ORD—The Lower Loup Natural Resources District (LLNRD) is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to hold a virtual public meeting regarding the Mud Creek Watershed Improvement Project Work Plan – Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA).
Due to concerns with social distancing amid COVID-19, the meeting will be held virtually through Zoom on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
All are welcome to watch the live presentation online and provide input. The meeting will also be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the LLNRD’s website.
The Zoom meeting information is as follows:
https://bit.ly/30l2Zbp
Meeting ID: 819 6626 4901
Password: 601980
LLNRD Projects Technician Brian Kolar told KCNI/KBBN the meeting is designed to inform the public about the Mud Creek project extending from Merna to Litchfield.
“The meeting is kind of just to inform the public or whoever wants to participate in that meeting kind of what exactly goes on with the watershed improvement project that we’re proposing,” Kolar said. “Basically that project is funded through the NRD and the NRCS and it just kind of goes along Mud Creek and works primarily on flood prevention projects that can help individual communities or the public in general–whether you’re a land owner or a resident in the area. It’s primarily for flood control along Mud Creek.”
The Mud Creek Watershed Improvement Project area is located along Mud Creek downstream from Merna to Litchfield and is focusing on benefiting agricultural areas and the communities of Merna, Broken Bow, Berwyn, Ansley, Mason City, and Litchfield.
The purpose is to identify projects, such as berms, dams, channel cleanout, bridge and culvert improvements, by-pass channels, or other alternatives that will result in flood prevention, especially following the March 2019 floods Kolar added.
“If we can keep projects like this moving along for future prevention of any damage to public and private property that’s exactly what we’re trying to prevent,” Kolar said.
During the meeting, attendees will be able to learn more about the Plan-EA from project personnel, as well as ask questions and provide feedback. Written comments will be accepted for up to 14 days after the meeting.
“Input from the public on these meetings is crucial because that’s kind of where some of the problem areas get pointed out and even lots of ideas of potentially how to correct these things comes from the public so if we can get public involvement on these meetings it’s very important,” Kolar told KCNI/KBBN.
The Plan-EA is being prepared to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities pertaining to federal financial assistance received through the NRCS’s Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program. Part of this project includes an evaluation of environmental resources and impact considerations, and all information gathered during the public meeting will help guide the planning process.
The Plan-EA is scheduled to be finalized early spring 2022. The LLNRD has retained JEO Consulting Group to assist in developing the plan.
Any written comments or requests regarding the project should be submitted to Jonathan Mohr with JEO at [email protected], 402-435-3080, or mailed directly to the JEO Lincoln office at 2700 Fletcher Avenue, Lincoln, NE, 68504.
For more information, please visit the LLNRD website at https://www.llnrd.org/ or contact LLNRD Projects Technician Brian Kolar at 308-728-3221 or [email protected].
