MINUTES OF THE

NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MEETING

Those in attendance were:

The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Richard Jiskra in a conference room at the Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska, at approximately 1:00 p.m.

Notice of the meeting was placed in the LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR on June 7, 2000, 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.

• Nebraska Resources Development Fund Present Financial Status.
• Nebraska Resources Development Fund Quarterly Report.
• Status of Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund.
• Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund – Projected Funding Requests.
• Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund – Inventory of Fee Title Lands.
• Soil and Water Conservation Fund Report.
• Water Well Decommissioning Fund Report.
• Republican Basin Water Meter Program Report.
• Natural Resources Enhancement Fund Receipts.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Report.
• Policy Statement VI-Operations, NNRC, Management and Utilization of the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund.

Motion was made by Davis and seconded by Van Marter to approve the minutes of the May 3 & 4, 2000 Commission meetings as distributed. Motion carried.

Commission Chair, Jiskra, asked if there were any comments or questions about the expenditure report and he asked that it be placed on file as distributed.

Nathan McCaleb, representing the Natural Resources Conservation Service, distributed a brief report and commented on the drought situation throughout the state.

Dayle Williamson discussed the NACD Northern Plains Regional meeting held in Pierre, South Dakota on Monday and Tuesday of this week. He specifically commented about his presentation to the group concerning floodplain management and the interest in that topic. Williamson commented that this would be his last meeting as Director of Natural Resources with the merger of the Department of Water Resources and the Natural Resources Commission taking effect on July 1, 2000. Motion was made by Larson and seconded by Donaldson to make a matter of record the Commission’s appreciation for Dayle’s service to the Commission and his assistance to Commission members over the years. Motion carried.

Aye: Van Marter, Stewart, Hahn, Hergott, Davis, Donaldson, Watermeier, Pieper, Bartak, Larson,

Kramper, Madsen, Jiskra

Nay: None

Not Present: Roberts, Mercer, Korell

Vince Kramper noted that the Environmental Trust Board had approved the awards and that the August meeting would be devoted to a review of the operations of the Environmental Trust Board.

It was noted that Dayle will no longer be a member of the Environmental Trust Board with the merger of the two agencies and that the Environmental Trust Board will be one member smaller than it has been as a result of that change. Kramper noted that he felt that the Trust Board would miss Dayle’s contributions because he has been very helpful on various matters over the years.

Jim Cook reported that negotiations between the two states were continuing on working out the details of the framework agreement agreed to recently regarding the North Platte River.

With respect to the Cooperative Agreement, he noted that the individuals involved were spending a great deal of time on that agreement because some of the deadlines are approaching. He added that Jerry Vandersnick is conducting a series of public meetings throughout the basin to get input on Cooperative Agreement issues. He noted that many of the comments at the public meetings had been related to the Endangered Species Act.

With regard to the Republican Basin, he said there had been little activity and he expected no new information from the master until at least this fall.

Dayle Williamson reported that things are proceeding with the merger issues but that office space is currently the question that is holding things from proceeding as fast as they otherwise could be.

Joe Hergott noted that the Program Committee had met before lunch with most of the Commission members present and had reviewed status reports on the various funds and taken some actions. Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Kramper to advise the Little Blue NRD that it may proceed with an application and feasibility report for the Little Sandy Creek Watershed Project and that it is to address the comments and questions contained in the letter from the Director of Natural Resources. Motion carried.

Hergott then called on Robert Mohler, Engineer for the Lower Loup NRD, who along with two residents of the Ericson Lake area briefed the Commission on the Lake Ericson Resources Development Fund project proposal.

Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Stewart to advise the Lower Elkhorn NRD that it may proceed with an application and feasibility report for the Stage Creek Project and that it is to address the comments and questions contained in the letter from the Director of Natural Resources. Motion carried.

Aye: Hahn, Hergott, Davis, Donaldson, Watermeier, Pieper, Bartak, Larson, Kramper, Madsen,

Van Marter, Stewart, Jiskra

Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Pieper to establish the Revolving Fund Base for the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund at $950,000 for fiscal year 2000-2001. Motion carried

Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Kramper to schedule the sale of the 80 acre Lamb tract at Upper Little Nemaha Site 36 in Fiscal Year 2002. Motion carried.

Aye: Davis, Donaldson, Watermeier, Pieper, Bartak, Larson, Kramper, Madsen, Van Marter, Stewart,

Hahn, Hergott, Jiskra

Nay: None

Not Present: Mercer, Korell, Roberts

Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Davis to approve the proposed rule and regulation changes for the Soil & Water Conservation Fund and the Water Well Decommissioning Fund. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Hergott and seconded by Stewart to provide for the allocation of available fiscal year 2000-2001 Soil and Water Conservation Funds as follows:

Motion carried.

Wayne Davis asked that an item be placed on the agenda for the next meeting to brief the Commission on the status of the Weeping Water 7g Project.

The next meeting of the Commission will be in Hastings on August 9 and 10. Mike Onnen, Manager of the Little Blue NRD, indicated that lodging has been arranged at the Holiday Inn which is at the north end of Hastings and that the Little Blue NRD would be planning a tour for Commission members in connection with that meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.

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