GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – The Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) Board of Directors will consider approval of the Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act at their November 16th Board of Directors meeting. The Rules and Regulations have been updated to align with CPNRD’s Groundwater Management Plan to manage groundwater quality and quantity. A public hearing on the changes will be held at 1:45 p.m. ahead of the Board meeting.

AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

-Prescribed Fire Program  The Programs Committee will review proposed rate changes to the Prescribed Fire Program and take their recommendation to the Board of Directors for consideration. The Program started in 2004 to introduce prescribed fire as a regular range management activity, with the objective that landowners would take over leadership once they had the training and experience.  Most of the prescribed burns for landowners vary from around 20 acres up to 160 acres. The current subsidized rate was for educational purposes and is outdated since costs have risen. The current rate is $10 per acre for the first 40 acres and $5 per acre above 40 acres. The minimum charge is $300 per burn.

-Auditor Report  Jake Klabenes, CPA Audit Director of Lutz Accounting, will present the 2022/2023 audit. The board will consider action on the audit.

-Crane Viewing Site Construction  The Board will consider bids submitted for the Alda Crane Viewing Site Improvements. The site is located two miles south of the I-80 Exit 305 along the Platte River. Construction will include replacing the existing trail with a new 1,047-foot-long, 10' wide, 6" thick, concrete recreational trail. The site’s three existing gravel parking lots will be paved with 8” thick concrete to make the area fully ADA accessible. The 30-year-old wooden viewing platform and a portion of the Quartzite riprap will be replaced.

CPNRD will provide a 20% match to the $250,000 received through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. CPNRD also received $75,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (NET) to be used exclusively for repairs on the streambank near the deck.

The crane deck provides a safe area for the public to view Sandhill and Whooping cranes as they migrate through Nebraska in the spring. In the mid 1990’s, CPNRD was a partner in building the site to increase public safety by reducing the extra in-flow of traffic and cars parking on nearby county roads, which are heavily used by residents. The site also increases public awareness of Nebraska’s Platte River wildlife. Learn more about Central Platte NRD’s crane viewing sites by calling (308) 385-6282 or by visiting www.cpnrd.org/conservation/crane-viewing.

-Managers Report  Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, will report.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service  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  December 21, January 25, February 22

Central Platte NRD’s Board of Directors meetings are held at 2:00 p.m. at the CPNRD office located at 215 Kaufman Ave in Grand Island.