November 27, 2019 at 8:00 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Elliott presented  the attached SWCP report to the committee.  As of November 27, of our total $136,599.25 state and local SWCP funds, $31,370.61 has been spent thus far. 

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Rationale:  The committee discussed  the Mike Chvatal small dam application that was  approved in 2015. This project was slow to develop initially due to obtaining a project design, but the project wasn't completed the last two years because Mr. Chvatal's desire was to wait until after fall harvest.  Dams are typically completed in the summer when there is a longer construction period and when NRCS workload is not as hectic with field layout.  The committee discussed the desire to have the project completed during the 2020 summer construction period (Work completed by September 15 with paper work to be submitted by October 15) 

Rationale:  Bill Bos continues to promote landowner conservation projects as we await NDEE's formal grant agreement for another $350,000 of 319 grant funding for the Shell Creek Watershed.

Rationale:  No new information.

Rationale:  FYRA continues to complete sections of the Wahoo Creek Watershed plan and submitting them to NRCS for review.  Janel Kaufman has stated that full plan document is close to completion contingent on final comments on the cultural resource review and obtaining Dam Breach Overlay Districts in Wahoo and Weston. What has been completed on the draft plan can be viewed at the following link:  https://fyraengineering-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/p/jkaufman/EmPFEVCbzaNNt6mH2enV1V4B3b5mSEvvioU9XKqmjoWS1A?e=5KCqvl

We been working with JEO for establishing Dam Breach Overlay Districts in the City of Wahoo and the Village of Weston that could be impacted by Dam failures above their communities.  A public hearing was held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26 with Wahoo and they approved the proposed Dam Breach Overlay District for the city.

Attached is FYRA's $7,239 invoice. After this payment, up to $48,492.61 will remain under contract. 

Rationale:  On November 26th, representatives from NDEE, NRCS, UNL Extension and LPNNRD met at our office to discuss water quality priorities as we move forward with promoting and funding future conservation practices in the Wahoo Creek Watershed.  Over the past seven years, we have been targeting special federal EQIP funding (Water Quality Initiative) from NRCS and grant funding from NDEE and NET for landowner water quality practices and programs.  Initially, reducing sediment loads, nitrogen and phosphorus were primary focuses along with E-coli.  NRCS and NDEE are revaluing this focus to target elevated levels of E-coli and atrazine in the watershed.  NRCS would like to partner with LPNNRD and NDEE in promoting and funding other best management practices that will better assist with reducing those contaminants.  Renee Hancock, Jeremiah Schutz, Doug Wagner ,NRCS and Elber Traylor, NDEE led discussion about  our continued partnership to address additional water quality concerns in the Wahoo Creek Watershed. 
NRCS suggested a public meeting inviting people to get things rolling in the watershed.  If a meal  is provided, it could cost up to $1,500. 
 

Rationale:  We have had discussions with Olsson and NRCS about moving forward with geotech (soil sampling and analysis) for eight of the eleven Wahoo Creek floodwater retention dams. While Olsson has completed field soil sampling for dam sites 26a, 26b and 27, we have stopped additional geotech work for the remaining eight dams (sites 55, 66, 77, 82,  83, 84, 85, 86)  until the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan is complete (as instructed by NRCS). This work falls under a different NRCS Program (WFPO), so we need to be cautious to not move forward without NRCS approval. 

Olsson needs to know about scheduling geotech work for Wahoo Creek for this winter,  if we can proceed.  We have hoped to be able to give them the go-a-head with soil boring over this coming fall/winter, but it is unknown when we will be able to give them notice to proceed.  Olsson has provided related costs for geotech work on four sites and also for all eight sites as attached, depending on how we might move ahead in the future.  The present total fee for doing all eight sites at once will be $607,460. By completing the work at two separate periods would be $668,200.  FYRA has submitted their recommended 4-5 top sites if we move ahead with a portion of the sites.  FYRA's suggested first sites are: 1. Site 77; 2. Site 84; 3. Site 55; 4. Site 85; and Site 66 as an alternate (FYRA's structural data is attached).  Again, NRCS has approved funding to reimburse us for this work, but we first need their approval to move forward.  Andrew Philips and Sean Parks with Olsson were present to discuss the situation. It appears likely that we will not be able to complete the geotech soil borings for the remaining eight sites until the fall-winter of 2020-2021. 

Attached is Olsson's latest invoice totaling $4,334.71. This invoice also lists the October 19, 2019 invoice amount of $2,736.78 which has already been paid.  

Rationale:  Attached are minutes from the JWMAB meeting held on November 5th.  The Board asked that the below recommendations be approved by each partnering entity. 

Rationale:  Elliott and Mountford have been working with JEO completing our District Profile and listing and ranking potential hazard mitigation projects for our plan.  The second round of public meetings will be held in January/February 2020.  
Attached is our latest invoice from JEO totaling $7,537.50 for work completed on our Hazard Mitigation Plan update and work with Fremont and Schuyler on their flood risk assessments ($15,212.50 also listed is last months invoice which has been paid). FEMA/NEMA will reimburse us 75% of the total invoice and Fremont and Schuyler will reimburse us their 25% share for the work done on their flood risk assessments. 

Rationale:  No new information.

Rationale:  The Annual NACD Meeting will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 8- 12. Please let staff know if you are interested in attending.