GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – JEO Consulting will provide an update on the Wood River Watershed flood reduction project design to the Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) Board of Directors on Feb. 22, 2024.  The Board will meet at 2 p.m. at the Central Platte NRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island, NE.

The project is being funded through the USDA-NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program. Following the completion of the Environmental Assessment for portions of Buffalo, Hall, and Merrick counties; it was determined more planning efforts were needed to better understand flooding impacts and potential solutions within the Lower Wood River Watershed. The expanded work included the Upper Wood River sub-basin and additional governmental reviews as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, which the plan was upgraded to in February 2023.

OTHER AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

Subdistrict 8 Vacancy  The Board Nominating Committee will interview candidates interested in filling the vacancy in Subdistrict 8 and make a recommendation to the Board. The term ends December 2024.

Prescribed Fire Bids  The Programs Committee will review bids to select a contractor to conduct prescribed burns this spring for CPNRD’s Prescribed Burn Program and make a recommendation to the Board.

Eastern Projects Committee  Brent Kunze, Merrick County Highway Superintendent, will meet with the Committee.

Manager’s Report  Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, will report.

Precision Conservation Report  Darren Cudaback, Precision Conservation Specialist, will give his annual report on the cooperators enrolled in the Precision Conservation Management program in Gothenburg.

Violation Report  Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, will report on the number of cease and desist orders to be issued on irrigated land that wasn’t certified or approved for irrigation through a transfer in 2023.

Natural Resources Conservation Service  Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, and Carrie Thompson, Resource Conservationist- Lexington Field Office, will report.

Nebraska Association of Resources District  Deb VanMatre, CPNRD Representative, will report.

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission  Mick Reynolds, Middle Platte Basin Representative, will report.

Cost-Share Applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD cost-share programs will be considered.

Primary Election  Central Platte NRD has 21 members on the board of directors who serve four-year terms, with two directors in each of the NRD’s 10 sub-districts and one at-large director.  Directors in the same sub-district are elected in alternate election years. Incumbents must file by February 15th. The non-incumbent deadline is March 1st.

Upcoming Board Meetings  March 28, April 25, May 23
Central Platte NRD’s Board of Directors meetings are held at 2 p.m. at the CPNRD office located at 215 Kaufman Ave in Grand Island.