The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Wayne Davis in the conference room of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District office in Omaha.

Notice of the meeting was placed in the LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR on June 9, 1999, notifying the public of the meeting.

The following items of informational material were distributed during the course of the meeting and a copy of each is attached to the file copy of the minutes.

1. Natural Resources Conservation Service Report to the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, May, 1999.
2. Soil & Water Conservation Fund Report.
3. Nebraska Resources Development Fund Present Financial Status Report.
4. NRDF Quarterly Report – Project Listing Update.
5. Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund, Status of Fund Report.
6. SWFCF, Inventory of Fee Title Lands.
7. NE Soil & Water Conservation Fund Republican Basin Water Meter Program Summary.
8. NSWCP – NRD Responses to Request for a Summary of Their NSWCP Applications for a One-Year Period.
9. NSWCP Fund Distribution 1999-2000, Proposed.
10. Natural Resources Enhancement Fund Receipts.

Motion was made by Kramper and seconded by Jiskra to approve the minutes of the May 5 & 6, 1999, Commission meetings as distributed. Motion carried.

Nay: None

Not Present: Donaldson, Stewart

Motion was made by Roberts and seconded by Korell to approve the expenditure report for April and May 1999, as distributed. Motion carried.

Nay: None

Not Present: Donaldson, Stewart

Steve Chick distributed some informational material and commented briefly on the progress of digitizing soil survey information, some watershed brochures, and proposed federal legislation to authorize and fund rehabilitation of older watershed structures.

Dayle Williamson commented that the resignations of Brian Dunnigan and Roger Dufresne left two significant vacancies and the Commission would be trying to replace them in the near future. He noted that the agency was hosting an open house to celebrate the completion of the DEM/DOQ project this afternoon in the office in Lincoln. Williamson added that he had attended the Northern Plains NACD meeting last week in Manhattan, Kansas and had visited with Kansas representatives about the possibility of a coordinated Nebraska-Kansas Study relating to water quality in the Blue River Basins. Dale Watermeier also briefly commented on the NACD meeting in Manhattan, Kansas that he had also attended.

Richard Mercer noted that the funding grants approved by the Environmental Trust Board earlier this year were now being dispersed to the various sponsors across the state. He added that a series of meetings was being held by the Board to obtain input on the activities of the Trust.

Dayle Williamson commented briefly on the activities of the Governance Committee and noted that Governor Johanns was appointing a 23 member advisory committee relating to the Platte River Basin. Williamson added that the Nebraska Foundation would be handling some of the financial matters for the Platte River Cooperative Agreement. Jim Cook noted that the special master’s memorandum on the Nebraska versus Wyoming case had recently been released but that he felt the memorandum was relatively vague in its findings.

REPUBLICAN RIVER ACTIVITIES.

Cook explained the various suits, countersuits, and responses to them that had been filed in this case. He added that he expected a special master to be named in the near future.

Don Roberts noted that Steve Gaul had briefed the committee on the Lower Platte Feasibility Study, SSURGO soils mapping, the Bureau of Reclamation water quality study, and providing some assistance to the Western Governors’ Association. He added that Steve Gaul had advised the committee that the Annual Report and Plan of Work would be sent to the Commission for review and approval at the August meeting. Roberts added that Steve McMaster had briefed the committee on flood mitigation planning and had described some federal funding available for some communities for planning and buy-outs.

Jim Cook distributed his final legislative report and responded to several questions. He also noted some legislative resolutions involving the Commission and specifically described L.R.108, relating to the merger of natural resources agencies, L.R. 224, relating to the fertilizer fee and L.R. 233, relating to the Commission’s planning and review process program.

LeRoy Pieper explained that Tom Pesek had reviewed the Resources Development Fund Financial Status report and the quarterly report for the committee. He added that Tom and Don Meisner had reviewed the Wakefield Project and noted that the Director was recommending the cost-share rate on the Wakefield Project be reduced from 70 percent to 60 percent because they have been approved for a FEMA grant of $760,050. He added that this recommended change would put this project in line with several other similar projects in recent years that have also received federal funds.

Pieper explained that the Commission would need to make two separate motions relating to the obligation of Resources Development Funds for the next year. He added the first action would be to establish project components and the second would be to make the obligations to each project. Motion was made by Pieper and seconded by Kramper to recommend that the Commission establish the following components:

Motion carried.