(GRAND ISLAND, NE) The Central Platte Natural Resources District’s board of directors voted to delay action on their proposal to move southern Hall and northern Hamilton counties (south of the Platte River) from a Phase I to a Phase II Groundwater Management Area. Three landowners testified at the public hearing held just prior to the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday.  Their testimony will be reviewed and action will be considered at the January 21, 2016 board of directors meeting. The board proposed the change due to increasing nitrate levels in those areas.  The CPNRD’s Groundwater Quality Rules & Regulations require areas with nitrate level concentrations of 7.6 to 15 parts per million (ppm) to be placed in a Phase II area.  Maps of the proposed areas and the Rules and Regulations are available for download on the NRD’s website at: www.cpnrd.org and available at the CPNRD office.

ACTION TAKEN:

-Feasibility Study with Lower Loup NRD- Approved a team proposal from HDR, JEO Consulting Group and the Flatwater Group to research the feasibility of designing and potential development of a groundwater recharge/water quality project in the Wood River and South Loup drainage systems. The LLNRD had taken the same action recently and will provide 50 percent of the cost of the study.

-Snagging & Clearing- Discontinued the Snagging & Clearing Program with current requests and projects to be completed by July 1, 2017. 

-Johnson Lake Request- Approved a request in the amount of $500 for two years from the Johnson Lake Hike & Bike Trail Association to finish seeding the trail.  Tri-Basin NRD will seed the trail in the spring of 2016 and 2017.

-Audit Report- Approved the 2014/2015 audit report as presented by Allison Petr, McDermott & Miller.

-Cost Share- The board approved 15 cost share applications in the amount of $74,250.73 for well decommissioning, center pivot incentive, flow meters, underground pipeline to pivot, prescribed burn, tree planting, brush management, and grassland conservation.

-2016 Election- The Nominating Subcommittee submitted recommendations for board officers: Barry Obermiller for board secretary and Charles Maser for board treasurer, with action to be taken in January.  It was also reported that the incumbent filing deadline is February 16, 2016 and non-incumbent deadline is March 1, 2016.

-Platte River Program- Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported the following on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program’s Governance Committee (GC).
   -Approved 2016 budget for $24.9 milion, water-related components comprising of $18 million. 

  -Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (CNPPID) provided an update on development of their J2 Reservoir Project, since the cost estimate was updated to $170 million in September.  The GC authorized renegotiation of the Project agreement for a smaller, single reservoir within the Program’s existing budget. 

  -Discussed tentative plans proposed by Tri-Basin and Lower Republican NRD’s for a transbasin diversion of Platte River flows (excess to targets); exploring the possibility of transferring approximately 40 cfs of water to the Republican River from Central’s supply canal via Turkey Creek. Many details are yet to be worked out, including any arrangement with CNPPID to make such diversions from their system.

-COHYST- Duane Woodward, hydrologist, reported on the Robust Review of the Cooperative Hydrology Study.  He reported that model documentation is complete and is being used for conjunctive management decisions, such as irrigation canal projects with NPPD, CNPPID and Tri-Basin NRD.

-NRCS Report- James Huntwork, USDA-NRCS district liaison, reported on an informational meeting featuring Dr. Alvin Smucker, Michigan State University, on Subsurface Water Retention Technology (SWRT) that was held at the CPNRD.  A portion of SWRT research being conducted by Dr. Smucker is funded using an NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG).  NRCS is conducting initial soils investigations to determine research site suitability and plans to work with partners and local producers to assess and investigate opportunities for SWRT testing in Nebraska. 

-Conservation/Service Awards- Lt. Governor Mike Foley and Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen were in attendance as landowners Tim Williams, Lindley Thatcher and Bart Beattie received recognition for their water, soil, and grassland conservation efforts.  Staff service awards were also presented to Shelly Lippincott, field office secretary for 15 years of service; and Dean Krull, UNL/CPNRD demo project coordinator for 35 years of service.

Upcoming Events:

-January 21- The January board of directors meeting will be held a week early on Thursday, January 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

-February 4- CPNRD will host a Winter Information Meeting at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds from 9:30-2:00 p.m.  Lunch will be provided.

-February 15- CPNRD office will be closed to observe Presidents Day.

-February 25- CPNRD board of directors meeting.

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  Marcia Lee
  Information/Education Specialist

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