--FSA Records- Ron Bishop, general manager, reported that several partners have contacted him offering to help pay the cost of hiring an attorney for a lawsuit against the Farm Service Agency to receive data needed to conduct the required programs that the NRD administers. The Groundwater Management District Association has offered up to $10,000 to help with the lawsuit. Other NRDs including Twin Platte NRD and Upper Elkhorn NRD have committed support.

--Cease & Desist- The board decided against issuing Cease & Desist Order for Kevin and Deanna Rumbeck of Buffalo County pending approved compliance options. The Rumbeck’s are required to get into compliance with the NRD by January 1, 2010.

--Variance/Appeals Sub-Committee- A variance request from Dan Runge of Buffalo County was tabled pending a court decision on the land in question.

--Water Banking- Ron Bishop gave an update on the Program. Bishop reported that the NRD has acquired 1,304.37 acre-feet to the river with three closings scheduled for next week in the over-appropriated area. The NRD has spent $2.7 million acquiring those acre-feet. Bishop said 264.99 acre-feet have been acquired in the fully appropriated area, however, the majority of those acre-feet have been resold to landowners trading acres and developing land.

--Hike/Bike Trail- Milt Moravek, assistant manager, reported that the Upper Big Blue NRD voted in support of joining the Central City-Marquette Joint Action Agency. Ladd Reeves was appointed to sit on the committee for the Joint Action Agency to help outline the proposed trail. Ed Kyes will serve as alternate.

--Truck Bids- Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet of Grand Island was the lone bidder on trade-ins for the NRD’s 2004 Chevrolet 4-wheel drive and 2003 Ford 4-wheel drive extended cab pickups. The total bid price was $36,297 for 2010 4-wheel drive ½ ton and 2010 ¾ ton extended cab pickups with trade-ins. The board approved the bid.

--LRIP- Approval was given for the Long Range Implementation Plan, which outlines the NRD’s goals and objectives for the next five years. The Plan will be sent to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and other organizations that the NRD works with.

--NRCS- James Huntwork, district conservationist, and Joe Krolikowski, water management specialist, reported on the practices funded through EQIP this year. Huntwork said the contracts funded in the CPNRD included: transition to organic production, erosion control and grazing lands, forestry, invasive species, animal feeding operation and irrigation system conversions. Krolikowski said the average cost to the landowner for converting from gravity irrigation to sprinkler irrigation was $84,000. The average assistance through EQIP totaled about $31,000, with the average project cost being 37% for the conversion.

--Cost Share- 16 applications were approved through the Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD Programs in the amount of $41,673.45. Practices approved include: underground pipeline, surge valve, planned grazing, center pivot, flow meter and well decommissioning.