February 2, 2017 at 8:00 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

Matt Bailey nominated Terry Sobota as Projects Committee Chair.  Nominations were closed and all voted in favor. Bob Clausen nominated Don Veskerna as Vice Chair. Nominations were closed and all voted in favor.

Terry Sobota will serve as Chair and Don Veskerna as Vice Chair for the Projects Committee for 2017.

 

Rationale:  The Projects Committee has been meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday's just prior to the Executive Committee Meeting. We will continue with this unless the Committee wishes to change. 

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address. 

Rationale:  We have had several new applications requesting Spring approval.  We currently offer no Spring SWCP program so these applications will be returned asking if producer would be interested in having them considered for Summer work.

Rationale: 

16-D-9   Darrell Umscheid   Diversion     $ 315.58

                                       TOTAL            $ 315.58

 

Rationale: 

None at this time

 

Rationale:  Ronald Furasek   Terraces/Tile/Waterway  $ 12,186.42  (This represents 25% cost-share, coordinating with EQIP)

Rationale:  Attached is the SWCP policy with proposed changes as has been reviewed the past two months.  The committee is asked to continue to review and give final recommendations at the next Projects Committee meeting.  

Rationale:  Now that the Shell Creek Watershed Water Quality Plan is approved by NDEQ/EPA, we are moving forward with project implementation under the Shell Creek Environmental Enhancement Plan Implementation.   We continue to work with NDEQ to get a project implementation plan completed which will hopefully be done and ready to move forward by March.

Rationale:  As reported last month, the NRCS has approved our Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application for constructing future flood reduction dams 26 and 27.  We had an initial meeting with NRCS on January 12 and will be working on an agreement with them over the coming weeks.

Rationale: 

Last month, the LPNNRD Board requested that FYRA Engineering submit a proposal to assist with updating the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan as required by NRCS for our approved federal assistance for completing Wahoo Creek Dam Sites 26 and 27 and assist with preparing an application to the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund to assist with the local costs associated with the project.  FYRA assisted LPNNRD with technical information needed for our RCPP application and has experience with Water Sustainability Fund applications. Mike Sotak and Janel Kaufman with FYRA were present to discuss their proposal  with the committee, as attached, to move forward as attached to the Projects Committee Minutes.

 

Rationale:  We are working with NDEQ to finalize their assistance with implementing projects with the next phase in Wahoo Creek.  NDEQ has agreed to increase their initial commitment from $168,215 to $400,000. These funds will be combined with $106,000 from the Environmental Trust and funds from Saunders County and LPNNRD to complete up to four road dams in the Wahoo Creek Watershed.  Some of these funds will focus on completing additional water quality monitoring, provide lands for conservation payments to landowners and conduct information and education activities. 

Rationale:  A planning meeting with Alliance Partners is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., February 24 at Camp Ashland.  It will be important for Board members to attend as this will be the opportunity to discuss our future involvement with the Alliance. It will also be an opportunity to suggest changes to the overall structure if we wish to consider continuing as a partner.  It will be equally important for Directors who are contacted to participate with a survey that will be conduced prior to the meeting. 

Rationale: 

Staff met with our non-federal partners ( City of Fremont, Dodge County, Inglewood), the Corps of Engineers and FYRA Engineering on Friday, February 27 in Fremont. As previously stated, to construct a levee around Fremont the COE estimates it at $137 million.  To get it to a 1:1 benefit/cost ratio the price tag needs to be closer to $90 million.  By combining a new SE Beltway into a levee system could reduce the cost by $23-25 million. NDOR still does not look favorably at combining the beltway and levee system but, with some political pressure it may be a possibility but it still does not get us to a 1:1 BC Ratio.

FEMA is currently reviewing hydraulic flow models from NDOR.  NDOR's calculations take the hydraulic flows substantially lower than that of the COE. FEMA has been reviewing this for the past 8-9 months.

FYRA Engineering has found a discrepancy in how the hydraulic flows were calculated by the COE in the Platte River floodplain.  Fyra has not yet come up with a reduced discharge number on flood flows. Even if the discharge is reduced and a levee can be constructed less in length and height there is no guarantee that the BC Ratio would change enough to get it to 1:1. FYRA will have the discharge number soon and may also communicate with the Engineer for NDOR.

Rationale:  On January 19, Mountford and Heimann met with Army COE, City of  Schuyler and Lumir Jedlichka to inspect and discuss Lumir's concerns with improving drainage along the dry side of the levee on his property and improve  ramp access to his land at "F" street.   The COE will allow Lumir to add dirt/gravel on both sides of the access ramp on his property to match the elevation of the ramp which should help his grain trailers pass over it without high centering.  The City of Schuyler will continue to work with Lumir on improving the drainage along the levee. Work has begun cleaning the drainage ditch along highway 30 and that effort is going well with about 60% complete.  Most of the ditch cleaning  was complete but removal of the spoil pile remained.

Rationale:  No new updates.  We are still waiting for the Army COE to complete the project's operation and maintenance manual.

Rationale:  While no further business, the Projects Committee adjourned at 9:36 a.m.