Central Platte NRD to Hold Hearing September 29th on Groundwater Exchange Program

(GRAND ISLAND, NE) The Central Platte Natural Resources District will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Groundwater Exchange Rules & Regulations at 1:50 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at the Central Platte NRD (CPNRD) office, 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island.  The proposed changes would expand the Exchange Program to include the Loup Basin within the District and add definition of terms.  The CPNRD board of directors monthly meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., directly following the public hearing.  If approved, the Groundwater Exchange pre-approval process for buyers and sellers would take place from October 3-November 23.  The online Exchange would take place December 1-9, so that producers would have time to plan for spring planting.

OTHER ACTION/AGENDA ITEMS:

-Crane Viewing  Two requests will be presented regarding crane viewing.  The first is a partnership request in the amount of $5,000 with Audubon at Lillian Rowe Sanctuary to redevelop the crane viewing parking/pull off area in Gibbon, NE.  The other request is from the Grand Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for funding towards an economic impact study of the annual crane migration in Central Nebraska.

-Platte River Program  Mark Czaplewski, biologist, will report on the proposed 13-year extension of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program.

-Sediment & Erosion Plan  Jesse Mintken, assistant manager, will present proposed changes to the NRD’s Sediment and Erosion Plan.

-School Land Easement Request  Lyndon Vogt, general manager, will present a request from the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds regarding an easement in to implement a wetland in Buffalo County.

-NRCS District Liaison Announcement  James Huntwork, former CPNRD District liaison, will announce the new District liaison.  Huntwork is now the ASTC/Field Operations for the Central Area Natural Resources Conservation Service.

-PSM/Monarch Habitat Project   Jesse Mintken, assistant manager, will give an update on an upcoming bid letting for the Upper Prairie/Silver/Moores (PSM) Flood Control Project.  Mintken will also discuss a Monarch Habitat project with the Grand Island Senior High Success Academy, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, and Pheasants Forever.

-Cost Share The board will consider cost share applications through the Central Platte NRD Cost Share Program and the Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Program.

-Other  As develops prior to the meeting.

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  [CPNRD Logosm]

  Marcia Lee
  Information/Education Specialist

  Central Platte Natural Resources District
  215 Kaufman Ave  Grand Island NE 68803
  Tel: (308) 385-6282  www.cpnrd.org

  Protecting Lives • Protecting Property • Protecting the Future