UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

October 24, 2011 -- 8:00 P.M.

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 8:14 P.M. by Chairman Tim Knuth.

 

DIRECTORS PRESENT:

Scott Beckman              Chris Dierks                 Curtis Gotschall            Reg Green                    Ted Hughes

Jim Keller                    Tim Knuth                    Jeff Krebs                     Mike Russman               Roy Stewart

Dale Wiles

           

DIRECTORS ABSENT:    

Jerry Childers               Jake Dvorak                  Gregg Felker                Jerry Heithoff                          

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Dennis Schueth, General Manager

Tom Riley, Water Resources Manager

Kelly Kloppenborg, Water Resources Technician

Beth Walsh, Information & Education/Chemigation Coordinator

Marsha Hart, Administrative Secretary

 

GUESTS PRESENT:

Jim Mathine – NRCS – Butte                            Jon Kenning, NDEQ – Lincoln

Dan Waldow – Creighton                                  David Miesbach, NDEQ – Lincoln

Jack Fuchtman – Creighton                                Pat O’Brien, NARD – Lincoln

Ryan Chapman, NDEQ – Lincoln

 

AGENDA:

]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Reg Green  to approve the amended agenda with corrected meeting date.  AYE:  Beckman, Dierks, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak, Felker & Heithoff.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MINUTES:

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

 

TREASURERS REPORT:

]It was moved by Roy Stewart and seconded by Chris Dierks to approve the September Treasurers Report.  AYE:  Beckman, Dierks, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak, Felker & Heithoff.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

PUBLIC FORUM-INPUT:

Bill Sitz – NRD Boundary Line Discussion:  Dennis Schueth explained to the board that he has received a request to transfer groundwater irrigation rights between the UENRD and LLNRD and the potential to change NRD boundary lines.  A map of the Level 10 hydrologic Units was handed out for the board to review.  Upon explaining that the NRD has not allowed this type of transfer, Mr. Bill Sitz brought up the fact that he is actually in the Cedar Creek watershed that drains to the LLNRD.  They are gathering information to present to the board possibly at the November board meeting. 

 

NDEQ – DAVE MEISBACH AND PAT O’BRIEN:

Dave Meisbach discussed his background with the UENRD and his role at the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the monitoring of large livestock facilities.  Title 130, which are the regulations for animal feeding operations, authorizes DEQ to monitor livestock facilities for point source pollution.  This would include lagoons, monitoring wells, soil sampling and waste application.  Dave discussed the various ways they monitor livestock waste facilities and how they can determine potential contamination. 

 

AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:

NARD Report:  Ted Hughes reported that they met following the NARD annual conference in Kearney.  Some of the highlights included reviewing the audit and looking into putting up a building at Husker Harvest Days.  Their next meeting will be in Gothenberg in November.  They also held a Risk Pool meeting.  Ted reported that the financial statements are very positive with approximately $600,000 being generated annually.  Conference is scheduled for January 24 & 25, 2012 at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln, NACD Conference January 29-February 1 in Las Vegas, and the Washington D.C. conference will be held March 11-14, 2012. 

 

DNR Report:  No Report

 

NRCS Report:  Jim Mathine’s report was sent out to the Directors prior to the board meeting.  Jim highlighted the Area 4 Range Judging held near Emmet; the NRCS budget continuing resolution; the high number of wetland determination requests; and, the retirement of Jan Jorgensen and Donna Wright

 

RC&D Report:

North Central RC&D:  Minutes were distributed to the Directors.     

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 Director’s packets.  Beth also handed out the results of the Area 4 Range Judging contest and a list of the projects and programs sponsored by the NARD.      

 

Water Resources Report:  Tom Riley’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.  Tom discussed the status of the nitrate readings; the date from ET gauges which have been collected and are still being downloaded; static water levels and flowmeter readings.  Tom has also downloaded the census data and updated the sub-district map for the election of board of directors.  There will be no changes to the UENRD subdistricts.  Tom and Dennis attended the Elm meeting October 19 to discuss the plans for Phase III and the limited funding for the project.  Tom also attended the spatial interpolation methods workshop sponsored by Dr. Chen, UNL Conservation & Survey Division.      

 

EBVC Update:  None. 

 

ELM:  Reported earlier. 

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

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

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Legislative, Budget and Finance Committee:  The Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee met prior to the Board meeting and reviewed the current bills.  ]It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Jeff Krebs to approve the current bills for payment.  AYE:  Beckman, Dierks, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak, Felker & Heithoff.  MOTION CARRIED.  The Committee also reviewed the Operations Policy and will be making recommendations to the rest of the board at an upcoming meeting.   

 

Water Resources & Watershed Committee: 

Northeast Antelope Water Issues Meeting Update:  A joint meeting between the UENRD, LNNRD, L&CNRD and NDEQ has been scheduled for 3:00 on October 25 in Creighton.  A meeting with all interested parties regarding the water quality in northern Antelope County will be held later that evening at 7:00 PM.        

CVA-Fertilizer/Grain Storage Hub-West of Royal:  Dennis Schueth showed the Board the plans Central Valley Ag has made to develop a fertilizer/grain storage hub west of Royal.

Lower Platte North NRD Integrated Management Plan – Request to NDNR:  The LPNNRD is requesting that they be allowed pursue the development of their Integrated Management Plan even though they are not required to submit one at this time.  Dennis Schueth pointed out that NRD will have a better opportunity of receiving additional funding for water programs if they have an Integrated Management Plan

NRCS Soil Web SurveyDale Wiles reported that the committee watched a presentation on the NRCS Soil Web survey. 

Transferring active Surface Water Rights to Groundwater:  The committee will be discussing different options for transferring acres and presenting their recommendations to the board. 

 

COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:

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

Nebraska Ground Water Management Coalition:  No Report.

Lower Platte River Basin Coalition Meetings:  No Report.

 

TRANSCANADA/KEYSTONE PIPELINE POSITION-FORWARDING EXISTING POSITION OF OPPOSITION:

Dennis Schueth reported that he will be sending the UENRD position on the TransCanada/Keystone XL Pipeline to the

U.S. Secretary of State.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:

Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out to the directors prior to the board meeting in their packets.  A copy is included with the official copy of the minutes in the office. 

 

NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING:

The November board meeting will be held November 28, 2011 at 2:30 P.M. with committee meetings beginning at either 1:30 – 2:00 depending on the agenda.

 

]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Dale Wiles to adjourn the Board meeting at 11:00 PM.  AYE:  Beckman, Dierks, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.  NAY:  None.  ABSTAIN:  None.  ABSENT:  Childers, Dvorak, Felker & Heithoff.  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M.