LINCOLN, Nebraska – At the July 16, 2025 Lower Platte South NRD meeting, the board of directors approved a slate of actions supporting natural resources protection and habitat resilience across the District.

The Board gave tentative approval to the FY2026 Budget, totaling $40.16 million. The draft budget continues the District's investment in flood reduction, trail improvements, groundwater monitoring, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental education. A public hearing on the draft budget will be held at 5 p.m. on August 13, 2025, at the Lower Platte South NRD office.

Several key agreements and project contracts were also approved, reinforcing the District’s on-the-ground conservation efforts and multi-agency partnerships:

Monitoring Wells and Prairie Corridor Livestock Wells
A $148,465 contract with Sargent Drilling Company was approved to install and repair ground water infrastructure across multiple sites. The work includes three solar-powered livestock wells on Prairie Corridor properties, two new monitoring wells in the Ashland Wellhead Protection Area, and repairs to existing recorder/monitoring wells near Dwight and Ceresco. The installations support both grazing access and long-term water quality monitoring.

Timber Point WMA Grassland Restoration
The Board approved a cost-share agreement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to restore approximately 31 acres of native grassland at Timber Point Wildlife Management Area. The project removes invasive woody vegetation through mechanical and chemical treatment and is 75% funded by Pittman-Robertson federal dollars, with a total project cost of $29,760.

Beal Slough Streambank Stabilization Design
A $171,965 professional services agreement was approved with HDR to design and engineer streambank stabilization improvement along Beal Slough near 27th Street and Nebraska Highway. The project aims to reduce erosion, protect public infrastructure, and improve stream health. Design and permitting will take place through FY2026, with construction expected the following year.

Upper Salt Dam Rehabilitation Construction
The Board approved a contract with Tim Sisco Construction, LLC to complete structural rehabilitation on two aging flood control dams: Upper Salt 38-3 and 18-8. The projects, totaling just under $169,000, will replace aging spillway infrastructure. Work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

For more details on the July board meeting or to view the draft FY2026 Budget, visit www.lpsnrd.org.

As a reminder, board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.