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| Nemaha NRD April
2009 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – Restoration of the lake at Iron Horse Trail Lake near DuBois took another step forward Thursday, April 9, with the approval of an agreement between the Nemaha Natural Resources District and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. At their regular meeting that night, the NRD board voted to approve the agreement for the $3.2 million project, about two-thirds of which will be funded through the Game & Parks Aquatic Habitat Program Fund. It is anticipated that federal 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Program funds will pick up much of the balance. Drawdown of the lake at Iron Horse will begin in May, and it is expected to take two-three months for the lake’s level to drop the 14 feet needed to allow for construction. During the summer of 2009 boating and fishing will be limited depending on the lake level; restrictions on fish size limits have been lifted, but daily limits still apply. However, other facilities such as camping, picnicking, and hiking will remain available this summer. Once construction begins, possibly this fall, the entire park will be closed. Five bids were received for construction of a road dam on the Ray Caspers property in the Muddy Creek Watershed. The low bid of $156,160.40 submitted by Don Bruna Construction from Marysville, Kansas, was well under the engineer’s estimate of $184,708 and was approved by the board. Construction will be completed this summer. Another project in the Muddy Creek Watershed will not be built as a result of increased cost estimates. Originally planned as a road structure as well, the site on Clyle Lavigne’s property was deleted due to required design changes that more than doubled the original cost. Therefore, the board voted to return a $1000 deposit to Lavigne. A request from Bill & Paula Velander was reviewed for help with a shoreline issue on their property associated with Upper Little Nemaha dam site 21 near Bennet. Through the District’s Watershed Structure Shoreline Maintenance Program, the board approved budgeting cost-share funds of $3,500, if available, to help repair the erosion this fall. Envirothon team members from Norris High School will again be competing at the State Envirothon competition this spring. Slated for May 2 at Ponca State Park, the team will vie for top honors and a trip to the national Envirothon later this summer in North Carolina. The NRD board voted to again support the Norris High School team by providing their $100 state contest registration fee. At the recommendation of the board’s Executive Committee, an Interlocal Agreement with the Lower Platte South NRD was approved. The agreement allows the LPSNRD to provide cost-share assistance to landowners within the Nemaha NRD who are also within the Stevens Creek Watershed, which is almost entirely in the Lower Platte South. However, because a small portion of the watershed is within the Nemaha boundaries, the agreement is necessary should the LPSNRD receive any applications from that area for the special funding they are offering in the watershed. The board appointed a committee to review proposals and conduct interviews with agencies to provide property and liability insurance coverage for the District beginning July 1. They also discussed projects to be included in the All Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Nemaha NRD. A request from the Lakeview Golf Club to install a new restroom on the course, which is leased from the NRD at Kirkman’s Cove, was discussed but no action taken pending receipt of additional information. The next meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors will be held Thursday, May 14, 2009, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Committees will meet prior to the regular meeting. |