September 8, 2025 at 6:00 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 NARD Fall Conference is scheduled for September 28-30 in Kearney.  Early Registration is due by September 5th. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending.  

The following Directors are registered to attend: Hilger, Saalfeld, McKnight, Seier and Johnson. 
 

Rationale:  Discussion is needed about where we plan to meet for the November Board Meeting.

Rationale:  Matt Greenway with FNIC will be available to answer any questions on our Commercial Package Insurance renewal effective 10/1/25

Rationale:  As discussed at last month's board meeting, we have received a request to assign one of our available dwelling units assigned to our Wanahoo property to a neighboring landowner.  John Noonan will be in attendance to answer any questions and a potential new policy is attached.

Rationale:  The NE Land Trust is asking or looking for sponsorships/donations for their Fall Reception in October at Happy Hollow CC. The event recognizes the projects and people the Land Trust has worked with in obtaining easements. It also promotes their mission. They are seeking a total of $5000 to fund the event.

Rationale:  Staff is planning a public meeting/open house on Sept. 4th to share all available information relating to a potential amphitheater with the public.  Plans are to have an afternoon meeting and an evening meeting in the LPNNRD  boardroom. 

Rationale:  Gottschalk has met with both employees to discuss and explain the action taken by the board at last month's meeting and a recommendation will be made to the committee.

Rationale:  Jacob Stover has informed me he has been offered and has accepted a position with Benesch Engineering in Omaha.  We would like to thank Jacob for his dedication and time spent here at Lower Platte North NRD and wish him luck as he advances his professional career.
Jacob's last day will be September 19th, and we will begin advertising for his replacement immediately.

Rationale:  Grant will review the Draft July Financial Statements.  We will not approve until after we receive the Annual Audit.

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

Rationale:  As discussed at last month's Board meeting, our plan is to once again maintain the same tax asking of $3,480,714.52 as is has been the past nine years. Our total expenses are $13,124,670.

Attached find a breakdown of the 2025 valuation by each county.

Due to increased valuations, we will be lowering our tax levy from .025767 to .024053 to support our previously approved budget of $13,124,670.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting - To approve the State Budget that includes total expenditures of $13,124,670 with a tax levy rate of .024053 for a tax asking of $3,480,714.52.

Rationale:  We do not have unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  Nothing to report

Rationale:  The O & M crew did maintenance & inspections on five watershed dams. We also assisted DNR Dam Safety with the Wanahoo Dam inspection. We continue to spray areas with tree problems and have also had a drone spray some larger areas. We have started our mowing circuit of some of our dams, levee systems and Rawhide Ditch 8.
We have beaver plugging the riser on Cottonwood 6-E again. A trapper will attempt to catch them.

Rationale:  The Watershed Work Plan-Environmental Assessment Study is still in Little Rock, AR reviewing the comments made by the NRCS and HDR. When that is approved, HDR can start the Planning and Design Phase of the dam.

Rationale:  Mike Sotak, Houston Engineering, presented the Technical Memorandum to the Committee. A draft Technical Memorandum (attached) will be sent to all board members for review before the Board meeting. He reviewed the repair and mitigation options for the Wanahoo basin. The Breakwater and Wetland Weir will have to go through the 408 process with the COE. This will happen later this Fall.

Houston Engineering and Staff will make recommendations on repairs and mitigation to the basin and spillway conduits with Board approval. FEMA would like us to keep this process moving. Our promptness is important at this time. 

Rationale:  A Generac representative was here on August 19th to show staff inspection items if we choose a maintenance package that requires staff to review maintenance items during the year.
1) We have a two-year warranty on the office Generac generator. Year one is comprehensive (bumper to bumper), and the second year is parts only. Do we want an extended warranty of 5, 7, or 10 years? These plans have comprehensive coverage. The 5-year plan is $1150, the 7-year is $2132 and the 10-year is $3446. After 2000 hours on the generator there is no warranty coverage. The Committee wants to go through the first year to see how it goes, then consider an extended warranty if we wish.

2) There are a couple of preventative maintenance plans, Silver and Bronze. Attached are two quotes, one for the Silver Plan in which they come out twice a year for a major inspection and a minor. The Bronze Plan is a major inspection once a year and staff would be required to do quarterly inspections for warranty purposes. Also attached is a list of service items for the plans. Staff is confident they can do the minor inspection/maintenance and recommend the Bronze Plan.

Rationale:  Earlier this year we asked for a quote from Limbach Electric of North Bend to run electricity and install a light at the Czechland boat ramp. His quote of $5,927 is attached. We have had fishermen request a low-level light over the years, so when taking their boats out at night they can see.

Rationale:  The district needs to replace a power saw for the Bobcat. Find updated quotes attached and a picture of a disc mulcher. There is a quote for a drum mulcher also for comparison. Staff would prefer the disc mulched because it would work faster than a drum and to eliminate having to use two Bobcats, one cutting the other piling and hauling.
The non-Bobcat quotes do not include the Forestry Application Kit and Engine Compartment Seal Kit as listed on the Bobcat quote. Those kits would have to be ordered through Bobcat. The Forestry Kit is a safer glass door.

Rationale:  We have not received any request.

Rationale:  For the month of July, the District received $6,502.50 in annual park permit revenue.

Rationale:  For the month of July, the District received $17,720.24 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  The fire pit area behind the education building at Lake Wanahoo needs to be renovated.  The fire pit itself is falling apart, the pea gravel surface material is constantly moving around, exposing the fabric underneath and ending up in the turf.  This material is also hard for some guests to walk on.  We would like to remove the pea gravel and existing fire pit, and replace them with concrete and a more durable fire pit.  I reached out to 5 different contractors for bids and got the following results: one wasn’t interested, one submitted a bid of $10,925.00, and the other three never responded.  It is our recommendation to award the project to Metro Grading for their bid of $10,925.00.

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 23 times in August, with 3 NRD events. Revenue for the month was $1,825. 

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ads for July featured a reminder for variances. September’s ad will feature environmental education opportunities with the NRD. The produced ad for September was not available yet.

The new digital display ads will begin on September 8. This has replaced the Wahoo newspaper e-ads and was added to this year’s budget. Attached is a breakdown of the demographics and zip codes we are targeting for these ads. The ads can be changed as often as once a month or every couple of months. The topic for September will be environmental education opportunities. The digital display ads will be billed monthly. 

Rationale:  Top Posts for Facebook and X during August 1 - 26 included:
• September Coffee, Lakeside flyer
• Newman Grove public hearing information
• Rawhide Creek open house information
• August Coffee, Lakeside flyer
• NRD Recreation Exploration

On the LPNNRD website, we received traffic from NARD (22), Facebook (18), Nebraska Game and Parks (4), Nebraska tourism (2), and Saunders County Fair website (2).

The full reports are attached. 
 

Rationale:  RedThread has been working on updating the LPNNRD website. Recently they updated it to be compliant with regulations regarding ADA accessibility for web and mobile sites. Other minor changes have been spacing and making sure text does not run off the page when viewed on mobile devices and tablets. They will continue working on this in September. If you notice any issues when you are looking at the website please let Lacey know so we can have this addressed.

Rationale:  The second digital newsletter for the Water Resources Department went out on August 12th and received a great response. This newsletter covered updates to the draft copy of the Groundwater Management Plan, Wellhead Protection Program public meetings, and announcing producer text message alerts. Daryl reported he had a few calls that week regarding the Groundwater Management Plan. We have had 2 people opt in to the text message alerts.

Contacts	Emails Delivered	Open Rate	Clicks to links in Email	Unsubscribes
1,303	1,209	52.36%	298	9

 

Rationale:  In an effort to create more consistent messaging, we are working on creating or updating videos that feature each department of the Lower Platte North NRD. The groundwater video is the next one on the list as the current one is 6 years old and not the best quality. We were very pleased with the work RedThread has done with previous videos and we are hoping to replicate these. RedThread created a quote at $14,000 (almost double as much as the previous video). I have since reached out to Three Pillars Media in Lincoln, Unanimous in Lincoln, and Creative Olsen in Omaha. After a meeting with Unanimous, they could not complete our request within our budget. 

Three Pillars Media: would provide pre-production planning, 1-person crew for up to 8 hours production, royalty free music, travel (estimated at $105 built in to proposal), photography on location. 
Final product includes: 30-second commercial, 15-second cut down, and minimum of 100 edited photographs.
Total proposal: $4,500

Creative Olsen: pre-production planning, 1-person crew for up to 8 hours production (any additional hours billed at $275 per hour), travel costs additional ($0.70/mile from office to filming location and back). 
Final product includes: 30-second edited video with 3 rounds of revision, 15-second video with 3 rounds of revision.
Total proposal: $4,300 + travel costs

Rationale: 

• August 4th: Wildlfowers and Wine (9)
• August 7th: Coffee Lakeside: Specialty Crops (10)
• August 7th: Last nocturnal night of the summer! (10)
•  

Rationale: 

• September 9th-10th: Bishop Nuemann M.S.
• September 11th: Coffee Lakeside Mammals of NE
• September 17th: David City High Ability Learners & Wachiska Prairie Day
• September 19th: Wahoo high school Careers
• September 22nd: Starry Night event
• September 24th: Fremont M.S. outdoor day
• September 30th: Wachiska Prairie Day 
• September 30th-October 3rd: Ag Week at the fairgrounds

St. Wenceslaus TBD & other Classroom Visits

Rationale:  Staff repaired a residential service line leak in Colon.  Staff is also working with the Village for a new hydrant hook-up for their new park.
Routine sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 8/29.

Rationale:  The Village of Abie has formally requested the NRD about developing/expanding the Bruno RWD to include Abie.  This will have to include an updated feasibility study (original completed 2006) as well as funding.
Staff completed the tri-annual disinfectant residual testing for the Bruno RWD.  This is required due to David City treating the water they supply the district.
Routine sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 8/29.

Rationale:  The deadline is September 15th for applications.

Rationale:  There are four applications submitted for review at the Committee Meeting. 

• Kevin Wolfe - SE1/4 14-16-8E, Saunders County, new well variance (West of Leshara)
• Todd Yindrick - E SE 22-15-3E, Butler County, expansion of acres from existing well (East of David City). This tract was approved for an Expansion of Acres Variance with allocation in 2023.  Todd's allocation was 14.30, and he used 12.06 in the first 2 years. If approved, the Expansion of Acres Variance with allocation will lapse.  
• Bryan Hein - NW1/4 7-15-3E, Butler County (2 miles north of David City)
• Bryan Hein - SE1/4 17-15-3E, Butler County (1 mile east of David City) 

Bryan Hein is going through the process of getting the correct permits from David City.  Bryan reported that he has all the permits from Planning and Zoning, but City Council needs to approve.  
 
By Groundwater Rules and Regulations, the NRD is allowed to issue up to 75 Acre Feet of Depletion in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area (Normal Development Area).  The total of the four applications was 70.302 Acre Feet.     

Rationale:  Both applications were reviewed by Katie Cameron.  Two applications have been received, with one application adjacent to the white area (NHCA) and the other next to the blue (HCA).  In the past, we reviewed these applications in what area they are adjacent to, so we will only be reviewing one application this month.   

• Gregg Fujan - SW SW 29-15-6E, Saunders County (SW of Malmo) Greg has sent his yield history map for this field. 

Comments from Katie with her interpretation attached. 
The SW SW 29-15N-6E, Saunders County... looks to be on a glacial till edge area but maybe a 10 to 20 foot-thick sand and gravel are available around 80 feet + or - .  This area is hard to map the extent of units because of the apparent past glacial processes, and we don’t have many wells (however, each of the nearby wells does show saturated thicknesses of gravel available in the top 100ft). The nearest AEM line is ~800 feet to the west in Section 30 (north-south line L1004700). I couldn’t recommend any specific direction and would reiterate that the yellow hatch estimated areas on the Google Earth map are very rough with question marks on the boundary extents.  Deeper Dakota we don’t know the character, but based on 02-LPN-2015 by Malmo, the variable Dakota units might be interpreted as more sandstone dominant than is actually present (log summary depicted on AEM L504800 profile for reference).

Thanks!
Katie

Section P - Restricted Development Area from the Groundwater Rules and Regulations is attached. 

Staff recommends allowing this variance with the stipulation of Section P from Groundwater Rules and Regulations are followed before a well permit is issued.  

Rationale:  Variance LPN-V-024-0644 was approved for Larry Rasmussen in a restricted area on 10/15/2024.  The site is located in the NW 1/4 27-16-8 and within 1 mile of the Hydrologically Connected Area.  Larry consulted with Katie Cameron on test hole locations and each site did not prove to be able to produce an irrigation well.  He contacted Jesse Korus about utilizing tTem, a version of AEM, but is pulled behind a 4-wheeler.  Larry would like to extend his variance until February 1, 2026, to allow him to do one more investigation with the tTem.  Larry has agreed to provide any information he gathered to the NRD.   
The Committee would like to see what the data shows and suggested having staff notify Committee members when tTem is at the field.  

Rationale:  A draft of the GWMP has been emailed to the stakeholders along with an email blast to 1303 contacts.  Results from the email are shown with the campaign attached. 
The second digital newsletter for the Water Resources Department went out on August 12^th and overall had a good response. This newsletter covered updates to the draft copy of the Groundwater Management Plan, Wellhead Protection Program public meetings, and announcing producer text message alerts. Daryl reported he had a few calls that week regarding the Groundwater Management Plan. We have had 2 people opt in to the text message alerts.

Contacts	Emails Delivered	Open Rate	Clicks to links in Email	Unsubscribes
1,303	1,209	52.36%	298	9

A draft public review copy of the Groundwater Management is attached. 
Shown are the comments from a stakeholder.
"I have reviewed the document and want to congratulate all on a very robust and informative document with great background a clearly defined mission statement with actionable goals and objectives.  Minor issues are listed below."

1. Page 7, 1.5.1.  ‘Sampling area greater than 9 sq miles, unless a well-head protection area’ .  I’m was unclear whether being within a WHP increased or decreased the requirement for sampling. (Can reword) The Committee decided to reword to sample 50% of the high capacity well within a Wellhead Boundary.
2. Section 1.5.4 -  Hurray for you/us?  Good call.
3. Page 13, Fig 8.   May consider replacing brighter with warmer and darker with cooler in describing colors on the map.  Also Permeability...it would help my understanding as it relates to surface recharge if a map could show the range of permeability in inches/hour.  (This would be hard to do with this type of map but can visit with LRE) The Committee decided that permeability is variable and to put in the map might be misleading. They recommend rewording for better understanding. 
4. Section 2.7 ....water level rises and declines changes affect...  Perhaps rephrase as ‘water level changes (rise or decline) affect’?  Please define "dewatering activities" (Can reword and clarify). Committee decided to re-phase the water level change but decided not to define de-watering because of its different uses.
5. Page 30, Paragraph 2 - spelling error ntrual = natural; overtime = over time. (can correct) Will correct
6. Page 31, Section 2.1.5, 7^th bullet.  Spring filed = filled. (can correct) Will correct
7. Page 35, Section 3.2, Paragraph 2.  Consider moving the sentence, "This map also provides a general representation of areas that are more likely to naturally recharge groundwater" to the end of the paragraph to avoid confusion switching from artificial recharge.  May consider exchanging, "This map" with Figure 26.  You may consider taking out the reference to a 1 to 5 scale since it is not on the map and just state from Very Low to Very High as shown in Figure 26. (Can reword and correct) Committee agreed on rewording and taking out the 1 to 5 scale. 
8. Section 3.2 continued.  I would like to see this section expanded to include other "treatment" options that reflect the majority of the land use in the LPNRD (i.e. soy/corn production), such as grassy buffer strips, cover crops, reduced tillage, maintaining crop residues, perineal rotation cropping.  (Discussion with Committee) Committee decide to leave this as is as best management practices could change or new ones are utilized. 
9. Interesting that Fremont used about 3X as much water per person than Wahoo.  Perhaps the difference is due to industrial uses?  What programs are available for industries to reduce harmful artificial discharge and who manages those? (These are the numbers) The Committee decided to leave as is. 
10. Section 3.3, Paragraph 2.  Table 5 and 6 in the text and Table 6 and 7 shown in the legends. (Can Correct)  Will correct
11. In my opinion, Table 8 would be more informative if the gallons used by each category was provided in addition to the break down of type of wells.  For example, Commmunity/Industry is only 1% of wells but may account for a large % of water useage.  (May not have accurate numbers available but can investigate) The Committee recommends leaving as it is because it is a snapshot of usage.  
12. Section 4.1.1, Paragraph 3.  Land use categories could use additional clarification.  Irrigated farmland is 5 and all other is 1?  What about a factory or processing plant or feedlot that discharges into a tributary or over land? (Can Clarify) Committee suggested to clarify
13. Page 44.  HOW do we get neonicotinoids on the list for monitoring? Discussion The Committee recommended leaving this off the list.
14. Section 4.2, Paragraph 1, Line 8,  trave=travel (can correct) Will correct
15. Section 5. 1.3 Objective 3.4,  with thin = within (thin is correct) Will try to reword
16. Section 5.1.4,  Nitrate Risk Too?  Please add an explanatory phrase for this title. (Can correct with more explanation) Will correct and add a brief explanation.

The plan is to hold the hearing for the GWMP on October 13 at 5 pm in the NRD Board Room in Wahoo.  Public notice by State Statue requires 3 consecutive weeks in a row with the last notice 7 days prior to the hearing.  Public notices would be published for the weeks of September 15, 22 and 29.  

Recommend moving forward with corrections being done by the Board Meeting.  Set the hearing date for October 13 at 5 pm.

Staff and LRE have made the corrections to the GWMP since the committee meeting, which is attached as LPN GWMP - Final 11.0. 

An invoice is attached from LRE for $1,552.52.  

Rationale:  Tim Svatora Installed an RO Unit through our RO Unit Cost share program.
We are offering to pay 75% of the total cost up to $800. 

Tim Svatora one RO Unit cost share of $800.                                

Rationale:  The NRD has received a few kits, but a number of producers have not used their wells.  Some producers do not plan on laying out pipes or putting their power unit out by the well.  This might be a year to waive the requirement to collect a water sample from the Water Quality Phase Areas.  The bottles in the kits are good until September 2026, so producers would just keep the kits if they have ordered and paid for them.  If a water sample has been received, the NRD could not charge them for next year's kit.     

Rationale:  DWEE staff will be at the September 28 Water Committee Meeting to give the annual update. 

Rationale: 

For 2025 we have 660 renewals and 42 new permit applications for a current total of 702.  Inspections for 174 renewal permits have been completed.

Rationale:  2025 Irrigation Sampling
-28 out of the 53 Statewide Network Wells have been sampled. All nitrate samples with some pesticide, chloride, sodium, and uranium. 
-10 out of the 53 wells said no to sampling, due to pivots already being winterized, and rain. 
-Potential to sample 15 more wells. 


Data & Analysis
-Further analysis of sample results will be completed in the fall/winter. 
-Analysis will include a district-wide map of nitrate levels, comparisons from historical data, comparisons from a wet to dry year, and other contaminant analysis as needed. 


 

Rationale: 

No new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

No wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Rationale:  We are still receiving invoices for Flow Meter Cost Share. 
 

Russell Shonka

4

$                       4,000.00

Rationale:  The LPNNRD has been in the process of filling out a NET grant application for the Source Water Monitoring Project. This project would succeed in the goal of adding more dedicated monitoring wells into the district. This project originally applied for the Water Sustainability fund, but was not accepted. The cost of the total project is estimated at $447,702, with the LPNNRD matching 40% of that cost at $179,081 over a 3-year period, equaling $59,693.67 per year. The Grant is due by September 2nd.

Rationale:  The Village of Mead is applying for the Source Water Protection Grant. The LPNNRD has been assisting in the application process. The total cost of the project is estimated at $45,700 with the LPNNRD cash-match of $5,000 dollars as well as assisting the community in updating the Wellhead Protection Plan, water sampling, and public outreach. 

Rationale:  The City of Yutan is pursuing the Source Water Protection Grant and the LPNNRD is currently assisting with the application process. The estimated total of this project is $48,500 with the NRD putting in a cash-match of $3,000 dollars. The LPNNRD will also assist in water sampling in the proposed project area and helping with components of updating the Wellhead Protection Plan.

Rationale:  This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the DWEE web page (Current Health Alerts and Sampling Results For This Week).   
  
Cub Creek Lake in Jefferson County will remain on Health Alert this week after testing high for microcystin. Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County will be removed from Health Alert.   
 
Eight beaches tested above 235 colonies/100 mL for E. coli bacteria.

Rain events can cause large jumps in the E.coli levels. It is everywhere in our environment and the rain will wash into our lakes. Just remember that sunlight is a great disinfectant on E.coli. So, when the sun does shine those E. coli levels will drop quickly.
 
There is 1 beach on Health Alert this week.

Current Lakes on "Health Alert"
Lake	County	Microcystin (ppb)	Sample Date
Cub Creek Lake	Jefferson	30.12	9/1/2025

When a lake exceeds 8 ppb of microcystin it will be placed on Health Alert. If a lake is under a Health Alert, signs will be posted recommending people avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. 
There are 8 beaches with E.coli testing above 235 colonies/100 mL.

Lakes with High E.coli Bacteria
Lake	County	E.coli (MPN)	Sample Date
Bluestem Lake	Lancaster	>2,419	9/1/2025
Branched Oak Lake at Area 10 Beach	Lancaster	>2,419	9/1/2025
Branched Oak Lake at Liebers Point Beach	Lancaster	270	9/1/2025
Kirkman's Cove Lake	Richardson	>2,419	9/2/2025
Lake C.W. McConaughy at Martin Bay Beach	Keith	387	9/2/2025
Lone Star Lake	Fillmore	>2,419	9/1/2025
Maple Creek Recreation Area Lake	Colfax	>2,419	9/2/2025
Swan Creek Lake (5A)	Saline	2,420	9/1/2025

When E. coli bacteria levels test above 235 colonies/100 mL a Health Alert is not issued. However, conditions are at a higher risk to human health when swimming. Considering the more rapid changes in bacteria conditions, signs are not posted with these higher levels. Although, we want people to be aware of beach conditions and use their own judgment as to whether they use a listed water body.
Have a good week!
Justin Haas
State Lakes Coordinator
Department of Water, Energy and Environment
245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
Direct: 402-471-4224 | Main Office: 402-471-2186

 

Rationale:  We recieved our FY26 NSWCP allocation from DWEE: $93,020.16.  DWEE confirmed that there is no cash-carryover from FY25, however, ALL unused NSWCP funds have been pooled into a general fund that will be exhausted before an NRD will tap into their respective FY26 allocation.  The general fund sat at $2,050,000.00 as of 8/18.
Listed are the remaining applications to be approved:
 

S-25-12	KYLE OSMERA	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
S-25-14	KAREN SMAUS	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-1	TOM SAMEK	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-2	RONALD SWOBODA	$                     10,625.01	TOT/WASCB
S-25-18	JAMES KUBIK	$                     15,000.00	TOT
S-25-19	BEN SPATZ	$                     15,000.00	TOT/COVER CROPS
S-25-20	MICHAEL ANDERSEN	$                       6,038.53	GWW
S-25-21	SCOTT FORAL	$                     15,000.00	TOT

 

Rationale:  A public open house occurred on August 21st at the UNL Extension office in Fremont.  A summary of responses will be compiled and added to the final EA document.

Rationale:  Staff will submit an NET application, due September 2nd, requesting $200,000 for the next 3 fiscal years (July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2029).  The next SCWIG meeting is TBD.
Bill Bos submitted an two applications for approval:
 

Eldon Mohrmann

Onsite Wastewater

$10,500

 

Tony Brandt

Cover Crop

$5,500

With the potential of more cover crop applications coming in after committee/board meetings and the preferred timeframe for seeding being now, staff would like the ability to approve eligible cover crop applications as we receive them to prevent seeding delay.
 

Rationale:  On 8/21 LPN staff hosted NRCS State Office staff for a field tour of WCW sites 26 & 27 (pic attached).  Allen Gehring, State Engineer, has requested to bring an engineering class from UNL to the sites the first week of November.
Monthly construction update meeting was 8/26 (agenda attached):

• Earthfill has begun at Site 27.  
• Overexcavation/channel cleanout continues at 26A; more than contractor anticipated due to glacial outwash/sand layer and subsurface moisture.

TCI invoice and Olsson invoice attached

Rationale:  Olsson is wrapping up DNR reviews for site 77, then will send off to NRCS National Watershed Center (NWC) in Ft. Worth.  The NWC review is required for site 77 due to it's size, and hazard class rating.  That review should take a couple months.
Site 84 has been submitted to NRCS state office for final review.
Revisions continue to our ACOE 404 permit reflecting comments received on our biological assessment.
Attached is a progress report, and July invoice.  The invoice reflects the "held" billings that were approved with the last contract amendment.  A monthly breakdown of held billings is also attached.

Rationale:  Danielle and Cody will be available at committee meeting to discuss current status of acquisitions and landowner appraisals.
The ECP Corporation acquisition (Site 84) did not get ratified at the last Board meeting due to oversight.  We will need official Board approval of the acquisition, $4,144.00

Rationale:  We have met with the State NRCS to ask questions and get next steps for the NWQI program. The next step for Jake is approaching the local agronomists/coops in the area to promote the program and work with them on the potential for atrazine substitutions and to share with them the pay rates on them through NWQI. Deadlines for applications are going to be in mid-November, and we are planning on doing more outreach before then with radio ads as well as social media announcements.

Rationale:  Gottschalk and Chapman were on the agenda for the Saunders County Board meeting on August 19th to discuss our potential repair project.  Several directors and twenty to thirty members of the public were present.  The County requested an updated estimate from their engineer, Mainelli Wagner & Associates.  Our next step is securing grant funding and working with both Boards to negotiate an interlocal agreement detailing who is responsible for what.

Rationale:  Elliott was subpoenaed to testify at a hearing on 8/28 for the ongoing Mike Kaspar/Cliff Prochaska lawsuit.  

Rationale:  We held a meeting with JEO to discuss public outreach with the HMP and Drought Plan. We will be looking to get into contact with 3 communities to look at the potential of adopting ordinances based off of triggers from historical pumping and available data. These communities will be chosen based off the drought vulnerability matrix from the drought mitigation plan.

Invoice is attached.

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.