UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

June 28, 2010

O’Neill, Nebraska

CALL TO ORDER:

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order, statement of advertisement and open meeting law posting were all noted at 7:08 P.M. by Chairman Tim Knuth.

 

DIRECTORS PRESENT:

Jerry Childers               Chris Dierks                 James Dvorak               Curtis Gotschall                        Reg Green

Jerry Heithoff               Ted Hughes                  Tim Knuth                    Janet Koinzan                            Jeff Krebs

Mike Russman               Roy Stewart                 Dale Wiles      

                       

DIRECTORS ABSENT:

Gregg Felker                Jim Keller                   

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Dennis Schueth, General Manager

Tom Riley, Water Resources Manager

Kelly Kloppenborg, Water Resources Technician

Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator

Marsha Hart, Administrative Secretary

 

GUESTS PRESENT:

Jim Mathine, NRCS

Jesse Bradley, DNR

Brandi Flyr, DNR

Joel Klammer, North Central RC&D

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA:

]It was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to adopt the agenda.  AYE:  Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Dierks, Felker, Keller & Koinzan.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MINUTES:

The minutes of the May Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. [It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Jeff Krebs to approve the minutes of the May Meeting.  AYE:  Dvorak, Gotschall, Heithoff, Hughes, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  Childers, Green & Knuth.  ABSENT:  Dierks, Felker, Keller & Koinzan.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

TREASURERS REPORT:

The May treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors.  [It was moved by Roy Stewart and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the May Treasurers Report.  AYE:  Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  Childers & Knuth.  ABSENT:  Dierks, Felker, Keller & Koinzan.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

DNR – JESSE BRADLEY & BRANDI FLYR:

Jesse Bradley, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) gave a presentation on the Integrated Management Planning process and the effective management of hydrologically connected waters.  DNR is responsible for making annual evaluations of the river basins across the state.  If it is determined that the water supply is inadequate to satisfy junior surface water irrigation then a basin is labeled fully appropriated.  IMP plans are required for Basins which have been labeled fully appropriated.  Since each basin is different, IMP plans will be unique to their area.  Basins involved with State compacts or decrees will need to address these issues in their IMP plans.  These plans should focus on the best way to manage water as a single resource for immediate and long term uses.  DNR has increased their staff in an effort to provide the technical assistance needed to support the integrated management plan process.  When asked about acre certification and water banking, Jesse reported that DNR would be looking at actual water use in any determination versus potential water use.  If there were to be a water bank established, an entire basin would need to agree on how it was managed. 

 

DR. CHEN/SUE LACKEY, CONSERVATION SURVEY DIVISION UPDATE:

This report was postponed to a later date.

 

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE – UPDATE: 

Dennis Schueth handed out a statement from the Lower Niobrara NRD passed at their last board meeting.  There were some valid points discussed concerning the pipeline and the fact that it is being proposed to be built within the area of the Ogallala aquifer.  ]It was moved by Roy Stewart and seconded by Ted Hughes to send a letter in opposition of the Keystone XL pipeline being constructed in an area that could endanger the Ogallala aquifer and surrounding surface water.  AYE:  Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Hughes, Knuth, Krebs, Russman & Stewart.  NAY:  Childers, Green & Wiles.  ABSTAIN:  Heithoff & Koinzan.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

PUBLIC FORUM: 

No public business was brought before the UENRD Board.

 

AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:

NARD Report:  Ted Hughes reported that he was unable to attend the last meeting and the minutes were not available before the board meeting. 

 

DNR Report:  Dennis Schueth reported that he and Curtis Gotschall attended the Commission tour June 16th in the Lower Elkhorn NRD.  Dennis discussed the different locations that were toured which included Skyview Lake, Willow Creek SRA, Maple Creek Recreation Area, Battle Creek proposed project area, Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area and the LENRD tree distribution center.           

 

NRCS Report:  Jim Mathine, District Conservationist, introduced himself to the board.  Jim will be taking over for Jerry Kovarik.  Jim’s report was mailed out to the Directors and reviewed at the board meeting.  Updates were given on the CSP program, personnel and the all employees meeting scheduled for August 31st.       

 

RC&D Report:

North Central RC&D:  Minutes were distributed to the Directors.  Joel Klammer, RC&D Director, was present at the board meeting to highlight some of their activities.  Joel reported that they are participating in an electronics recycling grant, florescent bulb collection and they will be hosting the state meeting in October.  He also reported that the North Central RC&D has received the Circle of Diamonds award.

Loup Basin RC&D:  Minutes were distributed to the Directors.

Northeast RC&D:  Minutes were distributed to the Directors.       

 

Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets. 

 

Water Resources Report:  Tom Riley reported on the issues with the monitoring well pump and hose.  The hose has been replaced and things seem to working so they will be finishing up the CAFO wells.  Due to the flooding, the NRD has been testing private drinking water wells for bacteria.  Several have tested positive and the recommendation has been to shock the wells with chlorine.  The USGS geophysics team has been in the area surveying.  Due to the flooding, they are planning to come back and finish in July.  Tom passed out a report on the results from the NDEQ sampling and reported on the GMDA conference.  There is an ELM meeting scheduled for June 29.      

 

East Branch Verdigris Creek:  No Report

 

ELM Update:  The group will be meeting June 29 in Ord. 

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

[It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Chris Dierks to excuse the absence of Gregg Felker and Jim Keller.  AYE:  Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee:  The committee met prior to the board meeting to review the current bills.  [It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to approve the current bills for payment.  AYE:  Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Childers, Green & Koinzan.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

Water Resources and Watershed Committee:  The Committee met prior to the board meeting. 

GWMP & LB 483 Rules and Regulations:  Dennis Schueth reported that the staff has been moving forward with the draft GWMP Rules and Regulations and it is now time to consider them for publication.  Due to questions from the public, there were two new draft rules drawn up for consideration which was reviewed by the board.  The first dealt with the buying and selling of land and the second dealt with moving from surface water irrigation to groundwater irrigation.  [It was moved by Dale Wiles and seconded by Ted Hughes to include draft rule 1, regarding the sale of land, in the GWMP Rules and Regulations with a timeframe of 90 days.  AYE:  Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Childers, Green & Koinzan.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.   [It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Janet Koinzan to prepare the Groundwater Management Plan Rules and Regulations for publication.  AYE:  Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Green.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

GIS Workshop – Acre Certification:  Dennis Schueth reported that the staff would be contacting GIS Workshop regarding a proposal to generate a database for acre certification and possibly tying some of our current databases together.  [It was moved by Janet Koinzan and seconded by Jeff Krebs to obtain a bid from GIS Workshop for the acre certification database.  AYE:  Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

ELM-USGS- Phase II Report Database:  The group is moving forward with phase III but the model needs a better recharge system.  Dennis also reported on a proposed study with funding from the Bureau of Reclamation and DNR.  It seems that there were not very many letters of support for the study so it may not get funded.  [It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Janet Koinzan to send a letter of support for the Niobrara River Basin study grant proposed by the Department of Natural Resources.  AYE:  Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan & Wiles.  NAY:  Green, Krebs, Russman & Stewart.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Personnel, Equipment, Promotion & Education Committee:  The committee met prior to the board meeting and discussed the trade in of the 2000 Ford pickup.  [It was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to trade in the 2000 Ford Pickup and purchase a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup from Johnny Dodge in Neligh for the water quality program with funds coming from the NWQF.  AYE:  Dierks, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Childers.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Felker & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.  Building issues were also discussed and a tour was taken of the buildings and grounds.  Any repairs which may be needed will be discussed during upcoming budget periods.  The committee will meet again on July 14 for salary negotiations.

 

COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:

Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover):  No Report at this time.

Nebraska Ground Water Management Protection Act Coalition:  No Report at this time.

Lower Platte Basin Coalition Water Policy Task Force Meetings:  No Report at this time.

 

GMDA NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN FULLY APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION - ACTION:

No Report at this time.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:  Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.  A copy is included with the official copy of the minutes in the office. 

 

JULY BOARD MEETING:

The next board meeting will be held July 26, 2010 at the NRD office in O’Neill.     

  

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 P.M.