure out a potential solution.  If you are contacted about this, please inform Ryan so he can inform our partners.

Rationale:  City of Fremont with lots of help from JEO submitted the final grant application to FEMA last week that included NEMA's suggestions.  JEO is preparing a politicking handout and partners will need to discuss a strategy for engaging our federal delegation.

Rationale:  A Platte Township Phase 2 Kickoff meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2/29, 11:00 am, at the Schneider building - 935 S Schnieder, Fremont.  Agenda is attached.

Rationale:  A virtual progress meeting occurred on February 26.  The agenda is attached.
An outstanding issue is FAA approval due to the potential of increasing bird populations from wetland creation via proposed detention cells.  JEO is doing a good job of investigating this with the FAA.
Letters went out to the four homeowners upgradient of the cutoff ditch informing them that elevation surveys will occur on March 18th and 19th.
The next progress meeting is scheduled for March 18th, 1:00 pm.

Rationale: 

Name

Approved Cost Share

Final Cost Share

 

Roger Goedeken

$7,500

$7,046.92

 

Terry Helmer

$4,800

$9,165.19

Rationale: 

Name

Approved Cost Share

Final Cost Share

 

Jesse Labenz

$11,500*

Dana Olmer

$5,562

*Abnormally high estimate due to size requirements; 6 bedroom house w/ garbage disposal.

Rationale:  Bill received two applications for decommissioning wells.  We plan to run the applications through Water Committee similar to what is done with wells district wide.  Water Committee approves cost share of 75% but has maximum rates established.  Rates approved by the Board on 5/9/2022 are attached.  Shell Creek funds will be used to cost share the final 25%.  Cost above and beyond our approved maximum rates will need to be covered by the landowner.  We can utilize the NRD's 75% cost share and any landowner overages as match for our 319 grant.

Rationale:  The USACE is still finalizing mitigation plan w/ Olsson.  There are concerns from FWS regarding Platte River depletion that need to be finalized.
Olsson submitted a scope of services (attached) for a bird and bat survey for sites 26AB and 27.  By completing some form of survey to clear an area of any noted bird or bat nests/roosts we could begin earthwork as early as mid-July. One scenario could be Olsson's clearing site 26 (both AB dam sites included) so work could begin this summer and then once roosting season ends 10/31, earthwork (tree clearing) could begin at site 27.  Other scenario would be clearing both sites and once a site is "cleared" it remains safe to do necessary work for 5 years.
 

Rationale:  All easement language regarding wetland mitigation has been tentatively* approved by the USACE.  
Danielle Allen will be available to discuss current status of easement acquisitions.  Invoice attached.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting - To authorize Chair, Thompson to sign a purchase agreement with Mike Kubik for an easement on Wahoo Creek Site 27.

Rationale:  We are coordinating with NRCS to fund a position focused 50% on Wahoo Creek NWQI (National Water Quality Initiative) and 50% SWP (Source Water Protection).  Goals and deliverables are still being ironed out.  At this time, we are discussing 3 years of funding with the ability to add additional funds for a maximum of 5 years.  A 50% local match is required which can include in-kind resources.  We are targeting having the position filled around July 1st.  Creation of this potential new position will be run through Execuative Committee.
If this position happens, staff intent is to follow up with a 319 grant application to include funds for onsite wastewater systems and other E. coli targeted practices similar to SCWIG.

Rationale:  On 2/27 LPNNRD hosted a WFPO PIFR kickoff meeting for the Skull (& Bone) Creek Watershed.  Attendees included: NRCS state office personnel, residents from the watershed, Butler County rep Steager, Directors Birkel, Hilger and Tonnies and NRD staff Elliott, Chapman, ten Bensel, and Gottschalk.
The purpose of the kickoff meeting was for NRCS to explain the WFPO program to potential sponsors, partners, and impacted residents/landowners.  NRCS heard accounts from multiple landowner/residents about continuing issues with flooding and erosion concerns.  The historical Bone and Skull Creek Watershed studies, and subsequent projects (e.g. Homestead) were also discussed.  Much discussion was had over Site 31 from the Skull Creek Watershed and its potential for future inclusion.
A field tour is scheduled for 3/25, an invite to committee members and local directors will be forthcoming. 

Rationale:  Regarding the water quality trend analysis proposal presentation from USGS at last month's committee meeting.  All of the partners including Lincoln Water, MUD, NDEE, NeDNR, LPS, and Papio have been contacted for a financial commitment.  More details are expected at our next committee 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.