GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – The Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) Board of Directors approved an agreement to add a municipal component to the CPNRD’s water bank for managed development of new uses of water for municipal and industrial uses by the cities within the District. CPNRD will administer the water bank transactions that utilize a system for crediting retired ground and surface water uses to be deposited in the water bank, and may be later withdrawn (debited) for new water uses by the cities. Effective 2025, municipalities are required to offset their new uses, this agreement allows them to be proactive in finding water for economic growth when needed.

AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

-Education Center/Office The Board approved moving forward with a building design and cost estimates for a new educational center and office at the Upper Prairie/Silver/Moores Creek Project (PSM) site northwest of Grand Island. CPNRD has $1.7 million available from funds received through the Nebraska Natural Resources Development Fund for the PSM project that were approved by the Commission to be utilized for an education center in October. With those funds and the projected sale of the NRD’s current facility, the CPNRD would be able to consider construction costs to future fiscal year budgets without increasing tax requirements.

The education center would include both indoor and outdoor learning experiences that would show how water relates to forests, grasslands and soil. The outdoor sites would provide hands-on learning objectives to see and use the educational topics presented at the indoor learning center including wetlands, walking trails, windbreaks, pollinator habitat, irrigation and crop demonstrations, monitoring wells and many other possibilities. The center would be open to the public and allow for workshops and trainings for ag producers, groundwater technicians, well drillers, and students to learn how to sample and test wells, use and be safe around irrigation equipment, acquire CEUs, and see new technology and research.

-Board Officer Election  The Board elected Marvion Reichert, Elm Creek, for board secretary and re-elected Keith Ostermeier, Grand Island, for board treasurer. Board officers may serve two, two-year terms.

-Dam Rehab  The committee approved the bid of $138,280.00 from Kokes Construction of Ord for dam rehabilitation at Box Elder 5A in Buffalo County. Construction will include channel improvements downstream, dredging around the drawdown and riprap added along the dam face. Bid requests for two dams in Polk County will be re-advertised. The dam rehabilitations will initiate a long-term plan to replace, update or remove the 40 dams managed by the District that are nearing their 50-year lifespan.

-Gibbon Crane Viewing Deck  The board approved two change orders for the Richard Plautz Crane Viewing Site Trail Improvements. Change Order #2 is a decrease of $16,813 due to a reduction in riprap material type. An additional 7” in depth of concrete paving to extend driveways was included. The total price is $268,886. Change Order #3 is a decrease of $4,800 due to reduction in silt fence installation. The total price is $264,086.

-Elm and Turkey Creek Watersheds  JEO Consulting Group and CPNRD staff met with landowners in the Elm and Turkey Creek Watersheds on January 12, 2022 in Kearney to discuss the planning process and proposed flood risk reduction alternatives for the watersheds. Preferred alternatives are scheduled to be identified in March 2022.

-Managers Report  Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, reported the following:
Staff Darren Cudaback, Gibbon, was hired to fill the Precision Conservation Management position. Cudabeck will work with the Frito Lay growers for their Gothenburg facility to assist cooperators with conservation practices and nutrient management. His start date is February 1, 2022.

South Platte Compact  Vogt provided fact sheets to the directors on the South Platte Compact and Perkins Canal Project that explain the two key provisions of the Compact.

CPNRD Water Conference  The CPNRD Water Programs Update will be held at the Crane Trust Nature and Visitors Center at the I-80 Alda exit on February 8th from 10:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. RSVP for lunch (308) 385-6282 or email: lee [at] cpnrd.org.

-Violation Report  Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, reported that 55 landowners/producers irrigated land that wasn’t certified or approved for irrigation in 2021. Zakrzewski said the violations range from 0.69 to 40 acres. Landowners will be notified that they are in violation of the NRD’s Rules and Regulations and will request that they contact the NRD to get into compliance by March.

-Monitoring Wells  The board approved Change Order #1 for Downey Drilling for an increase of $7,821.38 to drill 12 monitoring wells for the NRD’s Groundwater Management Program. The cost increase was due to the need to drill the test holes deeper than anticipated to reach adequate depth to water. The total cost with the change order is $37,749.50.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service  Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, reported that CPNRD’s  total initial funding allowance for FY2022 is $ 609,070. The ranking deadline for eligible applications will be completed in February.

Jacob Kendrick, Resource Conservationist, Central City Field office, reported that Pheasants Forever has a new chapter in Merrick County. The Grand Island Chapter has donated a grassland drill that can be rented out. The first annual meeting is February 5th at the Palmer old gym. Contact is Dylan Wieser at 308-339-9050. Kedrick reported that Merrick County producers are being contacted to survey their land for the tentative pipeline. Staff Report Kyla Friedrichsen started working as the new District Secretary this month, resource conservationist, Jaden Russel, is currently at military training until May 1st.

-Cost-Share   25 applications were approved for center pivot incentive, pipeline to pivot, burn preparation, tree planting and well decommissioning through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD cost-share programs in the amount of $79,676.96.

-Committee Selection  Directors signed up for committees that they plan to serve on in 2022. Chairs selected include: Tom Downey-Water Utilization, Ryan Kegley-Western Projects, Chuck Maser-Eastern Projects, Jerry Milner-Water Quality and Deb VanMatre-Programs.

-Upcoming Board Meetings: February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26