January 2, 2020 at 8:00 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  There was a Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Group meeting on December 20 at the Columbus NRCS office.  Matt Bailey gave an update. 

Bill Bos continues to work on past and future Shell Creek projects.  Attached is a summary project extents completed in 2019. 

The Carol Rosicky Water & Sediment Basin Project is complete and ready for payment. Bill Bos submitted paperwork on this project that is located in Section 3- 18N-2E.  Total project cost: $21,275.01.  Our 75% cost share cap is $12,500. 
 

Rationale:  As presented earlier this year, we had a couple of smaller balances with a few funds in a couple of banked accounts carried over from when the RC&D and Shell Creek accounts were transferred to LPNNRD in 2015.  As of June 30, 2019, this total was $5,092. There was another old fund with $2,958 remaining that several partners put together about 20 years ago for Shell Creek conservation promotion activities.  Since July 1^st, both these accounts have been expended on a few miscellaneous watershed expenses with the majority being used to fund Bill Bos’s time working in the watershed.  
As we move forward into 2020, we have $104,688 approved from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and another $350,000 of EPA319 funding committed by NDEE for Shell Creek projects and activities.  An agreement with NDEE for using the 319 funds is anticipated in March, 2020.  LPNNRD also has $48,620 in a Shell Creek sinking fund for future landowner projects and we have also budgeted an additional $20,000 in our FY2019-2020 for landowner project use as well.  In addition to this fiscal year’s budget, the LPNNRD Board has approved $200,000  specially to be placed in another sinking fund to assist with the channel improvement and creek bank benching associated with U.P. Railroad’s bridge replacement in 2020.  
 

Rationale:  Matt reported that Colfax county will be taking the lead to design the channel and benching project located north and south of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge replacement project at county road 15.  The bridge replacement may be staring as early at this coming spring so the goal is to start the channel/benching within the same timeframe.

Rationale:  NRCS has informed us that they have revisited Dam Site 83 to further reinvestigate a few cultural resource areas reported on by Buried Past LLC and to look at another potential site not included in Buried Past's report. We coordinated this investigation with landowners involved.  NRCS has informed us that another site visit can occur with interested staff and directors (see attached email). 

As reported earlier, Saunders County and the City of Wahoo have approved Dam Breach Overlay District for the proposed Wahoo Creek Dams. The final approval is being sought from the Village of Weston. An information meeting  will occur at the Weston Village Hall at  7:00 p.m. meeting on January 6, 2020. Attached is JEO's December 26, 2019 invoice totaling $1,365 for contact work completed on the Dam Breach Overlay for the City of Wahoo. After this payment, there will be $2,365 remaining in our $5,200 contract for helping with the overlay for the Village of Weston. 

Also attached is FYRA's 12-20-19 invoice totaling $7,776.  After this payment, $40,716.61 remains under contract.

Rationale:  Attached is a December 16, 2019 invoice from Olsson totaling $3,549.16.  After this payment, $1,809.856.18 will remain under contract.

Rationale:  As reported last month, 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. The Board approved continued support of this water quality effort.  A public meeting to promote use of available assistance for best management practices is being planned sometime in February, 2020.  LPNNRD is asked to provide refreshments/ food so discussion this public meeting. It was suggested that Saint John's School would be a possible location.

Rationale:  The group continues to work with JEO and other partners looking for grant funding to assist with the flood resiliency study of the lower third of Dodge County.

Rationale:  Lalit Jha, JEO, was present to discuss an addendum to our Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Update contact (see attachments). This addendum is for additional work to include 22 additional entities that have expressed a desire to be included in our plan.  This extra work is above and beyond what was anticipated in the original agreement scope and totals $18,000. This increases JEO's total approved services from $210,000 to $228,000. Of this total, $93,000 would be the new amount directed toward the portion for the HMP update. Our FEMA  HMP grant will reimburse LPNNRD 75% ($13,500), of this increase raising LPNNRD's commitment by $4,500.  This means LPNNRD's local expense will now be $21,125 ($93,000 x 75% = $23,250 - $2,125 for UBBNRD contribution) toward the plan update.  A committee recommendation to approve the amendment will be needed to include those additional entities. 

Also attached is JEO’s  December 20, 2019 invoice for Hazard Mitigation Plan Contract work totaling $6,695. This total amount will be 75% reimbursed from NEMA/FEMA.  For their portions of this expense, Fremont will reimburse us $781.25 (25% of the $3,125) and Schuyler will reimburse us $468.75 (25% of $1,875).  

We are working with JEO to hold the second round of HMP public meetings beginning mid February. A meeting in David City will be held February 11, 2020, at the David City Public Library, beginning a 6:30 p.m. Another meeting will be held at the Lake Wanahoo Education Building on February 13, 2020, beginning at 6:30 p.m.(see attached letter sent to participating entities). 
 

Rationale:  On December 5, Mountford and Elliott met with Connie Cronin at her property in Section 35-16N-1E in Butler County.  Connie contacted the NRD with concerns about erosion occuring along the property boundry to the east with Jason Meister.  
Elliott and Mountford observed the area of concern, noting the headcut and the existing ravine topography.  The Sediment Erosion Control Act was explained to Ms Cronin and its potential for this scenario.  Both Elliott and Mountford believe that this particular situation does not warrant pursuing the Sed Erosion Act.  However, we discussed what potential conservation/management practices could be implemented to slow down the advancement of the headcut.  As per our SWCP policy; and party involved in an active complaint will be deemed "high priority" for cost-share assitance.
A letter will be sent to both parties detailing the situation.
On December 11 Elliott met with Leonard Zeleny in Colon to discuss a potential sediment erosion complaint with his neighbor to the west, John Murren.  Murren has built a berm paralleling his property and Zeleny's, as well as Otte Oil, and Zeleny was worried about the effect of stormwater runoff drainage.  It was determined that this was not a violation of the Sediment Erosion Act, but could lead to potential drainage issues.  A letter was sent to all parties detailing what was discussed and potential solutions.

Rationale:  Dean Klug Family Trust - NE4NE4 Section 24-18N-1E - 6.3 acres 
      This will be a 10 year contract (in conjuction with CRP) total annual payment $232.75

Rationale:  Kevin Kruse, JEO, (via phone call) and Theresa Buse, North Bend Village Clerk, reported on the completed North Bend Levee Repair Project.  Last summer, JEO presented the proposed levee repair project to the Projects Committee and requested future financial assistance.  The repair involving replacement of the damaged earth embankment and rock rip-rap is 90% completed by Pruss Construction at a total construction cost of $325,000. The total project expense including construction, design and legal expense is currently at $426,000.  It is anticipated that FEMA will provide $306,500 and NEMA another $51,100 toward the repair.  In addition, Theasa said that the City has also been approved for $62,000 though the Nebraska Building Foundation, so the local expense appears to be fairly low.  While no recommendation was made at this time, the committee expressed an interest in possibly assisting remaining local expense for the North Bend Levee Repair Project after it is determined what the local cost will be.. 

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 9:25 a.m.