August 21, 2019

Lincoln, Neb. – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) Board of Directors has given final approval to a Fiscal Year 2020 Budget.  The approval on Wednesday, followed public hearings on August 15 and other opportunities for public input since mid-June. Board Treasurer Dan Steinkruger said, “The budget continues our commitment to existing projects like Lincoln’s Deadmans Run Flood Reduction Project and other flood control measures including channel and dam maintenance throughout the district. Other priorities include tallgrass prairie restoration along the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch, tree planting, water quality priorities and educational programs. The budget continues cost share assistance to landowners for conservation improvements.”   

The budget includes $1.7 million of LPSNRD’s total $7.5 million multi-year commitment to the Deadmans Run Flood Reduction Project.  The design phase is expected to continue through 2020. The project will remove about 500 homes and businesses from the 100-year floodplain. LPSNRD is a partner in the $25 million project, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Lincoln.

The $31,218,920 budget of revenues and expenditures supports many other programs and projects to manage and protect natural resources through next June. With increased property valuations across the district’s six-county area, the budget’s property tax requirement is $10,156,870, up 5% from FY 2019. The tax levy of $0.030894 per $100 of actual valuation, however, is slightly less than in FY 2019.

LPSNRD, the City of Lincoln and several other agencies and groups are involved in the acquisition of conservation easements/land for the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch Project, a 10-mile tall grass prairie preservation trail corridor between Lincoln’s Pioneers Park, Conestoga Lake and Spring Creek Prairie, near Denton. LPSNRD and the City of Lincoln approved a 20-year agreement for the project in 2018 and LPSNRD has already developed a main component, the Steifel-Johnson Trailhead, near SW 84^th Street and Old Cheney Road. The new budget includes $1.6 million for the project.

The budget for urban stormwater management is $4 million, for operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities, $4.9 million and for construction and maintenance of flood control dams, $2.3 million.  Continued updating of Lincoln’s Salt Creek Levee, which protects many businesses and neighborhoods from flooding, is approximately a $1.5 million budget item. About $1.3 million is in the budget for cost-sharing with landowners who install improvements to their land that control erosion and improve surface water quality.  Nearly $1 million is set aside for the management of ground water. 

The complete budget and other budget information are available at LPSNRD.org.  

In other action, the Board:

• Approved 116 applications from landowners for fall and summer field conservation improvements, such as terraces and grassed waterways, totaling $1.1 million
• Modified the LPSNRD Cover Crop Program to allow participation by tenants/operators
• Approved a professional services agreement with Red Thread advertising agency for the production of educational/informational videos
• Reviewed and accepted the 2018 Annual Integrated Management Plan Report, which outlines LPSNRD and Nebraska Department of Natural Resources actions over the last year toward goals specified in the Integrated Management Plan
• Amended an agreement with the Lower Platte North NRD to conduct a phase 2 ground water verification study for Ashland
• Approved a professional services agreement with EA Engineering & Science Technology, Inc. to begin work on phase 2 ground water verification studies for Raymond and Ashland ($212,700)
• Approved purchasing the principal spillway pipe for the rehabilitation of Oak-Middle Dam 82-B, three miles east of Bee, upon recommendation by NRCS. 

The public is encouraged to attend the next meeting of the LPSNRD Board of Directors, Wednesday, September 18, 2019, starting at 7:00 PM at the NRD office, 3125 Portia Street, in Lincoln. An agenda will be posted one week prior to the meeting at LPSNRD.org.