UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
March 28, 2011 -- 2:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER, STATEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENT AND OPEN MEETING LAW NOTIFICATION:
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 2:35 P.M. by Chairman Tim Knuth.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Scott Beckman Jerry Childers Chris Dierks James Dvorak Gregg Felker
Reg Green Jerry Heithoff Ted Hughes Jim Keller Tim Knuth
Mike Russman Roy Stewart Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS ABSENT:
Curtis Gotschall Jeff Krebs
STAFF PRESENT:
Dennis Schueth, General Manager
Tom Riley, Water Resources Manager
Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Marsha Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS PRESENT:
Andy Keep – NRCS – Neligh
Rod Bergman- Ewing
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
]It was moved by Chris Dierks and seconded by Jim Keller to adopt the agenda. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the February Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. ]It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Gregg Felker to approve the minutes of the February Meeting. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS REPORT:
The February treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors. ]It was moved by Chris Dierks and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the February Treasurers Report. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD Report: Ted Hughes reported that he attended the quarterly NARD Board meeting. They elected the same officers, looked at the new office space and discussed the settlement of the Mohler case. Ted also explained that the Association is considering not attending Husker Harvest Days this year and instead focusing on the State Fair. This is due in part to the increased event fees and possible space location. Dennis Schueth reported on the latest determination regarding Diggers Hotline. If a contractor is only going down two feet into the soil then notification is not required. Any disturbance deeper than two feet would require notification to Diggers Hotline.
DNR Report: No Report.
NRCS Report: Jim Mathine’s report was mailed out to the Directors. Andy Keep, Neligh NRCS, highlighted the Conservation Stewardship Program and verification process they are working through. He discussed the Environmental Quality Incentive Program contracts and the fact that there are more requests than there is funding. Andy also reviewed the CRP program, the incentive rates, different conservation practices used in this area and the impacts of the Endangered Species Act.
RC&D Report:
North Central RC&D: Updates are e-mailed to the Directors.
Loup Basin RC&D: Updates are e-mailed to the Directors.
Northeast RC&D: Updates are e-mailed to the Directors.
Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets. It was noted that there will be a Personnel, Equipment, Promotion and Education Committee meeting in April to review the scholarship applications.
Water Resources Report: Tom Riley’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets. Tom handed out and reviewed the Phase 2 information that has been collected. Tom reviewed the 2011 nitrogen certification process and reported that there are approximately 250 cooperators who still need to be certified or have not turned in their water samples as part of the requirement. Tom also reported on the water conference which he and Kelly Kloppenborg attended. We will be starting the static water level readings and doing some testing for atrazine in regard to a project being sponsored by UNO. Tom also reported that we will be receiving some testing supplies from UNL for this project.
EBVC Update: No Report.
ELM Update: No Report.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
]It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Ted Hughes to excuse the absence of Curtis Gotschall and Jeff Krebs. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC FORUM – INPUT:
No Comments.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative, Finance and Planning:
Action on Current bills and Cost Share Requests: The Committee met and reviewed the current bills. ]It was moved by Scott Beckman and seconded by Jerry Childers to approve the current bills for payment. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
USDA-CRP, UENRD Signatures Required: They also discussed the procedure for the UENRD to sign-off on USDA-CRP plans. ]It was moved by Scott Beckman and seconded by Roy Stewart to adopt option #3 for the entire district submitted by Tom Chohon from the Ainsworth field office. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
Water Resources & Watershed:
Discussion/Approval on Ground Water Acre Transfers for March 2011: Gregg Felker reported that the Committee reviewed the requests for the transfer of groundwater irrigated acres submitted for March 2011. ]It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Jerry Heithoff to approve the March 2011 requests for groundwater irrigated acre transfers. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED. The Committee also discussed the procedure for approving groundwater irrigated acre transfers. The procedure will follow the guidelines adopted in the UENRD Groundwater Management Plan Rules and Regulations.
UNL Conservation Survey Division Aquifer Study - IWMPP: The meeting held in Norfolk between the UENRD, LENRD and Conservation & Survey Division regarding the streambed conductivity study was reviewed. There was discussion regarding the continuation of the study. ]It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Dale Wiles to continue funding the study in FY 11-12 and FY 12-13 totaling $12,000. AYE: Childers, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: Beckman, Dierks & Dvorak. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
Infra-Red Aerial Photography: The Committee discussed the use of infra-red photography for identifying irrigated acres and land use for the upcoming certification of acres. The staff has been instructed to gather more information and report back to the Committee.
Natural Resources Enhancement Fund Budget: This UENRD received word that we will be receiving additional funds. The staff will be updating the Natural Resources Enhancement Fund budget and it will be discussed at the next Committee meeting.
Lower Elkhorn & Upper Elkhorn NRD Basin Workshop March 24, 2011: The LENRD and UENRD met and discussed basin issues on March 24. One of the items brought forward from the meeting was the Willow Creek Watershed project. The LENRD has been finding phosphorous in the Willow Creek watershed and are going to begin routine testing of the watershed. Since a portion of the watershed does lie within the UENRD, we will help sample the area within the UENRD while we are out doing our own nitrate sampling.
COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:
Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover): No Report.
Nebraska Ground Water Management Protection Act Coalition: No Report
Lower Platte River Basin Coalition: Dennis Schueth reported that the Coalition will be meeting with the Game & Parks to discuss the tracking of water and the effects on instream flow. They have also been discussing voluntary IMP development.
NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN FULLY APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION – ACTION:
No report.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets and a copy is kept on file at the NRD office. These items were already covered in the agenda. Water for Food conference information was handed out.
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 25, 2011.
There being no further business to come before the Board of Directors, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 PM.