February 9, 2026 at 1:30 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:  NACD Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX February 14-19 - Gottschalk, Engel and Tonnies

NARD Washington DC Meeting - March 28 - April 1 - Gottschalk, Chapman, McKnight and Sabatka

Rationale:  Olsson Associates  — February Board Meeting
JEO - Rawhide WFPO and East Fremont Drainage — March Board Meeting

Rationale:  Candidate Filing Dates - 
Incumbent Filing Dates — January 5, 2026 — February 17, 2026
Nonincumbent Filing Dates — January 5, 2026 --  March 2, 2026 

The following directors are up for re-election:
SubDistrict 1 - Lon Olson - 4 years
SubDistrict 1 -  Anthony Hanson - 2 years
SubDistrict 2 -  John Goldsberry - 4 years
SubDistrict 3 -  David Saalfeld - 4 years
SubDistrict 4 - Chris Yosten - 4 years
SubDistrict 5 - Mark Seier - 4 years
SubDistrict 6 - Joe Birkel - 4 years
SubDistrict 7 - Ryan Engel - 4 years
SubDistrict 8 - Jerry Johnson - 4 years
SubDistrict 9 - Duane Johnson - 4 years
At Large - Thomas McKnight - 4 years

Rationale:  The closeout request submitted to FEMA by the Recipient, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (000-U9TYU-00), requesting closeout for project #96486, has been deemed to be compliant with all project conditions and therefore has been successfully closed out.
Event: 4420DR-NE (4420DR)
Applicant: Lower Platte North Natural Resource District (Lower Platte North NRD) (000-U96JQ-00)
Project: [96486] Jetty Project
Per FEMA's final closeout report review process, the following determinations were made for project #96486:

• On Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:47 AM EDT, FEMA determined this project was compliant with the Approved Scope of Work for the Project.

Per the findings above, the SLTT Organization Manager, HAMILTON, HEATHER, has indicated that the project has met all the conditions and therefore has been closed out.
Please be advised that all project worksheets are subject to federal audit. Grantees and/or sub-grantees must maintain copies of all records pertinent to this project worksheet for a minimum of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report in accordance with (Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations §200.333, 2 CFR §200.333).
 

Rationale:  Mr. Hansen has been made aware of the Board's decision last month to proceed and he has been in contact with his contractor and attorney.

Rationale:  Gottschalk spoke with Jesse Bradley with DWEE at the Legislative Conference and was informed our funding contract is being prepared and should be ready for acceptance at our February 9th Board of Directors Meeting.

Rationale:  We are currently advertising for the Assistant Water Resources Manager with resumes due March 9, 2026. 

Rationale:  Kaitlyn Bargen's last day with the NRD was January 16th.

Rationale:  Management is requesting a $4.00 per hour salary increase for Bill.  He has been working in the Shell Creek Watershed at the same pay rate since 2020.  Bill's salary is paid through our our 319/NET grants and because of his Social Security allowable income limit, this increase only adds approximately $1,500 total annual increase.

Rationale:  Since we have received the June 30, 2025, Annual Audit prepared by AMGL, we can approve our monthly financial statements prepared by HBE.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting - 
To approve the final version of the July, August and September financial statements as prepared by HBE and attached.  

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

Rationale:  Kyle Overturf presented the draft audit at the Board Meeting in January.  We have since received the final audit with no changes.  Please let staff know if you would like a copy of the final audit document. 

Rationale:  Dodge County has informed us of the following tax roll corrections: Dillon Companies Inc. - 2022 Correction #5802; Dillon Companies Inc. 2023 Correction #5803; Dillon Companies Inc. 2024 Correction #5804; First State Bank & Trust Co. - 2023 Correction #5805; First State Bank & Trust Co. - 2024 Correction #5806 totaling $1,440.31.

Rationale:  We do not have unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  We met with our partners, NE Game & Parks, NRCS, Pheasants Forever and Monarch Joint Venture on January 15th to discuss a new 5-year O & M Plan for the Wanahoo Wildlife Areas. The plan will run from 2027 to 2031.
The spreadsheet with maintenance items will be redeveloped as a guide for future maintenance.

Rationale:  The O & M crew continues to remove invasive trees with the disc mulch at Czechland. Staff are also removing trees on a 2-mile stretch of Rawhide Ditch 8. Regular vehicle & equipment maintenance.

Rationale:  NRCS Watershed Programs Branch sent back their programmatic review of the Cottonwood 21-A rehab plan. They identified a few minor edits and one major issue. The major issue is that the watershed manual requires the inclusion of decommissioning or another non-structural alternative in the final array of alternatives. We will be discussing this with HDR and the NRCS in a Teams Meeting on Wednesday, February 11th.
HDR will work to get their design estimate under $500,000. They will provide a summary by the board meeting. If the new estimate is satisfactory, the committee recommends working with the engineering firms that have started this study.

Rationale:  We received an email containing the minutes of a Zoom meeting between FEMA and Houston Engineering that occurred around January 22nd. Houston has a few tasks to complete as requested by FEMA. We'll wait for an update from Houston.

Rationale:  Our NET Grant for a new No-Till Grass drill was approved but, due to the recently introduced legislation (LB 1072), NET is temporarily pausing the issuance of grant contracts for newly awarded projects. NET is awaiting further legislative action before moving forward. Requesting updated grass drill bids is on hold.
We sold the used grass drill for the asking price of $18,000.
We received year-end (2025) revenue from Clay Hills Ag at $208 and Rezac Seed at $852.30.
The seed dealers who rent our drills are recommending that we increase our minimum charge rate from $75 to $100 and the acre rate from $10 to $12/acre. One agreement is attached for your review.

Rationale:  We will be asking for bids to hay approximately 186 acres on the Wanahoo property. We are skipping a year on Czechland and Homestead Lakes.

Rationale:  The District picked up the new 2026 Ford Explorer.
We sold the 2017 Ford Fusion for $9,100 to Ryan Chapman.

Rationale:  We have not received any applications or requests for payment.

Rationale:  For the month of December, the District received $1,381.50 in park permit revenue.

Rationale:  For the month of December, the District received $3,593.09 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 15 times in January, with 1 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $1,625.

Rationale:  Mr. Hansen has been made aware of the Board's decision last month to proceed and he has been in contact with his contractor and attorney.

Rationale:  KTIC schedule:
January: Water Management/Nitrogen Certification
February: Trees & Shrubs 
March: Environment Education

Digital display ad schedule:
Tree orders continue through February 28, 2026

Rationale:  Top Posts for Facebook and X during January included:

• High School Grant Opportunity
• Nitrogen certification classes
• January Coffee Lakeside 
• LPNNRD's Tree planting program

The main page, Lake Wanahoo page, forestry and wildlife, and the education page had the most views. Mobile and tablet usage went up, and desktop viewing went down. 2,700 people visited our website.

Rationale: 

• January 8th: Coffee Lakeside: Biophilia (12)
• January 13th: Lindsay Holy family 2nd grade - Pollinators/pollination (13)
• January 12th: Wahoo High School Careers (32)
• January 16th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K - Ice Fishing and animals in winter - (26)
• January 29th: Aquinas Catholic Elementary K-5th Water (45)

Rationale: 

• February 4th: Survival Club
• February 6-7th: NACEE Conference
• February 10th-11th: Bishop Neumann MS
• February 11th: Fremont HS AM
• February 12th AM: Coffee Lakeside 
• February 12th PM: North Bend HS Career Fair
• February 24th: Survival Club

TBD: St. Wenc Pre-K; class room visits

Rationale:  It was a routine month of sampling and billing for both Colon and Bruno RWDs

Rationale:  A letter is attached from DWEE approving the Groundwater Management Plan updates with some suggested recommendations on water quality improvements.  The plan is to set a hearing date and advertise on the LPNNRD website for 4 weeks. A couple of suggestions are to conduct the hearing on March 9 at 11 am or in the latter part of March during the Committee Meeting. 
The committee directed staff to make minor changes under Water Quality to address the comments in DWEE letter.  They agreed to have the hearing at 11 am on March 9th in the Board Room at Wahoo. 
An invoice is attached from LRE Water for $4,252.75 for the approved contract on water quantity and scoring sheets review.   

Rationale:  At last month's Water Committee Meeting, a group of producers, staff and committee discussed the Platte-Colfax Water Quantity Management Area (SQS #2).  Staff made a presentation to the group for discussion, which is attached.  
After discussion with the Committee and staff, the recommendations are as follows:

• The existing boundary area will continue to require flow meters and water use reports for verification that irrigation management practices are being implemented. 
• A new boundary area is shown in green on the attachment titled "Committee Suggested Boundaries."  The suggested area includes the area where the recovery time was one of the longest, along with the area that is showing aquifer depletion.   
• The new area, shown in the green boundary, will continue with an allocation of 40 inches over 4 years.  The rest of the area will not have an allocation but water use reporting from flow meters will be required.  
• No new high capacity irrigation wells (50 GPM) will be allowed in the proposed area, as shown on the map within the green boundary and expansion of acres is done on a case-by-case basis.  High capacity livestock and industrial wells will be by Board approval.  New irrigation wells can be reviewed and allowed in cases where tracts of land are being split up with no new expansion of acres allowed.    
• New irrigation wells could be allowed in the area west of the green line with an in-depth groundwater model of the proposed well being provided to the Committee by a reputable firm showing the potential decline if the well is drilled.  The cost will be on the producer applying for the new well.  Other conditions can be required, like test holes and pumping tests per site.
• Timetable of new wells being drilled:
  • Hearing of new rules and boundaries would happen in November 2026, with potential Board approval after the hearing documents are evaluated.  
  • Variance applications will be taken in 2027 until September 15 for potential approval in October 2027 of the applications.
  • An evaluation would be required of the location by the producer after variance is approved to move forward.
  • Staff, Committee and Board will review the evaluation to determine if a well permit will be issued.  A policy will be established on how to evaluate the study.    
  • The first well could be drilled after approval by the Board or in the fall—winter of 2027-28. 
• Expansion of acres in the area west of the green line will be allowable to a maximum of 20 new acres per quarter after variance request and approval.  
• All conditions that are in place presently can be re-implemented immediately if conditions warrant. 

An informational meeting is planned for Thursday, February 19, at the Humphrey Community Center from 10 am to noon.

Rationale:  Discussion on a policy for individuals wanting to change status on the purpose of what the well was originally registered for.  More discussion in future Committee Meetings. 

Rationale: 

2 new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

1 wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
David Deerson	I	$797.43	Saunders

 

Rationale:  The following invoices have been received and ready for payment:
Tim Rodehorst - 2 flow meters - $2,000
Jon Engel - 1 flow meter - $1,000
Lloyd Cuda - 1 flow meter - $1,000
David Sobota - 7 flow meters - $7,000
Jonathon Sobota - 1 flow meter - $1,000

Jonathon Sobota - Gravity to pivot - $10,000 

Total - $22,000

Rationale:  An invoice is attached for annual dues of $30,000 per contract. 

Rationale:  We are in the process of finding locations as well as getting permission from landowners and municipalities to install dedicated monitoring wells in the district. We are currently looking in the areas of Newman Grove, Cedar Bluffs, and Mead.

Rationale:  DWEE has sent the Project Closure Letters for both Newman Grove and Platte Center. 

Rationale:  Staff at Longitude 103 have started the process of transferring the data into their system.  NRD staff has done an initial review and will begin combing through the data starting the first week of February.  Some discussion with other NRDs on the initial cost with the NRDs that were not utilizing the software when it was first developed in 2023.  The first NRDs paid $5,000 and a second update is happening right now.  

Rationale:  A quarterly invoice is attached for $4,344 for stream gauges on Shell Creek and Wahoo Creek. 

Rationale:  If the Committee wants a GW retreat, dates to consider are February 18 through the 20th or March 5th and 6th.  What would be a preferred time of day?  Discussion would be groundwater quality regarding nitrate trigger levels, phase areas and other rules changes.
The Committee decided on Thursday, March 5th, from 1 to 4 pm, with the condition that the majority of Board members would be in attendance.  

Rationale:  Attached is our current SWCP Policy for review.  Staff would like to specifically address Attachment C - Guidelines for Water Impoundment (Small Dams) & Grade Stabilization Structures.  
The NRD is contacted regularly about rehab cost-share on existing structures eg: principal spillway (pipe) repair/replacement, embankment work, or dredging.  Current policy is only directed at new construction.  Staff is requesting guidance related to these instances.

Rationale:  Stan Keiser contacted the NRD requesting assistance on his private dam. The dam was built around 1950. The NRD, Saunders County, Clear Creek D & D and Keiser had previously assisted in rehabilitating the dam by lining the pipe 25 years ago. The current spillway riser and pipe are compromised and not functioning properly (picture attached). This is a state permitted & regulated structure (NE10027) and was last inspected by DNR Dam Safety in June 2023. The dam is also six miles downstream of Alten, Champion Feeders (Mead Cattle Co.) and the former Ordinance Plant.
NRD staff and DNR advised Keiser to get an engineer's estimate and report back to NRD.
The District should update the SWCP Policy regarding private dam rehab assistance with a set of priorities and limitations.
 

Rationale:  A meeting of the Dodge County Joint Water Management Advisory Board will convene Thursday, February 12, 2pm at the City Council Chambers, City Administration Building.  Attached is the draft agenda and expired JWMAB interlocal agreement.  Also attached is a USGS camera invoice that will be paid via agreement.

Rationale:  Attached is a notice from NRCS that the project will have No Significant (environmental) Impact.  It is on public notice until March 15.  We expect the plan to be approved shortly thereafter.  Below is some text from NRCS related to this notice along with a link to the final plan.

Sent on behalf of G. James Huntwork, Acting State Conservationist

Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) titled "Rawhide Creek Watershed Plan, Colfax and Dodge Counties of Nebraska" in partnership with Dodge County Board of Supervisors. The environmental assessment of this federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, I have determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement is not needed for this project.

The Proposed Action involves constructing three interdependent elements. At site L1-1, a berm would be constructed along the eastern bank of the existing Brush Creek Dam outfall for a length of approximately 1 mile to prevent floodwater from overtopping the existing ditch. At site L1-2, the Cutoff Road would be raised for a distance of approximately 2.3 miles to prevent floodwater from overtopping the road, reducing agricultural flooding damages. Site DC1-13A is composed of two holding areas and a connecting channel that will provide temporary detention of floodwaters that would be released slowly over time, reducing flooding in Fremont. The primary goal is to protect the City of Fremont and nearby agricultural lands from the adverse effects of flooding, which has been a frequent issue in the region. The project aims to minimize flood damage by reducing runoff, erosion, and sediment, and by controlling surface water from excessive rainfall and stream overflow. Additionally, this initiative may reduce or even eliminate the need for some residents to have flood insurance.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until after March 15, 2026. You may view a copy of the FONSI and associated Environmental Assessment at the following website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska/projects-ready-for-public-comment-and-review.

For more information, please contact Melissa Baier, ASTC-Water Resources and Easements, at 402.437.4065 or by email at melissa.baier@usda.gov.
 

Rationale:  SCWIG held a meeting on January 20th.  Topics included: grant funding, upcoming projects, billboards, and sponsoring volunteer monitoring students to the SWCS conference.
The Christ Lutheran Chruch project was redesigned and the engineers estimate was lowered to roughly $200k.  The redesign is awaiting Corps approval.  Once approved, the Platte County will let bids.  After a construction contract is signed, we will have a good idea on funds remaining to support spring/summer BMPs.  Bill's list of septic system applications has been cleaned up.  We are down to 1 awaiting construction.
We had 6 billboards and are down to 5 after one was removed for road construction.  SCWIG plans to replace the removed structure and add an additional on the west side of Schuyler.  The group assigned a school to each billboard leaving an extra billboard that could be the either one on Hwy 30 near Schuyler.  The billboard without a school assigned will have the standard SCWIG logo instead of student artwork.  We will run the art competition this coming fall with instillation planned in 2027.  We will attempt to get the extra/SCWIG logo billboard up in 2026.
SCWIG would like to once again offer sponsorship to volunteer monitoring students at the 2026 International Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Annual Conference to be held July 26-29 in St. Louis.

Rationale:  Weather slowed progress on all three sites over the past month, work completed:

• Shanahan completed channel cleanout and backfill (Site 26B)
•  TCI backfilled around the 12" PVC drawdown pipe concrete collar (Site 26A).
• Shanahan started work in the auxiliary spillway (Site 26B)
•  Shanahan continued work on the core trench (Site 26B)
•  Shanahan installed settlement #2 (Site 26B)
• Shanahan completed excavation of the plunge pool (Site 26B)
• Riprap hauling recommenced.

On 1/13 NRCS State Office personnel toured WCW sites 26 A&B & 27; pics attached
TCI Invoice attached

Rationale:  We recieved feedback from Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Nebraska Game & Parks (NEGP) about our current Biological Assessment (BA) related to our Corps 404 permit.  Their concerns are related to Platte River depletions negatively impacting the Pallid Sturgeon's spawning.  They don't believe that our current strategy (26A, 26B, 27) will be sufficient to offset flow restrictions.  They are assuming that construction for the next 6 sites will be done all at once, but we have yet to determine a construction timeline.  We will be having a meeting with partners (FWS, NEGP) in the near future to hammer out details.

Site 77 is expected to be back from National Watershed Center review at the end of February.  State review will follow.

State review of site 55  is nearly complete and we should have permits by the end of February, site 84 will be complete early-mid spring.

Rationale:  Danielle Allen contacted all landowners on sites 66 & 86 to relay easement offers before offer package was delivered.  Elliott and Allen met with Chris & Brenda Pestal (site 66) and Bryan & Deb Machovec (site 66) in person to discuss appraisal and offers.
Rezac (site 85) update on pivot/well
Kresl (site 84) update

Rationale:  The Notice of Interest for the Wahoo Creek Management Project was accepted by 319. We will be meeting with them to go over the Project Implementation Plan.

Rationale:  Staff engaged NRCS to discuss options to continue flood reduction efforts in Skull and Bone watersheds.  One option is for the NRD to fund a Watershed Plan.  This plan would still need to meet NRCS requirements to make us eligible for federal design and construction funding in the future.  If the NRD were to fund the plan, it would put us closer to the front of the line for design funding.  Given some of the past reports and studies within the watershed, we are assuming developing a plan would be less costly.  Discussion is requested regarding how to proceed.

Rationale:  Lower Platte NRDs met with the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss potential projects.  Plans are to change our federal request to a more localized project focused on flood reduction to increase approval odds.

Rationale:  Information has been submitted to DWEE and we are awaiting a funding agreement.
Discussion is requested on attached agreement to assist with easement acquisitions.

Rationale:  The Village began construction of Phase II in October, 2025 and substantial completion was reached on January 7, 2026.  The Village is requesting $13,000 of our $31,000 pledge for Phase II.  Overall project documentation 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.