UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

May 21, 2007

O’Neill, Nebraska

 

 

CALL TO ORDER, STATEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENT AND OPEN MEETING LAW NOTIFICATION:

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 8:15 P.M. by Chairman Jerry Heithoff.

 

DIRECTORS PRESENT:

Chris Dierks                 Gregg Felker               Curtis Gotschall                      Reg Green               Jerry Heithoff

Ted Hughes                  Tim Knuth                   Janet Koinzan                          Jeff Krebs                 Mike Russman

Roy Stewart                 Dale Wiles  

                       

DIRECTORS ABSENT:

Jerry Childers               James Dvorak              Jim Keller              

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Dennis Schueth, General Manager

Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator

Tylr Naprstek, Water Resources Manager

 

GUESTS PRESENT:

Jerry Kovarik, NRCS O’Neill

 

MINUTES:

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

 

TREASURERS REPORT:

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

 

PUBLIC FORUM-INPUT:

No one from the public wished to address the UENRD Board.

 

AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:

NARD Report:  Ted Hughes reported that the Insurance Committee would be meeting May 22 but he would be unable to attend; however, Marsha Hart will be attending the meeting.  Ted updated the Board on the situation with the lawsuit in Colorado, which would have been settled accept that a filing deadline was missed and now the issue must be addressed again by the Colorado court.  Ted also reported that he attended the State Envirothon at Fort Robinson.  Ted represented the NARD along with Senator Louden in handing out the Envirothon awards.  Dennis Schueth reported on the State’s proposed budget, which does not appear at this time to affect the NRD’s and the cost share funding for the upcoming fiscal year.  He also reported on LB 701 and the questions regarding funding.   

 

DNR Report:  There has not been a meeting since Garry Anderson’s last report.

 

NRCS Report:  Jerry Kovarik reported that they are finishing up EQIP contracts, they have nine left.  Whitney Haraguchi, the student trainee from Hawaii joined the O’Neill NRCS staff May 14; and, Shelly Taylor will be assisting in the Ainsworth office part-time throughout the summer.  Joe Fuchtman, has accepted a job in Hanover, Virginia and will be leaving the first week in June.  It is likely to be October or November before Joe’s position is filled.   Jerry also reported that the O’Neill NRCS office would be hosting the 2007 State Range Judging contest and they are looking at Brown County as a potential site.  O’Neill will be hosting an area range contest in 2008.    

 

RC&D Report:

North Central RC&D:  Minutes were passed around. 

Loup Basin RC&D:  Minutes were passed around.

Northeast RC&D:  Minutes were passed around.   

 

Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.  Beth reported that the UENRD has received 3 range camp grant applications, 2 from Holt County and 1 from Antelope County.  Once each applicant has met the criteria they will be awarded a $100 scholarship. 

 

Water Resources Report:  Tylr Naprstek’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.  Tylr discussed the deployment of the transducers and explained the data in the director’s packets.  He reported on the Chen study to analyze the streambed conductivity and vertical hydraulic conductivity.  Tylr attended an ELM meeting and reported on the modeling status, possibility of a grant for the project and well locations and their impact on the study.  He also reported on the livestock waste facility sampling, installation of district operated rain gauges, flowmeter cost share and well permits.  On another note, Tylr reported that the work we are doing with the Chen Study might compliment a study Steve Pederson is proposing regarding streambed conductivity and could be used as inkind match for an Environmental Trust Grant.   

 

EBVC Update:  No Report. 

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

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

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee:  The committee met prior to the board meeting to review the current bills, cost share requests and cost share programs.  [It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Tim Knuth to require a flowmeter installation on NC-17 Nozzle Conversions; and, require the flowmeter data to be recorded and submitted to the UENRD for the period of the cost share contract or 10 years.  This would begin with the new cost share allocation July 1, 2007.  AYE:  Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.  Discussion was held on various issues surrounding flowmeters, the information generated from them and how to record and submit such data.  [It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to establish a local cost share fund to cost share 50% on internet monitoring systems to work in conjunction with NC-17 Nozzle Conversion flowmeter requirements not to exceed $450 per unit for the initial year.  AYE:  Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Dierks & Felker.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.  Discussion was held regarding the different technology available and what would work the best for recording data.  [It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Roy Stewart to pay the current bills.  AYE:  Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.  The cost share applications were reviewed before the board meeting.  [It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to approve the current cost share applications pending funding.  AYE:  Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Dierks.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Water Resources & Watershed Committee:  The committee met prior to the board meeting.  Dale Wiles reported that the committee has been working on the UENRD groundwater quantity plan rules and triggering mechanisms.  [It was moved by Dale Wiles and seconded by Tim Knuth for NRD staff to take the Water Resources Committee constructed draft of the Groundwater Quantity Rules and Plan to DNR for review, recommendations and potential application as an integrated management plan.  AYE:  Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman & Wiles.  NAY:  Dierks.  ABSTAIN:  Stewart.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.  The Committee has also discussed expenditures regarding the Natural Resources Enhancement Fund.  [It was moved by Dale Wiles and seconded by Gregg Felker to allocate the remainder of the Natural Resources Enhancement Fund to purchase additional automated rain gauges to be used  in  conjunction with flowmeters, replace the projector and a computer.  AYE:  Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  Dierks.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak & Keller.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Personnel, Equipment, Promotion & Education Committee:  The committee met prior to the board meeting to set the date for salary review and recommendations.  They will be meeting on June 19, 2007.  

 

NSWCP-NC 17 IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT-FLOWMETER REQUIREMENT:

This item was covered earlier in the meeting.

 

NIOBRARA RIVER ISSUES:

Dennis Schueth handed out a summary of the Niobrara River issues and concerns.  As it stands now, NPPD is not receiving their total allocation of water on the Niobrara River so DNR has issued approximately 400 administrative letters ordering landowners to stop pumping.  This has raised many questions and concerns regarding the Niobrara River and surrounding water users.  Landowners are confused at to why they would wait until after their crops are planted only to inform them that they will not be able to irrigate unless NPPD’s water right is being met.  NPPD is however willing to lease water to landowners for 70 cents per acre foot.  Dennis handed out a map showing the area that could be impacted within the UENRD if the Niobrara Basin would be labeled fully appropriated based on the 10/50 line.  Currently there are over 590 irrigation wells within the area.  Dennis will keep the directors informed on this issue. 

 

HOLT CREEK DRAINAGE UPDATE:

No update at this time.

 

COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:

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

Pallid Sturgeon/Sturgeon Chub Task Force:  No Report.

Nebraska Ground Water Management Protection Act Coalition:  No Report.

Water Policy Task Force Meetings:  No Report.

 

NARD-LOWER PLATTE BASIN TOUR (JUNE 18-19, 2007):

This information is in the director’s packets.  Anyone wishing to attend should contact the office.    

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:  Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets and kept on file in the NRD office.     

 

 

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 P.M.