The South Platte NRD Board of Directors is a group of locally elected officials managing area natural resources on your behalf. The board meets the second Tuesday of each month and welcomes your input.
The next scheduled board meeting is:
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
5:00 p.m. at the SPNRD Conference Room, 551 Parkland Dr. in Sidney.
Click here to see board agendas and minutes.
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To see solutions to tree girdling in
Public Notices To see meeting notices, click here. |
Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area Projects Public Meeting
A series of meetings are being held to acquaint the public on potential projects at Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area (ORRA). The South Platte NRD (District), along with Olsson Associates of Lincoln, Nebraska, are looking for public input to enhance recreation and other opportunities at ORRA while fulfilling the integrated management plan (IMP) developed in response to the Groundwater Management and Protection Act (GWMPA) and Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan (PRRIP).
The Lodgepole Creek subbasin, a part of the South Platte River Basin, falls under the PRRIP. It is designated as overappropriated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The Platte Basin Coalition (PBC), consisting of the five Nebraska NRD’s in the PRRIP area and DNR, was formed to undertake projects to address IMP requirements for the Districts.
The first public meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Kimball Event Center. The meeting introduced the overall goals of the project and solicited public input regarding needs and opportunities at ORRA. Two more public meetings will be announced to introduce and discuss potential plans.
Public input is encouraged at the meetings. For questions regarding the meetings please contact the South Platte NRD at 308-254-2377.
SOUTH PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT |
South Platte NRD’s Ryan Reisdorff Joins Water Leaders Academy Class VI
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Ryan Reisdorff of Sidney has been accepted as a member of the Class VI of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, a one-year program that educates participants about the vital role rivers, streams and aquifers play in the economic sustainability of the state.
Reisdorff is a water resources specialist for South Platte Natural Resources District; his job includes overseeing wellhead protection and best management practices for the district.
A 2000 graduate of Chadron State College, Reisdorff began his current job in 2009. He worked for the NRD for eight years then took a position with Cabela’s before rejoining the NRD in his present position. He also has worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Reisdorff grew up near Osceola. He is the son of Pat and Don Reisdorff. He said that growing up on a farm that had both irrigated and dry land acres taught him an appreciation for water and water management.
Water Leaders Academy sessions feature classroom and field trip experiences presented by acknowledged experts in leadership and natural resource topics held at locations across the state. The Nebraska State Irrigation Association sponsors the program.
The Water Leaders Academy is partially funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and more than 25 other organizations and individuals.
More information can be found at www.waterleadersacademy.org.
Several Items Discussed at December Board Meeting
The 2015 Fiscal Year Audit Report was received by the South Platte Natural Resources District Board (Board) at their regular December Meeting. Julia Peetz, CPA with Rauner and Associates, stated in her presentation to the Board that the report was clean and will be submitted to the Nebraska State Auditor.
Oliver Reservoir was discussed as Galen Wittrock, Assistant General Manager, and Ryan Reisdorff, Water Resources Specialist, met with the Nebraska State Patrol for guidance for proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations at Oliver Reservoir for the 2016 season. The proposed changes had been previously discussed by the Oliver Reservoir Advisory Committee led by Mr. Wittrock. Rod Horn, General Manager, also updated the Board on the conditional approval for a request for funding on the Oliver Reservoir Streamflow Enhancement Project through the Platte Basin Coalition.
Prior to the Board meeting, the District Operations Committee met and discussed approving a Second Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Sidney establishing the Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority. Discussion was also held concerning The Ranch at Sidney, LLC, for an extension to file the Third Supplemental Order due on December 31, 2015, to March 30, 2016 to give time for the result of a Nebraska Environmental Trust fund grant request by The Ranch. Also discussed was an approval of a construction line of credit for the proposed upgrade to the South Platte NRD building. All committee items were brought before the Board and passed.
Before the Board adjourned, special recognition was given to two Board members and one Staff member for years of service. Receiving recognition for over 10 years of service as a Board member was Jim Johnson. Bill Halligan was recognized for over 5 years of service to the Board. Ryan Reisdorff was recognized for over 5 years of service to the South Platte NRD. Congratulations to these three who continue to serve and work for the District.
Conservation Trees Available
Fall is upon us and the South Platte Natural Resources District is ready to receive orders for Conservation Trees. Conservation trees and shrubs are a great way to buffer noise and provide privacy and beauty to the landscape. Every year the Natural Resources Districts from across the State of Nebraska help to plant nearly a million trees. Over four million trees have been planted in the South Platte NRD since 1977. Several varieties of bareroot trees are available. The Colorado Blue Spruce and Ponderosa Pine along with Black Walnut and Cottonwood are just some of the Conifers and Deciduous trees available for purchase again this year. Shrub choices include Chokecherry and Lilac along with several others. Each of the bareroot Conifers, Deciduous, and Shrubs are $.90 each with a minimum order of 10 per species. Regular Potted Trees will be available at $2.10 each, minimum order of 10 per species and small Potted Trees will be available at $1.45 each, minimum 10 per species. If unsure what trees or shrubs would be the most effective in the space available or what each tree or shrub looks like, visit www.nrdtrees.org. The website has pictures of available species with descriptions of the average height and suggested spacing between trees and rows for effective planting. There are even charts that tell if the tree or shrub is native to one of four zones in Nebraska and whether it is suggested to plant in each zone. Conservation Trees for Nebraska books are available for free at the District offices during normal business hours. The South Platte NRD and NRCS offices provide assistance with tree and shrub planting plans and have a list of contractors who have been certified in the handling and planting of trees and shrubs. There is also information about cost share opportunities and other services available on this website by clicking on Conservation Trees or by stopping by the District offices at 551 Parkland Dr. in Sidney.
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Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area a Success
July 21, 2015
During the July, 2015 SPNRD board meeting Kent Matsutani was invited to give a report about progress at the Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area (ORRA) which is located 8 miles west of Kimball.
Matsutani, along with Randy Gunn,technicians for the SPNRD at ORRA, began work at the site in late April of this year and Matsutani dicussed several upgrades made this past spring.
One important upgrade has been to the restrooms.Ventilation and a cleaner environment have been key steps to making a better experience for those visiting. Another area of priority was to clean and repair the picnic tables and the playground area. More signage and a new buoy system are also helping visitors to navigate the reservoir area.
(Click here to read more.)
Sidney Captures Second At State Envirothon
COZAD – The Sidney High School Envirothon team made a run at the Nebraska state championship here at Camp Comeca, falling by points to champion Concordia High School in the end.
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| Sidney Envirotnon Team members included Skylar Arent, Tanner Nienhueser, Theda Parker, Logan Uhlir and Ryan Birner |
Sidney tied Concordia in one of the seven skill areas, Aquatics, but Concordia topped all teams in five additional areas to capture their third straight state title. Concordia will now prepare for the National Envirothon in Springfield, Missouri in July.
On the way to state, student teams, consisting of five members, first competed in one of six regional contests around the state. The highest scoring teams earned the opportunity to compete at the state competition.
Sidney led a contingent of three teams from the West Region, covering the Panhandle. Also competing from the region were teams from Chadron and Creek Valley High School at Chappell. (Click here to read more.)
Final Seat Filled On SPNRD Board
The South Platte NRD board is full again following the appointment to fill the vacancy left by former Subdistrict 6 Director Tom Biggs, who retired at the end of 2014. No one filed for the seat in the November election, setting up the need for an appointed director.
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| Kathy Narjes |
Two candidates, Randy Horst of Gurley and Kathy Narjes of rural Lodgepole applied for the position. Each was interviewed during the District’s February board meeting, outlining their qualifications and reasons for their application. Following the interviews a written ballot and subsequent roll call vote was taken to see who would be the nominee.
Narjes, who takes part in a farm and ranch operation with her husband Phil and also serves as a part-time legal assistant, was chosen to fill the seat. Her appointment is until the next election in two years, at which time she can run to continue her term. (Click here to read more.)
Board Begins Year With A New Member
The South Platte Natural Resources District board of directors began the year by welcoming a new member into its fold, while choosing Keith Rexroth to continue his role as chairman.
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| Phil Grabowski |
Phil Grabowski of rural Sidney joined the board after being elected last November, replacing long-time board member Paul Hutchison, who retired at the end of his term last year. Grabowski is a farmer and rancher and will represent NRD Subdistrict 4, covering southwest Cheyenne county including a portion of southwest Sidney.
Grabowski was sworn in just prior to the board meeting, along with Jim Johnson of Dix, who was re-elected to serve Subdistrict 2, covering eastern Kimball County and part of western Cheyenne County. (Click here to read more.)
South Platte NRD Honors Retiring Members
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| Tom Biggs, Paul Hutchison |
The South Platte Natural Resources District board of directors closed out its final meeting of 2014 by bidding farewell to a pair of retiring long term members.
Directors Paul Hutchison and Tom Biggs attended their last meeting as part of a board that established most of the District’s water management rules and regulations during their tenures.
Both were board members when LB 962, the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act, was passed by the Nebraska Legislature. The resulting Districtwide Ground Water Management Area Rules and Regulations and the District’s Integrated Management Plan that serve as the backbone of the District’s ground water management were major achievements. (Click here to read more.)
District Partipates In Aquifer Recharge Project
Working together, the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), Twin Platte Natural Resources 
District (TPNRD), Western Irrigation District, and landowners in Keith and Deuel Counties are taking advantage of the excess flows in the South Platte River. These entities are working together to turn high flows in the South Platte River into ground water recharge.
The goal of this project is to capture the excess water, or amount of water that is not already permitted for downstream uses, and recharge it into the ground water aquifer instead of just letting it flow by unused. (Click here to read more.)
Armstrong, Diemoz Appointed to Monitoring Committee
At its March board meeting the South Platte Natural resources District board of directors appointed two Kimball County residents to fill open positions on a local monitoring committee.
Dennis Armstrong, of rural Bushnell and Steve Diemoz of rural Kimball, join the team that monitors operations at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., a hazardous waste incinerator site located south of Kimball.
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| Armstrong | Diemoz |
The Committee holds regular meetings where it receives reports from the plant manager, safety manager and its own consultant. Monitoring systems reviewed include the facility’s waste analysis plan, ash samples, air samples, soil samples, leachate, sludge and leak water, groundwater samples from 150 and 180 feet, and storm water.
The Committee also provides input to the regulatory agencies when Clean Harbors wants to change or renew permits.
Joint Authority Formed To Manage East Sidney Drainage Issues
The District and the City of Sidney have been holding joint meetings for several months, working toward the development of options to alleviate problems caused by excessive drainage in southeast Sidney.
The entities have formed the Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority (JESWA) to manage a joint effort to reduce runoff and associated problems from the drainage area.
For a number of years, large rains have been a problem as development continues, changing runoff patterns. Flooding that has the potential to carry contaminants and silt, as well as resulting erosion, has prompted the effort for controlling the runoff. (Click here to read more.)
NRD Sponsored Project Focuses On ET
The District has been part of a project funded in conjunction with the Upper Niobrara White and North Platte NRDs and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
The ETgage® is a tool that can be used to mimic evapotranspiration (ET) rates and this information can be utilized for irrigation management. The online ETgage tool gives collaborators an easy-to-use tool for recording readings. This online tool also provides quick, easy access to readings from a specific location.
Gary Stone, from the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff, presented year-two numbers from a three-year Panhandle-wide study on evapotranspiration (ET) and use of atmometers to measure crop water use. Click here to see more about the ET Project. See a PDF of the Project Report.
Also from the Research and Extension Center, Stone and Dr. Gary Hergert provided a short introduction to a new Excel-based program, Water Optimizer, developed by the University.
The program comes from studies done in deficit irrigation to assist agricultural producers determine potential crops, populations, water needs and other factors when full irrigation is not possible.
The University and Panhandle NRDs plan to work together on meetings that will showcase Water Optimizer, display its capabilities and help producers learn how to use it as a management tool. For more information on Water Optimizer, click here.
SPNRD Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan In Effect
The District-led Multijurisdicational Hazard Mitigation Plan is now in effect, opening the door to participating entities which have needs protecting residents in the event of natural disasters.
Under the Disaster Management Act of 2000, local entities are required to form a Hazard Mitigation Plan to take action before a disaster occurs to reduce or eliminate threats. (Click here to read more)
Program Provides Options To Preserve Area’s Grassland Cover
With the potential expiration of contracts protecting more than 260,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land in the Panhandle by 2013, Panhandle natural resources districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have teamed together to preserve regional grassland cover. (Click here to read more)
South Platte Natural Resources District | 551 Parkland Dr. | P.O. Box 294 | Sidney, NE 69162
308-254-2377 | 877-800-1030 (In Neb.) | Fax 308-254-2783 | Email: spnrd@spnrd.org