GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – The Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) Board of Directors will consider approval of the 2025 fiscal budget of expenditures for the public hearing to be held on the same day as the July board meeting. The levy will be set at the August board meeting.

The June Board meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the Central Platte NRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island, NE.

OTHER AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

Proposed Office/Education Center  After four years of planning, the Board will review seven bids for the proposed office and education center and consider the Building Committee's recommendation. The bidding process for the proposed building, which would be located at the Prairie Silver Moores Flood Reduction Project northwest of Grand Island, was initiated in January.

The education center would offer both indoor and outdoor learning experiences, demonstrating the relationship between water, forests, grasslands, and soil. The outdoor sites will provide hands-on learning opportunities that complement topics presented at the indoor learning center. These sites would feature wetlands, walking trails, windbreaks, pollinator habitats, irrigation and crop demonstrations, monitoring wells, and other educational resources.

The center could host workshops and training sessions for agricultural producers, groundwater technicians, well drillers, and students to learn how to sample and test wells, use irrigation equipment, earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and explore new technology and research.

Agreements  The Board will consider the Budget Committee’s recommendations on an agreement to retain engineering services to assist with the COHYST Modflow 6 project model updates and a rate increase with Water Strategies for lobbying and federal representation services effective July 1, 2024.

Nitrogen Program Violations  Tricia Dudley, Water Quality Specialist, will request Cease and Desist orders for producers and landowners in Phases II or III of the Ground Water Quality Management Program who are not in compliance with the NRD’s rules and regulations.

Violations occur when producers do not submit annual crop reports or fail to provide required water and soil samples or fail to keep up their Nitrogen certification requirements.

Variance Request  Review and consider an appeal request for a variance from a landowner in Merrick County.

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

Eastern Projects Committee  Jesse Mintken, Assistant Manager, will give an update on the Wood River Flood Control Project levy.

-Groundwater Levels  Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, will report on the spring 2024 static groundwater level results along with a comparison of the groundwater levels in 1982. The 1982 levels were established as the standard for the NRD’s Groundwater Management Plan with maximum acceptable declines and a margin of safety calculated for each of the District’s 24 Ground Water Management Areas (GWMA). 

Tree Report   Kelly Cole, Administrative Assistant, will report on the number of trees sold through the NRD Conservation Tree Program and the miles of fabric weed barrier sold in 2024.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Report  Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, 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.

Upcoming Board Meetings  July 25, August 29, September 26
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.