March 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We do not have any unfinished business.

Rationale:  Pruss Excavating has finished the excavation of the Wanahoo Wetland area. A final inspection by DU and the NRD was Friday, March 22nd. We are asking for As-built plans and waiting on an invoice from DU.

M.E. Collins is currently excavating sediment from the Cat Paws on the west side of the Wanahoo wetland complex. Depositing the material at the soil borrow area.

We have a signed contract & documents with NRCS to have the Wanahoo Pheasants Forever/Snitly parcel burned this Spring. NRCS covers the cost.

Rationale:  The O & M crew continues to cut trees on many of our project areas. Check our recreation areas, maintaining vehicles, equipment and rearranging and cleaning up our equipment shed.

Rationale:  HDR is working on the economics of the study. We are awaiting a date and time for a 60% study completion meeting.

Rationale:  The electrical contractor, Cable Communication Services, for the City of Wahoo, has mobilized and will take approximately 6 weeks to install new service around the Wanahoo dam embankment, remove the old or abandoned cable and fill any conduits through the embankment with flowable grout.
The contractor for NDOT will perform the filter systems around the Windstream lines, gas, and any others. John Petersen of JEO has an approved filter system and an estimate for material quantities and cost.

Rationale:  We will pay our annual interlocal agreement payment of $30,000 to the Missouri-Papio NRD. These funds are used by the Lower Platte Weed Management group in controlling Pharmites and Purple Loosestrife along the Platte, Elkhorn Rivers and tributaries. 
Our Interlocal between LPN, LPS and Papio NRD's is being updated with an Amendment to the Second Amended Interlocal agreement to incorporate "Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV's or Drones) application" (see attachment). The former amended agreement specified helicopter applications.
Papio NRD is also requesting bids (for the Weed Group) from Drone contractors to have an approved list the County Weed Superintendents and NRD's can use at set prices. It's hoped that 3-7 drone contractors can be listed to cover the region.

Rationale:  We can sell our JD CX-15 flex wing rotary shredder. It was purchased for $15,350 in December 2015. We are starting at $15,000 and have it open for bids until noon April 30th.

Rationale:  We will advertise haying our recreation areas, Wanahoo, Czechland and Homestead Lakes. The acres to hay are approximate; Wanahoo 173, Czechland 36.5 and Homestead 26.5 acres. Bids will be approved at the May Board meeting.

Rationale:  We have not received any applications or requests for payment. There have been some inquiries.

Rationale:  For the month of February, the District received $4,720.00 in annual park permit revenue. The year by year break down is listed below. 
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
February 2024	$4,720.00	$18,240.50
February 2023	$3,852.50	$73,017.50
February 2022	$3,825.00	$75,262.50
February 2021	$7,935.00	$85,656.85
February 2020	$6,070.00	$96,317.50
February 2019	$9,677.50	$82,252.50

Rationale:    For the month of February, the District received $3,787.16 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
February 2024	$3,787.16	$6,991.22
February 2023	$4,267.89	$127,792.00
February 2022	$3,540.62	$129,922.83
February 2021	$6,189.12	$118,152.11
February 2020	$1,929.90	$134,027.78
February 2019	$1,607.00	$93,337.36

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 21 times with 3 NRD events. Revenue for the month was $1,425.
 

Rationale:  Lonny Hansen is requesting to work with LPNNRD to construct an amphitheater on the west side of our Wanahoo property.  Plans would be for the NRD to provide the location and minimum landscaping maintenance and Mr. Hansen's trust would provide construction, management and maintenance of the facility.  Mr. Hansen would like to know if LPNNRD will work with him on this project before he proceeds any further.

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ads and Wahoo newspaper e-ads during March featured limited trees and shrubs availability. April ads will feature the recreation areas. 

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
March 1-26	6,755	6,106	1,550
February	8,395	8,208	1,531
January 2024	13,669	1,078	1,513
December 2023	2,381	135	1,501
November 2023	4,072	138	1,501

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
March 1-26	656	56	426
February	1,033	34	416
January 2024	1528	86	417
December 2023	711	51	411
November 2023	682	16	411

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Bees and Brews flyer
• NRD Recreation Exploration program has begun
• Still have trees available
• Community Partnership Program signing with Wahoo and Nebraska National Guard
• National Groundwater Awareness week

 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel Changes	Top Pages	Devices
March 1-26	1,489	Organic -8.51% Direct -32.94% Referral -47.5% Social -16.67%	Lake Wanahoo Home Czechland Forestry Staff	Desktop 48.9% Mobile 48.8% Tablet 2.3%
February	1,838	Organic 0.8% Direct -9.6% Referral 64.3% Social -61.8%	Home Lake Wanahoo Forestry Downloads Czechland	Desktop 52% Mobile 45.8% Tablet 2.2%
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

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 39, visitnebraska.com 10, 1011now.com 1, Wahoo newspaper website (LPNNRD digital ad) 0.
Clicks from Facebook: 27.
Clicks from Twitter: 0.
 

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD received sponsorship information from Dodge County and Saunders County.
Dodge County sponsorship levels range from $250-$10,000+. Last year we donated $250. The full sponsorship levels are attached. The Dodge County fair runs July 31 - August 4.
Saunders County sponsorship levels range from $1-$5,000+. Last year we donated $500. The full sponsorship levels are attached. There is an opportunity for an indoor booth this year-TBD depending on staff availability. The Saunders County fair runs July 28 - August 4.
 

Rationale:  Shell Creek Watershed Scholarship Applications
The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District offers three $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors in the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program who plan to pursue higher education relating to science or natural resources.
To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must:
• Be a graduating senior at Newman Grove High School, Schuyler Central High School, or Columbus Lakeview High School
• Have completed at least one year as a member of the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program
• Be enrolled in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university
• Plan to pursue a major or course of study relating to science and/or natural resources
The NRD received 4 scholarship applications (attached) for the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Group Scholarship:
Christyan Anderson, Newman Grove - participated in the Shell Creek Watershed monitoring program for multiple years. Future plans: Exercise Science at University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Hannah Ogan, Lakeview - participated in the Shell Creek Watershed monitoring program for 4 years. Future plans: Rangeland Management at Chadron State College.
Trenton Patzel, Newman Grove - participated in the Shell Creek Watershed monitoring program for 7 years. Future plans: Animal Science/Veterinary Science at Midland University.
Austin Wiese, Newman Grove - participated in the Shell Creek Watershed monitoring program since 7^th grade. Future plans: Agribusiness at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Staff was directed to review the Newman Grove applicants' essays and bring forth two applicants to the Board for final decision.  The third scholarship will be offered to the Lakeview student.  

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to award the three Shell Creek Scholarships. 

Rationale:   March 4th: Snakes of Nebraska (repeated Coffee Lakeside topic), 2 attended.
March 6th: Linden Elementary (Fremont) Kindergartners. Three classrooms learned about the flora and fauna of the prairies.
March 7th: Coffee Lakeside, Bees of Nebraska.
March 13th: Bees and Brews event; 26 people attended. 
March 19th: North Bend fourth graders learned about wildlife CSI.
March 20th: North Bend fifth graders learned about watersheds, groundwater, and how they are connected. 
March 26th & 27th: I & E Meeting Hastings.
March 27th: Survival Club

Rationale:  April 4th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K classroom visit.
April 11th: Coffee Lakeside with Paula Hoppe.
April 17th: Survival Club
April 18th: Fremont Ecofair

Arbor Day and Earth Day Presentations TBD + Field Trips
 

Rationale:  Our annual Spring Conservation Sensation is coming up on May 1st. We are always looking for extra volunteers to help with different stations throughout the day. If you are interested in more information or want to volunteer, please email me: sabbott@lpnnrd.org 

Rationale:  The RWD received our 2023 Annual Water Quality Report and Consumer Confidence Report from NDEE.  The RWD will have the reports available to customers as required by state policy.
The RWD continues to work on the lead service line inventory that is due to EPA by October 16, 2024.  The inventory will be used to track any existing lead service lines within public water systems (PWS) and is a federal requirement for all PWS.
It was a routine month for both Colon and Bruno RWDs; coliform sampling completed, and bills will be mailed 3/29.
Elliott attended the NeRWA  annual conference 3/11-13 in Kearney.