MINUTES OF THE

NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MEETING

May 24, 2006

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Those in attendance were:

Garry Anderson, Chair                                              Milt Moravek

Roger Korell, Member                                               Dean Edson

Jim Van Marter, Member                                          Mike Sotak

Wayne Madsen, Member                                           Ken Berney

John Burkholder, Member                                          Rodney Verhoeff

Keith Rexroth, Member                                             Rick Wozniak

Richard Hadenfeldt, Member                                     Mike Onnen

Vince Kramper, Member                                           Paul Zillig

Beverly Donaldson, Memberf                                     Dave Clabaugh

Richard Jiskra, Member                                            Mike Murren

Joseph Hergott, Member                                          Beverly Franzen

Arlond Garratt, Member                                          Sharon Kumpf

Clinton JohannesMember                                         Len Schropfer

Myron Lembke, Member                                         Gayle Starr

Dan Watermeier, Member                                       Jim Cook, Staff

Wayne Davis, Member                                           Rex Gittins, Staff

                                                                              Ann Diers, Staff

                                                                              Kris Reed, Staff

                                                                              Beth Eckles, Staff

                                                                              Steve Gaul, Staff

                                                                              Tom Pesek, Staff

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Garry Anderson in the conference room of the Lower Platte South NRD office in Lincoln, Nebraska, at approximately 2:00 p.m.

NOTICE OF THE MEETING

Notice of the meeting was published in the LINCOLN JOURNAL & STAR on May 17, 2006, notifying the public of the meeting.

RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Garry Anderson called on Tom Pesek who reviewed the  purpose of the meeting and explained that four project sponsors would be briefing the Commission on the status of their respective project.  Pesek then reviewed the project assessment  notebooks that had been provided to Commission members prior to the meeting.  He noted that the FY 2007 General Fund appropriation of $3,588,368 was more than the total amount requested for the four projects.

PRESENTATIONS BY PROJECT SPONSORS REQUESTING FY 2007 FUNDING

Representatives of the sponsors of the projects requesting funds for the coming year provided brief presentations regarding their need for funds and the status of each of their projects in the following order:

       1.     Upper Prairie/Silver/Moores Creek       —    Central Platte NRD              (Milt Moravek)

       2.     Stevens Creek Watershed                    —    Lower Platte South NRD      (Paul Zillig)

       3.     Leigh Dam                                          —    Lower Elkhorn NRD            (Ken Berney)

       4.     Little Sandy Creek Watershed              —    Little Blue NRD                   (Mike Onnen)

The sponsors also responded to various questions from the Commission members.

Beverly Franzen of Columbus spoke in opposition to the Leigh Dam Project and questioned the appraised values of the tracts involved.  Len Schropfer of rural Tobias also spoke in opposition to the Leigh Dam Project and referred to a letter from Frank LaMere and expressed his concern about the recognition and handling of Native American burial sites during project planning.  He also questioned the validity of recreation benefits and how they are determined relative to the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).  Dan Watermeier noted the potential for streamflow augmentation at Site 40 of the Little Sandy Creek Watershed Project.

LOWER PLATTE RIVER CORRIDOR ALLIANCE PRESENTATION

Steve Gaul introduced Rodney Verhoeff who is the Coordinator of the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance.  Verhoeff said the Alliance is 10 years old and stated that its long-range goal is sustainable development along the lower Platte River that fits with the environment.  He added that they are keying in on water quality in the river.  He then presented a framed certificate of appreciation to Garry Anderson and Steve Gaul for the Natural Resources Commission and the Department of Natural Resources’ involvement with the Alliance.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:50 p.m.

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 Chair                                                                             Acting Director of Natural Resources