July 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We still haven't received our FY26 NSWCP allocation from the State.  Staff has been informed that we should be notified soon.  We expect to receive the same (or very near) to FY25 which was $83,388.  We will also have additional carry-over funds that weren't distributed that can be allocated.
Below is a list of eligible approvals:

S-25-1	KRISTEN MILLER	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-2	ERIC POSPISIL	$                       4,959.24	COVER CROP
S-25-3	PAUL POLACEK	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
P-25-1	DAVID THEILEN	$                       4,259.86	COVER CROP
P-25-2	STEVE & MARILYN VRANA LT	$                       4,387.02	COVER CROP
P-25-3	THEILEN TRUST  (GLENN THEILEN)	$                       3,496.90	COVER CROP
P-25-4	DAN THEILEN	$                       4,214.10	COVER CROP
P-25-5	DONALD GASPER	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-4	TAYLOR MURREN	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-5	MICHAEL SWANSON	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-6	FRANK PLESKAC	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-7	LARRY POSPISIL	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-8	MARK KASPAR	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-9	RONALD SABATKA	$                       3,751.22	COVER CROP
P-25-6	LUGENE TOROZON	$                       4,704.92	COVER CROP
P-25-7	GARY TOROZON	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-10	GERALD OSMERA	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
B-25-1	LPJ FARMS	$                       5,086.40	COVER CROP
S-25-11	TERRY KUBIK	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB/GWW
S-25-12	KYLE OSMERA	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
S-25-13	DOROTHY ANN MEDUNA	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
S-25-14	KAREN SMAUS	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
S-25-15	MICHAEL KUBIK	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB/GWW
S-25-16	DAN MACH	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-1	TOM SAMEK	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-2	RONALD SWOBODA	$                     10,625.01	TOT/WASCB
S-25-17	NORM LINDGREN	$                       5,681.35	TOT
S-25-18	JAMES KUBIK	$                     15,000.00	TOT
S-25-19	BEN SPATZ	$                     15,000.00	TOT/COVER CROPS

Total NSWCP application = $190,723.66
Cover Crop = $85,723.66
 

Rationale:  Listed are two completed projects ready for payment:
 

JV ACRES PTNSHP	$                     12,106.02	TOT/WASCB
CLIFFORD PROCHASKA	$                     13,701.06	WASCB

Rationale:  Attached is an invoice from USGS for stage-only streamgages and cameras on the Platte River for flood monitoring purposes.  This invoice will be paid per our agreement and 3/4 of costs will be paid by our partners: Papio NRD, Dodge County, and City of Fremont.

Rationale:  The final Rawhide WFPO public meeting is scheduled for August 21st, 2:00-4:00pm, at the Dodge County Extension office - 1206 W 23rd Street, Fremont, NE.  Meeting materials will be uploaded when they are available and an invitation will be forwarded to Dodge County directors soon.
Above average summer precipitation has caused water issues in the Rawhide area.  Dodge County has received requests to clean out the ditch from residents close to where the detention basins are planned.  Collectively, we are steering folks to the public meeting on August 21st.  It would not be surprising if they attend a future committee or Board meeting.

Rationale:  Recent conversations with the County revealed that the project is not complete, but very close.  The contractor needs several good dry working days to finish the project.

Rationale:  Mike Eason will be present at the committee meeting to present an opportunity to shore up the dike this fall and request assistance.  Permitting obligations should be discussed.

Rationale:  A SCWIG meeting was held on 7/15 at the Columbus field office.  Discussion focused around wrapping up our existing 319 and NET grants which end 6/30/26.  The final bend is complete and came in lower than anticipated when we budgeted this grant, which leaves us with a good chunk to be allocated.  The onsite wastewater systems continue to be popular, but can't be expected to exhaust the funds. 
The streambank stabilization/rain garden at Christ Lutheran Church/School is expected to move forward with cooperation from Platte county being approved.  A site showing occurred after the SCWIG meeting with NDWEE, NRD, Church, and County reps present to discuss moving project forward.  A formal interlocal will be forthcoming.
Elbert Traylor, the longtime DEQ/NDEE/DWEE funding ally of SCWIG officially retired and had his (office) farewell party on 7/29.  Elbert championed Shell Creek for many years and without his assistance SCWIG wouldn't have been able to accomplish everything that we've seen over the past decades.
Bill Bos submitted two onsite wastewater systems that have been completed and are eligible for cost-share: 
Rick Loseke: 2-19-1E Platte County
Total was $10,017.71 + $425 inspection = $6,310.60 @ 60% c/s
Jeff Klug: 13-18-1E Platte County
Total = $12,274.77 = $7,364.86  @ 60% c/s               
 

Rationale:  The monthly construction update meeting was held at Site 27/26A on 7/22, meeting minutes and pictures are attached.  

• Primary work on site 27 is on concrete riser; four lifts completed, next will be forming/pouring wing baffles on the top section.
• 12" drawdown pipe installed, 18" low-stage inlet to be installed.
• Over-excavation continues at 26A; contractor (Shanahan) feels as though it's been greater volume than anticipated.  Olsson will do additional survey.
• TCI/Shanahan expect site 27 to progress rapidly as weather becomes more cooperative and additional crew becomes available.

TCI pay invoice attached.

Rationale:  Olsson has submitted site 77 designs to DNR/DWEE and NRCS national watershed center (NWC) for permitting review.  We expect both reviews to take the remainder of the summer.

On 7/10, Olsson, NRCS, and NRD staff met to discuss the biological assessment (BA) comments and strategize for editing BA for permit submittal.  The plan had been to tailor this BA the same as the prior BA we developed for our first phase (26AB, 27) of the WCW.  The reviewing partners (NeG&P, FWS, DWEE, ACOE) felt that we needed to provide a "better plan" for offsetting potential depletion in the Platte.  One of the primary issues was our intention to use the Louisville USGS gauge, with an agreed upon minimum cfs, as the measuring stick for releasing additional water.  That plan was denied.  We will have a revised BA ready for review, reflecting the comments from partners, within the next 4-6 weeks.

Andrew Philips, of Olsson, will be present to discuss engineering write-offs that have occurred over the last 7 years.  Write up is attached.
 

Rationale:  All landowners with existing offers have been notified of the Boards decision to move towards condemnation if no meaningful discussions can be had prior to August Board meeting.  We expect that there will be several that acquire their own appraisals.
Olsson invoice attached.

Rationale:  The website page for the NWQI program is live.  Beethe and Maslonka recently updated the Wahoo Creek Watershed - Non Point Source Management plan and submitted it to DWEE.  Staff are currently working on the Section 319 grant PIP (workplan).

Rationale:  Staff are on the agenda for the August 19th Saunders County Board meeting.  We hope to have enough information after that meeting to draft an interlocal acceptable to both parties.

Rationale:  We have a meeting on August 18th to discuss public outreach with regard to both the hazard and drought mitigation plans. Attached is an invoice from JEO.