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Nemaha NRD April 2006 Board Meeting Report

Changes are in store for the Nemaha Natural Resources District’s groundwater management rules following the Board’s meeting Thursday, April 13. A public hearing had been held a week earlier to receive testimony on the proposed changes, which include the temporary closure to the issuance of permits to construct water wells within the District. Those attending the hearing spoke both in favor and in opposition to the changes, and additional written testimony on the issue tended to support the changes. The closure was suggested to allow District officials time to study some quantity issues that are not adequately addressed in the current rules.

In a 16-2-1 vote, the board approved the revisions to the groundwater management area rules. Therefore, the two-year closure to issuance of well permits will become effective May 15, 2006. The closure does not apply to the following types of wells, however: test holes, monitoring wells, dewatering wells with an intended use of 90 days or less, most wells that pump 50 gallons per minute or less, or replacement wells. In addition, the revisions include a variance process, which may allow well construction under certain circumstances. A complete set of the revisions is available on the NRD’s website, www.nemahanrd.org, or by contacting the NRD office in Tecumseh at 335-3325.

In other action, the board approved three bids for repair work on NRD watershed structures. Carstens Construction, Pickrell, submitted the successful bid of $14,256 for placement of riprap and shaping on an Upper Big Nemaha Watershed structure near Adams. Malone Construction of Douglas got the other two bids for structures located north and south of Syracuse. Malone’s bid of $8,424 was approved for riprap and shaping on a Ziegler Creek structure; and his bid of $6,849 was successful for the other site in the Brownell Watershed, which includes spillway replacement and earthfill on a road structure. All projects should be completed by June 1.

An easement with Blaine Horalek on property associated with Upper Big Nemaha dam 27-R also met with board approval. The easement on the site near Adams addressed a wildlife habitat area designation on the property as well as setting a permanent ingress/egress route for NRD maintenance of the dam.

Two teams from within the Nemaha NRD will be competing at this year’s Nebraksa Envirothon scheduled May 6 near Hastings. Both Tecumseh and Norris High Schools qualified teams for the competition, which tests five-member high school teams on various natural resources subjects. The board voted to help sponsor these teams at the state contest by paying the $100 registration fee for each. Fourteen teams will compete at the state contest with the winner representing Nebraska at the National Envirothon later this summer in Canada.

Four quotes were received for a new ATV to be used primarily for the District’s watershed maintenance program. The board approved the low bid of $5,999.00 from Johnny’s Cycle, Nebraska City, for a Honda Fourtrax Foreman 4x4 ES.

An easement was granted by the board to Jim & Linda Winkelman and the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The easement allows the Winkelmans to cross the Steamboat Trace trail to access their property in Nemaha County that was recently enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program. This easement is restricted to ingress and egress to inspect, develop, upgrade, and maintain the property as required by the CCC.
No action was taken on an easement with Kenneth Bridgewater for access to similar WRP property. This easement, however, would include traveling over more trail property in order for Bridgewater to access his land. The board’s Programs & Projects Committee heard comments from nearby landowners regarding this easement and, therefore, directed staff to investigate additional options.

NRD Manager, Bob Hilske, updated the board on costs associated with geologic investigations for the Buck and Duck Creek flood control project near Peru. The work was completed in three phases with the contract costs for the first two phases coming in at or well below estimated costs. However, estimated costs for phase 3 increased from $29,211 to $49,336. Overall the total cost of the investigations is expected to be nearly 20% below the initial estimates. Board approval was given for the increased cost of phase 3 of this project.

The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be on Thursday, May 11, 2006, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters, 62161 Highway 136, Tecumseh.

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