Lincoln (NE) February 21, 2018 – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (NRD) and the City of Waverly will evenly split the cost of remapping the Ash Hollow Creek floodplain through Waverly.  The new Ash Hollow Dry Dam was completed last year, upstream from Waverly, just south of Interstate 80.  The NRD Board of Directors, at their meeting February 21st, approved a services agreement with Olsson Associates for $20,200 to work with FEMA to complete the remapping.  The City of Waverly has already agreed to split the cost.  The remapping is expected to officially remove about 90 structures in Waverly from the floodplain and, as a result, owners of those properties would no longer have to purchase flood insurance.  Waverly City Administrator Stephanie Fisher said the City of Waverly, “is excited to start the remapping process, not only because of the pending flood insurance savings, but also for the added safety of the community.”

The NRD Board also approved a grant agreement with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD).  Under the agreement, the NRD will receive a $50,000 grant, to hire a soil conservationist.  Funding comes from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, through NACD.  The NRD hopes the grant will result in more district landowners getting assistance for constructing terraces and other conservation improvements. 

Harlan and Judith Stiefel, owners of land along the proposed Haines Branch Prairie Corridor, are donating 11 acres for a trailhead and prairie restoration.  The NRD Board approved naming the trailhead the Stiefel Johnson Trailhead and approved a proposal to custom seed the land as part of the prairie restoration.  The property is along State Spur 55-A/SW 84th, at the corridor. 

In other action, the NRD Board:

Approved Community Forestry Program applications from The Preserve Homeowners Association ($2,464.65 for 15 trees), Lou Ann Manske ($337.67 for two street trees) and the Downtown Lincoln Association ($7,435.00 for 68 trees)
Approved 20 cost-share assistance applications to install erosion and water quality practices this summer, under the NRD’s Summer Conservation Program.  $257,000
Approved repairs to the outlet pipe at Plattsmouth Watershed Dam 18-A, south of Plattsmouth  $37,000
Approved a sanitary sewer easement for the City of Lincoln to cross the MoPac East Trail near 120th Street
Approved an agreement to allow American Legion Post #371, of Valparaiso, to operate a community information sign at the Oak Creek Trail trailhead
Approved professional services to update the operation and maintenance manual for the Salt Creek Levee as part of the NRD’s current SWIF program
Approved drone flight inspection of the Salt Creek Levee as part of the NRD’s current
SWIF project