--Water Resources Committee- The board discussed the following items:

1) Proposed Resolution- The board voted to support a Resolution to be introduced at the Legislative session regarding the creation of a Department of Natural Resources and a Natural Resources Commission as separate entities to eliminate conflicts of interest that have surfaced since the two departments were merged.

2) Basin Designations- The board approved a motion to start the process to find an independent consultant, along with the Dept. of Natural Resources and other NRDs, to identify the difference between fully and over-appropriated. The NRDs need to know what acre-feet are needed to bring over-appropriated areas back to a fully appropriated status.

3) Water Banking- Ron Bishop, general manager, reported to the committee that the NRD has acquired 1,450 ac/ft in the over-appropriated area above Elm Creek. Bishop asked for direction on whether he should slow down on purchases and the committee voted to continue purchasing water rights as the requests come in.

4) FSA Records- After several years of submitting FOIA requests to obtain FSA records without success, the board voted to hire a lawyer to file an appeal in Federal District Court, along with other supporters. The board limited the NRD’s maximum financial commitment to $20,000.

--Programs Committee- The board approved a change to the Urban Forestry Program and State Arboretum Funds to remove the requirement that matching funds had to be non-state or non-federal in nature.

--Western Projects Committee- The board took action to approve

1) MOU- The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program which designates the PRRIP as a financial participant for studies investigating the inflow delivery capacity of the Dawson County Canal, the outflow delivery capacity increasing the capacity of Elm Creek Reservoir; and groundwater elevation control through a dewatering system.

2) Elm Creek FCP- Kevin Prior, Olsson Associates, gave an update on the proposed Elm Creek Flood Control Project. Prior requested a meeting be set up with the NRD, OA, and the PRRIP to work out operational details before moving forward with budget analysis.

--Budget- The board reviewed and approved the levy amounts requested by the 11 counties in the District and set the 2010 property tax request at $4,450,314.92. The levy for both the general and sinking funds total is 0.04730, which is down from the 0.5850 request last year. The board commended upper management and staff members who waived pay raises to keep the budget down.

--Instream Flows- Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reviewed the requirements regarding instream flow rights and the renewal process which recently came up for a mandatory 15-year review. The review looks at whether or not the instream flow water right continues to provide beneficial uses and be in the public interest. The NRD originally applied for these rights in July 1990. In September 1994, the DWR approved the applications. It’s now 15 years later and current laws necessitated this review. Legal notices were published to provide the opportunity for the public to comment and the only comment received was supportive of the instream flows. An Order to continue the water rights is expected soon.

--Platte River Recovery Program- The following updates were given:

1) Water Advisory Committee- Duane Woodward, hydrologist, reported that the committee is reviewing the depletion plans for Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska to include any updates needed.

2) Land Advisory Committee- Mark Czaplewski, biologist, reported that the committee is working on management plans for various land complexes. The plan is to try to incorporate habitat management efforts with plans for research and adaptive management efforts on these same lands. Program land acquisitions to date total approximately 1,224 acres toward the Program’s 10,000 acre first increment land goal. Including additional Program sponsorship agreements with NPPD on their 2,650 acre Cottonwood Ranch property and a 455 acre tract owned by Wyoming, total Program lands come to around 4,330 acres. Negotiations are currently underway on another 2,346 acres and the Land Advisory Committee regularly evaluates additional tracts. To date, all of these acquisitions have been fee title purchases, but the Program is also considering leases and conservation easements.

3) PBHEP- Czaplewski reported that the Project sponsors continue to meet regularly to develop the major components of the Project. To date, the following is completed: an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, the development of a set of conservation easement templates, and organized three committees to deal with water tracking/accounting, habitat development and monitoring, and education and outreach matters. The Nebraska Environmental Trust sent a contract to sign, allowing the Program to receive their first year funding of $1,275,000. Preliminary approval for second year funding is $725,000 and third year is $1,000,000.

--Kearney Hike/Bike Trail- Approval was given to a request from Tim Montgomery, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to allow CPNRD funds already budgeted for the trail, to be used to help replace the bridge that was burnt down earlier this year.

--Water Levels- Jesse Mintken, resources conservationist, and Duane Woodward provided maps showing groundwater level changes from Spring 2008 through Spring 2009, Spring 2001 through Spring 2009, and average accumulated change in depth to water from 1982 through 2009. Overall, Woodward said the District is ‘in really good shape.” The majority of the District has shown an increase of one to four feet, with small parts of Custer, Dawson and Frontier showing a decrease of two to three feet since last year. These maps are available on the NRD’s website at: www.cpnrd.org.

--Bid Letting PSM- Milt Moravek, assistant manager, reported on the bid letting of the construction of cells for the Prairie/Silver/Moores Flood Control Project. Ten bids were received. The lowest bid by Hooker Brothers Construction Company, Grand Island, was awarded with a bid at $1,720,914.

--Hearings Update- Moravek distributed a schedule of hearings for the Natural Resources Committee for the Legislature, including LR 181, which will examine the feasibility and benefits of restructuring the natural resources districts. Bishop said senators will be invited to take a tour of projects in the District as part of the Oct. 7 ^th hearing in Kearney.

--LRIP- Marcia Lee, information/education specialist, distributed suggestions and comments received on the Long Range Implementation Plan. The LRIP outlines the NRD’s goals and objectives for the next five years. The board will take action to approve the Plan at the September 24 ^th board meeting.

--Platte Basin Order- The board approved the Order for the Platte Basin Integrated Management Plan.

--COHYST Report- Bishop reported that the sponsors plan to apply for a Nebraska Environmental Trust Grant to hire a contractor to pay for a study on historic irrigated use, crop use and pumping. He also reported that the sponsors agreement is up for review and the Central Platte NRD will continue involvement.

--Voting Delegates- Dick Mercer was selected voting delegate and LeRoy Arends was named alternate for the upcoming NARD Annual Conference to be held Sept. 28-29 in Kearney.

--Cost Share- 35 applications were approved through the Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD Programs in the amount of $94,950.69. Practices approved include: underground pipeline, planned grazing, constructing water & sediment, surge valve, streambank stabilization, center pivot and well decommissioning.

--NRCS- James Huntwork, District Conservationist, reported on the new Conservation Stewardship Program that pays agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and to adopt additional practices. There are two types of payments; the first is an annual payment for installing new conservation activities and maintaining existing activities. The other is a supplemental payment earned by those receiving an annual payment, who also adopt a resource-conserving crop rotation. For more information, contact your local NRCS office or visit the NRD website at: www.cpnrd.org.