June 25, 2024 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

24-D-1

TOM SCHRAK

$                       3,594.56

Wildlife Habitat (1912 trees)

Rationale:     An update meeting on 6/24 with JWMAB members, JEO, NRCS, NRD, and USACE discussing comments from state NRCS on watershed plan economics and environmental planning.  Items to be addressed before Plan EA submitted to National NRCS in Little Rock:

• Economics: issues with monetizing wetland benefits - JEO is not moving forward with this scenario.  There will be recalculations for revised BCA, looks like ~0.95:1
• Environmental: Platte River depletion/accretion calculations.  JEO and NRCS needed to clarify how to proceed with this element.  There is also concerns as to status of existing wetlands within detention cell area and how that will impact permitting potential.

The extra review by state NRCS should decrease the time for review at national and the timeline is still on for Plan review by fall.
 

Rationale:  The North Bend drainage ditch project is lingering in the easement acquisition process as the engineer has submitted another change order requesting additional funds.
Larry Ruzicka plans to attend next month's Projects Committee meeting to request assistance on the lower (South) end of Central cutoff ditch.  A preliminary plan and estimate is attached.

Rationale:  A SCWIG meeting (agenda attached) was held 6/18 in Columbus, topics:

• South benching project: Cech Const awarded the contract, and yet to begin due to weather.
• Bill Bos Projects: waiting on contractors for septic replacements, well work and the Runge project.  Inspected the Sprunk grade stabilization with NRCS engineers and reassured Tom that it was functioning properly.
• SCWIG will be looking at incorporating cover crops as a cost-shareable BMP.
• Shell Creek Celebration 9/12/24 at Bailey's Shed with guest presentations and a tour of Shell Creek Benching/UP Bridge Project

Rationale: 

Rod Flodman

Onsite Wastewater

$6,300

Rationale:  The Biological Assessement (BA) received approval from FWS and this was the expected last piece to our USACE 404 permit.  We were told not to expect word on permit before 6/30.
On 7/1 NRD will be present at Saunders Co Planning to speak to our application for a Conditional Use Permit for construction of the first three structures.
Olsson delivered final designs to DNR on 6/14

Rationale: 
On 6/18 Vanek's signed easement paperwork and on 6/21 Snitily signed the final easement for the first three sites.
On 6/20, Danielle Allen and Elliott met with Leonard Cuda, owner, and Dave and Paul Pearson, operators, for site 85 to begin process for next set of easements.  Allen and Elliott also met with Wahoo Library Board, owners for a parcel on site 66.  Allen and Elliott have more meetings scheduled the week of 7/1.

 

Rationale:  The NRD has receieved multiple S&E complaints recently due to intense rains.  Elliott is meeting with involved parties, the S&E complaint process:

• NRD is contacted by landowner with sedimentation/erosion damage due to neighboring field operation.  
• NRD staff meets with owner(s) on site to inspect and determine S&E "validity"; 5 ton/ac/yr TOTAL soil loss
• Valid S&E complaint -> advise owner to contact USDA Farm Service for a compliance check (assuming Farm Program participant)
• NRD will contact (via letter) landowner of property in question and explain S&E status and options for NRD assistance to mitigate the situation.
• NRD monitors S&E cases until resolution (management practice or structural solution) is decided upon.

Rationale:  The first round of meetings will wrap up with a virtual meeting on Wednesday, June 26 at 10:00 am.  These meetings are for jurisdictions (Entities able to levy taxes: Counties, Townships, Fire Departments, Schools, ect.)  The first two occurred in Wanahoo on 6/17 and in David City on 6/20.  The jurisdiction representatives all have homework, worksheets due on July 26, that will help complete their jurisdictional profile.  Things like a listing of vital facilities and equipment and whether they have backup power etc.  An invoice and more detailed progress report is attached. 

Rationale:  Jason Buss with Nebraska Trails Foundation will be in person at Committee to explain the proposed Trail-With-Rail project from David City to Columbus.  The Nebraska Trails Foundation is requesting the LPNNRD be the fiscal agent for the Federal ATIIP grant, filing in line with the letter of support approved in January of 2023.

- This project is for a Rail-with-Trail easement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which means the Property will remain owned by the railroad.  
- The ATIIP grant is for a feasibility study to be conducted by the railroad to evaluate the potential project for easement with preliminary engineering and environmental.  
- The Foundation is not asking the Lower Platte North NRD for any part of the $20,000 matching funds.  They will provide these funds through the Nebraska Trails Foundation, Columbus Area Recreational Trails, Bike Walk Nebraska, The Rails to Trails Conservancy and other public entities involved.
-They are not asking for NRD to draft the grant, they have drafted it for review prior to submission including letters of support from Columbus, David City, Bellwood and Butler County.  

The Foundation is excited to help take this next step of the project with the NRD.  They are fortunate to have the same process happening simultaneously with the Rail-with-Trail project from Lincoln to Valparaiso with the Lower Platte South NRD.  Together these projects will very nearly connect Columbus to Lincoln and the other trail networks continuing the Great American Rail Trail.