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Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board Approves Trail, Prairie Funding, Levee Work at Monthly Meeting

Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board Approves Trail, Prairie Funding, Levee Work at Monthly Meeting

09/22/2017

Lincoln (NE) September 22, 2017 – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board of Directors has adopted an agreement to help fund construction of a bicycle and walking trail across the U.S. Highway 34 bridge (previously the Hwy 75 Bridge) over the Platte River, north of Plattsmouth.  The Papio-Missouri River NRD, City of Bellevue, City of Plattsmouth, Sarpy County, Cass County and the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) have also approved or are considering approval of the project.  Federal funding of $1.6 million is planned through MAPA, with the remaining 20 percent of the $2 million project funded by the partners.  The Lower Platte South NRD’s commitment is $40,000.

Construction of the trail will take place in two phases.  The Nebraska Department of Transportation will complete structural work in Phase 1, then the Papio-Missouri River NRD will be the lead agency for Phase 2 on behalf of the partners to construct the trail.  The new U.S. Highway 34 Bridge is completed and the trail bridge would be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge, utilizing the existing bridge piers, which will give hikers and bikers easy and safe crossing of the Platte River.

Extension of an agreement with the City of Lincoln to protect and establish a prairie corridor between Lincoln and Spring Creek Prairie, southwest of Lincoln, was approved by the board.  The Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch will offer public access and a recreational trail.

Two improvement projects on Lincoln’s Salt Creek Levee were approved by the board when it met September 20th.  Contracts were awarded to Gana Trucking and Excavating, of Martell and Yost Excavating, of Nebraska City for repairs at a total of five sites along the levee.  The NRD is updating and repairing inlet and outlet structures along the levee under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s multi-year System Wide Improvement Framework program.  The levee was built in the 1960s.

Other actions taken by the board included:

Approved modifications to a conservation easement the NRD and City of Lincoln have near South 27th Street and Rokeby Road, adjusting the area to improve access and increase both the conservation easement area and flood storage capacity.

Awarded advertising contracts with Alpha Media and Broadcast House radio groups, both of Lincoln, to help keep the public informed about NRD activities and how the public can help preserve and protect the environment.

Approved cost-sharing totaling $15,010 with a landowner in Seward County on the installation of terraces and waterways to improve water quality in Branched Oak Lake.

Awarded a contract for the repair of a drainage culvert on the Oak Creek Trail, about four miles west of Valparaiso, to M.E. Colling Contracting, of Wahoo.

Approved a Community Forestry Program application for $2,648.40 by Edenton South Townhouse Assn.

The board also agreed to travel to Waverly for its October 18th regular meeting.  The meeting will be at the Waverly Community Foundation Banquet Hall, 11120 North 14th Street, in Waverly, starting at 7:00 PM.