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| Nemaha NRD September
2008 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – The Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors arrived at their monthly meeting Thursday, September 11, prepared to issue an administrative order adopting revisions to the District’s Groundwater Management Plan rules and regulations. However, because approval of the Plan had not yet been received from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the rules and regulations could not be adopted. Therefore, at the recommendation of the NRD’s legal counsel, no action was taken on the rules. Due to statutory milestones, even if DNR approval is received prior to the board’s next meeting on October 9, the new rules could not go into effect until at least November 7. Since the current rules are set to expire on October 15, it is anticipated that at their October meeting, the NRD board’s only option will be to impose an immediate stay on the construction of new, high capacity wells for 180 days (as provided in Neb. Rev. Statute 46-707(2)). While the delay was unexpected and unfortunate, this extended period would allow incorporation of additional revisions to the rules based upon suggestions received during a recent public hearing. Several visitors were at the meeting to express their concerns and explain their suggestions to the board. In other action from the board’s Water Resources Subcommittee, a request for a variance to allow a well to be installed ¼ mile southeast of Rulo was denied. The request was submitted by Rick Barnes for a well to be used for wetland creation to provide waterfowl staging and hunting. Concerns were cited by the City of Falls City regarding safety of their public water supply wells, one of which is about 1,415 feet from the proposed well. Final approval was given by the board for the FY 2009 budget following public hearings held prior to the board meeting. The budget as presented totaled about $3.7 million and required a property tax collection of $1,563,931. Therefore, the levy will be set at 4.31 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Major expenditures in the budget include watershed construction, management, and repair projects. A flood control structure on Buck Creek near Peru is scheduled for a construction start this year and will be funded by the federal PL566 watershed program. In addition, expenditures in the Muddy Creek Watershed include five grade stabilization dams, three weirs, and one road dam. Funding for these projects is jointly provided by the NRD, federal EQIP, landowners, and Nebraska Environmental Trust. In conjunction with the Buck Creek and Duck Creek Watershed flood control projects, funding has been set aside for management practices within the watershed to protect the structures once built. Repairs to watershed structures, including some in the Upper Little Nemaha Watershed in Otoe and Lancaster Counties, will be accomplished with financial help from FEMA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In an effort to provide additional technical assistance for watershed management projects in the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed as well as the Muddy Creek Watershed, the board approved an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The agreement outlines responsibilities and funding for temporary staff to help with this work. NRCS and the NRD agree to share the costs equally; half of the NRD’s share is expected to be paid through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The NRD’s remaining share will largely be accounted for through in-kind contributions. During this meeting the board approved an agreement with Nemaha County Rural Water District #1 to provide Emergency Watershed Protection Funds for repairs to their system as a result of the 2008 storms. While the Water District was eligible for the funds, they were not eligible to administer the funds; therefore, the District agreed to act as sponsor for their funding. With the annual conference of Natural Resources Districts scheduled later this month in Kearney, board Chair Ted Godemann appointed Orval Gigstad, Syracuse, and Lisa Beethe, Elk Creek, as the District’s voting delegate and alternate. The board reviewed and provided guidance on resolutions to be presented and voted upon by delegates from the 23 NRDs attending the conference. At the request of a board member, the agenda also included discussion on reducing the number of positions on the NRD’s board of directors. Currently the Nemaha NRD board consists of 21 members from 10 different voting subdistricts with one member elected at large. With a new census due to come out after 2010, the District would likely be required to adjust its voting subdistricts at that time. Therefore, no action was suggested; and staff was directed to investigate the pros and cons of various board sizes and report back at a later date. The Programs and Projects Committee recommended approval of an agreement with the Cornhusker Council-Boy Scouts for funding to renovate the lake at Camp Cornhusker south of Humboldt. The agreement requires the District to provide $45,000 toward the project over a two-year period; an additional $150,000 will be contributed by the Council through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. A request from Camp Catron, the Girl Scout’s camp near Nebraska City, for help with an erosion problem affecting a footbridge was also discussed. Unfortunately, the board did not feel money was available in this year’s budget for the project since the request was received after the budget had been prepared. The next meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be held Thursday, October 9, 2008, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. |