Alliance Programs
Present Projects
Camp Ashland River Obstruction Removal Project - Phase II: The project is almost completed with the exception of a few clean-up items and grass seeding. In Phase II, we removed 6 large concrete an steel obstructions that were former road supports to 6' below the riverbed along with 11 additional wooden pilings. Last year in Phase I we removed 6 concrete and steel obstructions. As we began to remove obstructions, we also discovered several additional pieces of the supports that were buried next to the obstructions. To complete removal, we had to remove the additional pieces since they were lying against the supports. If you are interested in weekly photologs and reports, you can go to http://oaprojects.com/platteriver_obstruction/index.htm. Once you get to the website you have to enter "Ashland531" for the user name and "w2j95mx$" as the password.
WQ Monitoring Network-Shell Creek Site: At the request of the coordinator, the USGS attended the January 3rd LPNNRD projects committee meeting to present a proposal to add Shell Creek to the LPRCA WQ Monitoring Network. This proposal comes on the heels of many discussions of priorities regarding water quality problems in the LPNNRD area. Shell Creek has suffered considerable negative impacts from both nonpoint sources contamination and point source "dumping" of manure and lagoon effluent over several years. This project will provide for one monitor to be placed along Shell Creek for the 2008 season (April to Sept/Oct.) along with additional sampling. (Website)
Environmental Sustainablity Assessment (ESA)-This multiphase effort will develop a planning framework for responsible, consistent and sustainable development in the Lower Platte River Corridor. This is accomplished by assembling enviromental and natural resource related information and developing tools to assist those making land use decisions in identifying environmental constraints and opportunities. Phase I which consisted of Data Identification, Collection, Evaluation, and Organization was completed on March 2006. The information that was gathered will be further analyzed and mapped to create a coordinated, corridor-wide assessment evaluating issues such as land use, natural resources, environmental constraints, water supply/wastewater management, and infrastructure. As of right own we are on Phase II, which consist of the area from Fremont to the confluence with the Missiouri River. The purpose of this phase is to assess existing natural resources and environmental features, identify environmental constraints and opportunities relative to areas of growth suitability and provide key decision making criteria for land use decisions. As part of this phase, a needs assessment survey will be conducted with local land use jurisdictions to gather input and identify land use planning needs regarding environmental features.
Cumulative Impact Study- Looking at the cumulative effects of activities and practices in the Lower Platter River Corridor over time and the impact on the habitat and Platte River. Phase I - Scope Development was completed in August 2005. Phase II- Data Acquisition currently is underway and includes acquisitions of aerial photos and transect data for six time periods (1850, 1938, 1950's, 1970's, 1993, and 2003), land classification, a hydrologic study looking at changes in the river over time, and the development of an online internet mapping service to access the GIS information. Phase III - Prediction Model Development is an optional phase that could be used to predict the impact of future projects such as levees on the river corridor. Unfortunately , over the life of the project, we have been slowed by the COE's schedule and availability often due to deployments to Iraq and Hurricane Katrina duty.
Alliance Involvement
NE Innovation Zone Commission-(Website)
PACE-To develop and facilitate cooperation among and between communities, conservation interests and the sand/gravel producers of Nebraska.
NE Land Trust - (Website)
Nebraska Alliance Conservation Environment of Education- The NACEE seeks to foster an environmentally literate citizenry in Nebraska and serve as a leader in conservation and environment education. (Website)
NE/IA Metroplex Conference-
Recent Issues
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NG&PC) Biological Opinion (BiOp) and Supporting Reports
The NG&PC has issued a draft Biological Opinion for the Lower Platte River Basin focusing on impacts of future surface water appropriations on 3 T&E species: the pallid sturgeon, the least tern, and the piping plover. This opinion has been a long time in the making and relies heavily on results from the 5-year Pallid Sturgeon/Sturgeon Chub Task Force report along with two additional research reports (Hydo Analysis of Lower Platte River & Ecology and Mgmt of Sturgeon) produced by Dr. Jim Parham and Dr. Ed Peters - - two well-known former UNL researchers. Check out NG&PC's website at www.ngpc.state.ne.us. for updates on this process. For a summary of the BiOp issue check out this flyer on the NG&PC website. View the NG&PC's presentation on the BiOp that was given at the LPRCA quarterly meeting held on October 30th, 2007.
Lower Platte River Basin Determination by Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) - "Fully" or "Not Fully" Appropriated.
The Nebrask a Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) made a final determination in January of this year (2008) as required by state statute (originating bill - LB962) that the Lower Platte River Basin is "Not Fully Appropriated." This means that there is still surface water available for development (or appropriation). This is consistent with a preliminary decision made in Spetember 2007. The final decision follows a public hearing held on December 19, 2007 at the state capitol building where testimony was overwhelmingly 14 to 1 in favor of keeping the preliminary determination as "Not Fully Appropriated." A "Fully Appropriated" designation would have required NDNR (which regulates surface water) and the appropriate basin NRDs (which regulate ground water) to work together on an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for the areas in the basin where it has been determined that surface and ground water are interconnected. The area that is impacted by a determination ruling includes the Lower Platte River Basin, the Elkhorn Basin, and the Loup Basin. Check out NDNR's "Integrated Management" page for more info and updates.