GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – JEO Consulting Group will provide updates on the Lower Wood River and Elm/Turkey Creek watershed design plans at the Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (NRD) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, April 28, 2022. In 2021, Central Platte NRD received Watershed Flood Prevention and Operations (WFPO) grant funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete watershed and flood prevention operations plans for the watersheds. The grant funds 100% of the cost of completing the plans.

The initial two-year planning process is to identify projects, such as berms, dams, channel cleanout, bridge and culvert improvements, and by-pass channels that will reduce flood damages and protect lives and infrastructure. Once the Environmental Assessments are approved, the NRD will decide if it’s in the public’s best interest to work with NRCS and other funding agencies to move into design and construction phases.

The Lower Wood River Improvement Project is located along the Wood River downstream of Riverdale to the confluence with the Platte River and is focusing on benefiting agricultural areas and the communities of Gibbon, Shelton, Wood River and Alda.  The Elm-Turkey Creeks Watershed Improvement Project area covers just over 106,000 acres of drainage including the entire Elm Creek Watershed to its confluence with Buffalo Creek south of the Village of Elm Creek and the entire Turkey Creek Watershed flowing north of the Village of Elm Creek, past Odessa, and through the City of Kearney.

Central Platte NRD’s board meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Central Platte NRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island, Nebraska.

AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

-Water Quality & Quantity Violations  Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, will give an update on the Cease and Desist order sent to Richard Urban, Polk County, for failure to comply with the NRD’s Groundwater Management Rules and Regulations. Urban received an irrigation violation notification in January for the 2021 irrigation season.  Tricia Dudley, Water Quality Specialist, will request issuing Cease and Desist Orders to producers who are out of compliance with the NRD’s Nitrogen Management Program.

-Programs Committee  The Programs Committee will review and make a recommendation to the Board on an application submitted by the City of Lexington for the proposed Lexington Patriot Park and Pond. The 1.4-acre groundwater fed community pond and municipal park would feature an ADA accessible warm water fishery, a walking trail surrounded by native prairie pollinator habitat and an urban forest. The committee will also review and consider changes to the ranking priorities for the Urban Conservation Cost Share Program.

The Committee will also review and make a recommendation to the Board on applications received for the CPNRD-Ron Bishop Memorial Scholarship Program. Five (5) scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 per student for the 2022-2023 school year. Applicants must be a college junior, college senior, or 5th+ year student seeking a natural resources degree.

-Manager’s Report  Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, will report to the board. 

-Subdistrict Committee  The committee will discuss the composition of the Board of Directors.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service  Janelle Taubenheim, Resource Conservationist, will provide reports on the Kearney and Grand Island offices.

-Nebraska Association of Resources District  Jim Bendfeldt, CPNRD Representative, will report.

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

-2023 Proposed Budget  The Eastern, Western, Programs, Water Quality and Water Utilization committees will review proposed budgets for the 2023 fiscal year.

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

-June Board Meeting  The Board will consider moving their monthly June Board meeting to June 30th to accommodate board and staff members attending the Groundwater Management District Association Conference.