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| Nemaha NRD August
2009 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – Iron Horse Trail Lake near DuBois in Pawnee County will be closed effective August 24, 2009. That was the decision of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board at their August 13 regular meeting. In May the NRD began lowering the water level in the lake at this public recreation area to prepare for upcoming renovations which include removal of sediment from the lake’s pool. Now that the lake is essentially drained, recreation activity has nearly come to a halt. With the reduced number of visitors to the park, some minor vandalism has also begun to appear. With these reasons in mind, the board decided it would be best to close the park until further notice. It is anticipated some tree clearing will begin next month with bids to be sought in October to begin removal of about 200,000 cubic yards of sediment. Construction of in-lake fishing enhancements and other improvements will take place over the next year or so, and the park is expected to remain closed at least that long. In other action the board also approved a resolution to request funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for additional improvement items at the park. Bids for two small dams were reviewed and approved. Gyhra Construction, Pawnee City, submitted the successful bid of $36,487.00 for the Bohlken dam southeast of Johnson as part of the Muddy Creek Watershed project. The other dam to be built northwest of Steinauer in Pawnee County, which will be funded partially through the NRD’s small dam cost-share program, was awarded to Tom Sisco Construction of Burchard, at a cost of $48,046.67. Both projects should be completed by early this fall. Also part of the Muddy Creek Watershed, the board approved cost-share assistance to Craig Behrends to supplement federal EQIP funding on this grade control project. Funding to be provided was limited to no more than $10,000 or the amount required to bring his total assistance from both sources to 75 percent of the project cost, whichever is less. This is similar to agreements for other structures funded through this program so far. In other action from the board’s Programs & Projects Committee, a request for the District to install a property line fence on Spring Creek structure 9-3, which is located east of Tecumseh, was denied. The board voted to provide up to $1,570 to establish livestock watering facilities on a new dam recently built for Dan Hill in Richardson County. Original plans had called for a gravity hydrant to provide water without allowing the livestock direct access to the structure’s pool; however, this could not be accomplished due to design limitations. Also at the committee’s recommendation, the board approved entering into an agreement with Schemmer Associates to provide engineering services for the Ed Bruening small dam project in the Turkey Creek Watershed. Cost for the services was limited to a total not to exceed $14,347. A warning siren will be installed at Kirkman’s Cove Recreation Area near Humboldt as a result of an agreement approved between the NRD and Richardson County Emergency Management. The siren will be installed by the County at little or no cost to the NRD, and the County will further provide all maintenance of the siren. Auburn Board of Public Works approached the District about allowing an underground power line to be installed along the Steamboat Trace trail south of Brownville. The NRD board approved a construction permit for installation of the power line with a subsequent easement to be provided following installation and survey of the actual line location. Another step toward the Buck Creek Watershed flood control project near Peru was taken with the NRD board’s approval of three road agreements. The agreements had also been presented to the Nemaha County Commissioners, and their action was still pending. Two well permits were received during the previous month from Jerry Pietzyk for irrigation wells near Burr. The board approved both permits which were for wells estimated to each pump 600 gallons per minute. Once again the board took a lengthy look at the draft budget for FY2010. At this time the budgeted expenditures include over $3 million for the Iron Horse Lake renovation, $1.9 million for the Buck Creek and Duck Creek projects, $769,000 for Muddy Creek projects, and $400,221 for watershed management activities in the Buck and Duck Creek Watersheds. State and Federal grant funds will provide for all but $100,000 of the Iron Horse project and nearly all of the Buck and Duck Creek watershed management requirements. The NRD will pick up about $100,000 of the cost for the Muddy Creek project. Federal funds will pay for construction of the Buck and Duck Creek projects, but funding for associated land rights has not yet been finalized. Therefore, a loan from the state revolving fund may be required until other funds are available. The board will hold a special meeting at 7:00 on Thursday, August 27, to finalize the budget and make a decision on the property tax request for this year. Following that meeting, a public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 10, when the final budget will be presented. A lengthy discussion was held by the board regarding problems associated with obtaining 404 permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Recently a road dam had to be put on hold because the Corps changed its permit requirements in the middle of the process. This change has resulted in a lengthy delay and potentially the denial of a permit for the project. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors will be held Thursday, September 10, 2009, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Committees will meet prior to the regular meeting, and a hearing on the FY2010 budget will also precede the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. |