UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
March
24, 2008 -- 8:00 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 8:00 P.M. by
Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Jerry
Childers
Chris Dierks
James Dvorak
Gregg
Felker
Curtis Gotschall
Reg
Green
Jerry Heithoff
Ted Hughes
Tim Knuth
Janet Koinzan
Jeff
Krebs
Mike Russman Roy
Stewart
Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS ABSENT:
Jim
Keller
STAFF PRESENT:
Dennis
Schueth, General Manager
Tylr
Naprstek, Water Resources Manager
Beth
Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Marsha
Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS PRESENT:
Jerry
Kovarik – NRCS – O’Neill
Pat
O’Brien – NDEQ – Lincoln
Dick
Ehrman – NARD – Lincoln
Jan
Jorgensen – RC&D – Plainview
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Reg Green to adopt the agenda.
AYE: Childers,
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: Dvorak, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller & Russman.
MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the February Meeting were reviewed by the Directors.
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Reg Green to approve the minutes of
the February Meeting. AYE:
Childers, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Knuth, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Dierks,
Koinzan, Krebs & Russman. ABSENT:
Dvorak, Heithoff, Hughes & Keller.
MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS REPORT:
The
February treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors. ]It
was moved by Curtis Gotschall and seconded by Jerry Childers to approve the
February Treasurers Report. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dvorak, Heithoff, Hughes & Keller.
MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC
FORUM – INPUT:
None
Hughes, Dvorak and Heithoff arrived.
TMDL – PAT O’BRIEN, NDEQ &
DICK EHRMAN DEQ/NARD LIAISON:
Pat
O’Brien, NDEQ, discussed the data and information used to develop the TMDL’s
(Total Maximum Daily Loads) for the Elkhorn River Basin.
Pat explained their sampling procedures, identifying pollutants and
developing management plans to address the beneficial uses of Nebraska’s
surface water. At this time, e-coli
is the only TMDL impacting the Elkhorn River with in the Upper Elkhorn NRD
boundary. Dick Ehrman, NDEQ/NARD
Liaison, also stressed the importance of NRD’s including TMDL’s in any
current or future management activities.
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD Report:
Ted Hughes was unable to attend the last NARD board meeting.
DNR Report:
Dennis
Schueth reported that Ann Bleed, Department of Natural Resources Director has
resigned from her position. Brian
Dunnigan has been named interim Director until the position can be filled.
NRCS Report:
Jerry
Kovarik reported that EQIP
will be coming to an end with no more funding. NRCS is still waiting for a
new farmbill; while, the old one has been extended until April 18th. If
congress cannot come to an agreement on the proposed farmbill, they will extend
the existing farmbill until 2009. They are also very busy completing
sodbuster determinations in Antelope Co.
RC&D Report:
North
Central RC&D:
Jan Jorgensen, Interim Coordinator, reported that they are advertising
for a new coordinator. She also
commented that they miss the interaction with the NRD and would like to work
with them again on future projects.
Loup
Basin RC&D:
Minutes passed around.
Northeast
RC&D:
Jan Jorgensen, Coordinator for the Northeast Nebraska RC&D, handed
out their annual report and highlighted many of their activities.
Jan also announced that Bud Knuth, UENRD Representative, has been elected
Chairman of the RC&D Council.
Information & Education Report:
Beth Walsh’s report was
mailed out in the Directors packets. Beth reported that she has received the statewide Envirothon
Competition results. Neligh-Oakdale
High School, from the Upper Elkhorn NRD, did win the Northeast Nebraska regional
competition and have been invited to the State Competition.
There is also a possibility that another school from the District could
be invited depending on the RSVP’s.
Water Resources Report:
Tylr Naprstek’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.
Tylr highlighted his report, which included an update on nitrogen
certification, phase II reports, Hong Chen study, the Environmental Trust grant
and well registrations. He also
reported that he and Kelly Kloppenborg have been installing rain gauges at the
transducer sites across the district.
EBVC
Update: Dennis
Schueth reported that there was a handout in the Directors folders from Phil
Steinkamp reviewing the best management practices program for the East Branch
Verdigre Creek area. He also
reported that he and Marsha Hart have been working on the Environmental Trust
Grant report.
ELM Update:
Tylr Naprstek reported on the ELM meeting he attended on March 18.
Steve Peterson, who has been working on the model and analyzing data
revealed a map depicting the potential 10/50 line for the UENRD.
Tylr shared this map with the Directors explaining that it is projected
out 50 years into the future. The
model is predicting a decline in surface water at the headwaters of the Elkhorn
River, which in turn shows a decline in the hydrologically connected surface
water and groundwater of the area. Steve
Peterson, USGS, is planning to attend the April board meeting to review the
modeling with the Directors and staff.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
]It
was moved by Chris Dierks and seconded by Jerry Childers to excuse the absence
of Jim Keller. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes,
Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: Keller. MOTION
CARRIED.
At
this time Ted Hughes made a special presentation honoring Dennis Schueth for 20
years of service to the Upper Elkhorn NRD.
Dennis was presented with a large Deer Print and thanked for all his hard
work and dedication to the district.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative, Finance and Planning:
Action on Current bills and Cost
Share Requests: The
Committee reviewed the current bills. ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the current bills
for payment. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes,
Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: Keller. MOTION
CARRIED. They
also reviewed a cost share application. ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Mike Russman to approve the cost share
application. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes,
Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: Keller. MOTION
CARRIED.
Water
Resources & Watershed:
Dale
Wiles reported that the committee met prior to the board meeting and discussed
the NRD Map Maker program. ]It
was moved by Gregg Felker and seconded by Tim Knuth to approve the purchase of
the NRD Map Maker program for $4000 with funds from the Nebraska Water Quality
Fund. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan,
Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
Dierks & Heithoff. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT:
Keller. MOTION CARRIED.
The Committee is continuing their work on the GWMP and have scheduled a
meeting for April 16. Dennis
Schueth reviewed some of his correspondence regarding the Niobrara River, which
included their concerns over recreation and fish habitat.
He also went over his correspondence with the DNR regarding the Nebraska
Kansas battle.
COALITION/TASK
FORCE UPDATE:
Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition
(Piping Plover): There is a meeting
scheduled for April 1.
Nebraska Ground Water Management
Protection Act Coalition:
No Report.
Lower Platte River Basin Coalition
– Request:
Dennis Schueth reported on the March 21 meeting.
Game & Parks commented that they feel there are a lot of diversions
from the stream through irrigation and if the irrigation was shut off the
streams would begin flowing. However,
this has yet to be proven. G&P
feels that the NRD’s have not managed groundwater properly causing reductions
in streamflows. Another item that
was discussed, occurred when a half dozen other organizations asked to partner
with this coalition to review Dr. Peters study.
Dennis explained that Dr. Peter’s study was peer reviewed but it was
never reviewed again after the questions and comments were to be addressed by
the parties involved. Partnering
with these other groups could provide a portion of the funding needed to have
the final study reviewed again to see if all the original questions were
addressed. The Coalition also had a
presentation from the Fish & Wildlife Service regarding the creation of a
habitat conservation plan. Dennis
also discussed the reasonable prudent alternatives aspect of G&P giving
their opinion regarding new water uses.
Water Policy Task Force:
No
Report.
NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN FULLY
APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION – ACTION:
Dennis
Schueth reported that he has received word from the attorney that this issue
will be addressed sometime in October.
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. Dennis
passed out a summary of this years tree sales, which are down considerably from
last year. Weed mulch for the 2008
season is also down approximately 40%. Dennis also reviewed a complaint from a cooperator in
Antelope County regarding a neighboring runoff issue.
The
next board meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2008.
There
being no further business to come before the Board of Directors, the meeting was
adjourned at 10:20 PM.