RCPP Narrative Elements for Pre-proposal (4000 character limit per item)
Project Name:
Wahoo Creek Water Quality Sites 26 and 27
Funding Pool:
NATIONAL
State:
NE
Please review the Pillar and Criteria descriptions in the 2017 APF, and make sure your pre-proposal has
adequately addressed each pillar in sufficient detail.
1. Briefly describe your RCPP team. Include a description of each partner's expertise and experience implementing
similar projects. If partners are providing cash and/or in-kind services, “Letters of Financial Contribution” will be
required in the Full-proposal application phase.
The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (LPNNRD) is one of 23 Natural Resources
Districts created in 1969 with the passage of LB 1357 by the Nebraska Unicameral. Since its
formation in 1972, the LPNNRD has been assisting people in the Lower Platte North River Basin
in the development and protection of our soil and water resources.
The Natural Resources Districts have been given statutory responsibility outlined in Sections
2-3229, R.R.S. 1943. In this section it states that “The purposes of the Natural Resources
Districts shall be to develop and execute, through the exercise of powers and authorities
contained in this act, plans, facilities, works and programs relating to: (1) erosion prevention and
control, (2) prevention of damages from flood water and sediment, (3) flood prevention and
control, (4) soil conservation, (5) water supply for any beneficial uses, (6) development,
management, utilization, and conservation of groundwater and surface water, (7) pollution
control, (8) solid waste disposal and sanitary drainage, (9) drainage improvement and channel
rectification, (10) development and management of fish and wildlife habitat, (11) development
and management of recreational and park facilities, and (12) forestry and range management.”
Lower Platte North NRD programs and projects are available to meet the goal of properly
developing our water and related land resources.
Lower Platte North NRD is the local project sponsor on several large watershed implementation
projects that involved the construction of large multi-benefit flood control structures since our
beginning in 1972. We have the responsibility with obtaining land rights, project construction
and operation and maintenance on forty seven such structures in our District. While LPNNRD
will be partnering with Saunders County and landowners, we will be responsible for providing the
local matching funds for the completion of the proposed project. LPNNRD, with our experienced
staff and taxing authority, is prepared to take the necessary steps to insure the success of this
project.
2.
Specify the geographic focus of the project area. Provide background for why and how the project area was
selected. (Note that the project area does not need to be contiguous, but all areas should have a common
primary resource concern that the project addresses.) In the description, discuss any areas that will be
specifically targeted within the project area and explain why those areas are to be prioritized.
This project is located within the boundary of the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District that is
entirely contained in HUC (hydraulic unit code) 102002. More specifically, both dam sites are located in the
Wahoo Creek Watershed within Saunders County Nebraska. The Wahoo Creek Watershed in eastern
Nebraska consists of approximately 330,906 acres (517 square miles) in Saunders County. The watershed
is made up of fifteen sub-watersheds that include approximately 290 miles of 17 streams and three public
lakes along with smaller ponds and wetlands. The largest community is the City of Wahoo with a population
of 4,508, making up 47% of the watershed population. The primary land uses of the watershed are row
crop agriculture (74% or 243,700 acres) and pasture (17% or 56,301 acres) used for grazing livestock.
Corn and soybeans are the principal crop. Livestock operations include beef cattle, dairy herds, and swine.
In 1998 the Natural Resources Conservation Service completed the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement under the authority of Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
(Public Law 83-566). The watershed plan identified projects within the basin that will reduce rural and
urban flooding, reduce sedimentation and scour, stabilize stream channels, enhance fish and wildlife
habitat, enhance water quality, improve economic conditions, and provide recreational opportunities. The
proposed projects included in this submittal are two of the projects (Site 26 and Site 27) identified in the
watershed plan.
A major component of the Wahoo Creek watershed plan involved the creation of Lake Wanahoo on Sand
Creek , the construction of seven sediment/floodwater basins (seven of the original NRCS sites), and the
restoration of floodplain wetlands in the Sand and Duck Creek watersheds. A feasibility report and
environmental impact statement for “Environmental Restoration of the Sand Creek Watershed, Nebraska”
was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2001. This report demonstrated that the
creation of Lake Wanahoo, along with the restoration of wetlands, and the implementation of agricultural
best management practices (BMPs) in the Sand Creek watershed would reduce flooding and improve
water quality in Wahoo Creek. In 2003, the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (LPNNRD)
developed a watershed management plan that detailed conservation and BMP practices that would be
appropriate for the Sand and Duck Creek watersheds.
In order to address the impaired status of Wahoo Creek, LPNNRD developed the Wahoo Creek Watershed
Water Quality Management Plan in 2013. This plan addresses the following pollutants: nutrients
(phosphorous and nitrogen), sediments (field and gully erosion) from overland sources, sediments from
stream bank and bed erosion, and E. coli bacteria. This plan meets the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) requirement of containing “Nine Elements” of an effective watershed plan and incorporates
many previous water quality planning efforts. This plan identifies many water quality goals with the overall
goal to protect and enhance the quality of all water resources within the Wahoo Creek. Sub-watersheds
within the Wahoo Creek Watershed were prioritized for future water quality projects.
The NRCS, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, four Wahoo
Creek sub-watersheds have been designated as Water Quality Initiative (WQI) areas to receive special
EQIP and EPA 319 funding for landowners to complete conservation practices (i.e. terraces, grass
waterways, small basins, buffer strips, wildlife habitat etc.) to help achieve the numerous identified goals.
We are presently focusing on three of the original sub-areas due to reaching water quality goals in the
Cottonwood Creek sub-watershed.
3. Describe the natural resource concern(s) of the project area. Include how the resource concerns were
identified through watershed plans, scientific literature, etc. See the listing of priority resource concerns in Section
II.B. A complete list of NRCS approved natural resource concerns may be found on the RCPP Web site
at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/
In 1998 the Natural Resources Conservation Service completed the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement under the authority of Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act (Public Law 83-566). The watershed plan identified projects within the basin that will
reduce rural and urban flooding, reduce sedimentation and scour, stabilize stream channels, enhance
fish and wildlife habitat, enhance water quality, improve economic conditions, and provide recreational
opportunities. The proposed projects included in this submittal are two of the projects (Site 26 and
Site 27) identified in the watershed plan. The plan identified 170 buildings damaged by 100-year
frequency flooding in the communities of Wahoo, Weston, Ithaca and Memphis. Construction of these
sites will be a major step in reducing this damage. In addition as identified in the plan, numerous
agricultural producers will be protected from erosion/sediment damage and flooding, while benefiting
from improved water quality.
As mentioned earlier, a major component of the Wahoo Creek watershed plan involved the creation of
Lake Wanahoo on Sand Creek , the construction of seven sediment/floodwater basins, and the
restoration of floodplain wetlands in the Sand and Duck Creek watersheds. A feasibility report and
environmental impact statement for “Environmental Restoration of the Sand Creek Watershed,
Nebraska” was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2001. This report
demonstrated that the creation of Lake Wanahoo, along with the restoration of wetlands, and the
implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the Sand Creek watershed
would reduce flooding and improve water quality in Wahoo Creek. In 2003, the Lower Platte North
Natural Resources District (LPNNRD) developed a watershed management plan that detailed
conservation and BMP practices that would be appropriate for the Sand and Duck Creek watersheds.
In order to address the impaired status of Wahoo Creek, LPNNRD developed the Wahoo Creek
Watershed Water Quality Management Plan in 2013. This plan addresses the following pollutants:
nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen), sediments (field and gully erosion) from overland sources,
sediments from stream bank and bed erosion, and E. coli bacteria. This plan meets the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement of containing “Nine Elements” of an effective
watershed plan and incorporates many previous water quality planning efforts. This plan identifies
many water quality goals with the overall goal to protect and enhance the quality of all water
resources within the Wahoo Creek. This plan identifies many water quality goals with the overall goal
to protect and enhance the quality of all water resources within the Wahoo Creek. Sub-watersheds
within the Wahoo Creek Watershed were prioritized for future water quality projects.
The NRCS, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, three
Wahoo Creek sub-watersheds are presently (there were four originally) designated as Water Quality
Initiative (WQI) areas to receive special EQIP and EPA 319 funding for landowners to complete
conservation practices (i.e. terraces, grass waterways, small basins, buffer strips, wildlife habitat etc.)
to help achieve the numerous identified goals.
4. Project Scope: Describe the role of each partner during the project preparation, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation phases. Identify the NRCS conservation programs to be used (EQIP, CStP, ACEP, etc) and conservation
systems selected to address the resource concern(s) in the geographical focal area (conservation practices, activities,
enhancements, restoration work, easement acquisition, and other partner approaches). Provide a brief description of
the sequence of practice implementation or timeline.
The NRCS, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, three
Wahoo Creek sub-watersheds are presently designated as Water Quality Initiative (WQI) areas to
receive special EQIP and EPA 319 funding for landowners to complete conservation practices (i.e.
terraces, grass waterways, small basins, buffer strips, wildlife habitat etc.) to help achieve the numerous
identified goals. The watershed water quality goals extend over a forty year period and beyond. Water
quality monitoring (sampling) will be used to determine the effectiveness of structures in reducing
sediment and pollutant loads which is sceduled to begin in the spring of 2016. Sediment loads will also
be calculated during the design stage to ensure effective capture rates. The goal is to ensure that
segments of the stream affected by this basin are not on the 303(d) list of impaired waters.
The goal of flood reduction greatly benefits urban and agricultural residents and will be measured by
modeling pre and post construction flood extents. Reduction in flooding will allow for increased crop
production, reduced erosion rates, and reduced risk of injury (and loss of life) due to flood waters.
The goal of improved wildlife habitat will be evident through the creation of open bodies of water
providing habitat for aquatic life and an accessible source of drinking water for other wildlife. The
improved wildlife habitat may also benefit recreational actives such as hunting, fishing, or bird watching.
From the 1998 Natural Resources Conservation Service Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement Major Conclusions “This project will have beneficial effects on the
watershed problem of flooding, soil erosion, sedimentation, and recreation. The 16 single purpose
dams and 1 multiple purpose dam will provide flood prevention, recreation, improved fish and wildlife
habitat, and enhanced water quality. The project will not have detrimental effects on the natural
resources.” Construction of this project will be a major step toward improving wildlife habitat in the
watershed. LPNNRD will be working with landowners in developing wetland habitat areas around and
adjacent to the project sites.
The NRCS, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, three
Wahoo Creek sub-watersheds are presently designated as Water Quality Initiative (WQI) areas to
receive special EQIP and EPA 319 funding for landowners to complete conservation practices (i.e.
terraces, grass waterways, small basins, buffer strips, wildlife habitat etc.) to help achieve the numerous
identified goals. The watershed water quality goals extend over a forty year period and beyond.
The proposed project schedule is to begin preliminary design and permitting in fall of 2016 (federal fiscal
year 2017) with final design during 2017. Land easements will be obtained 2018-2019. Construction of
the project will be 2019 through 2021. Monitoring will occur 2016 through 2021. Project maintenance will
occur 2021 and perpetually thereafter.
Construction of these projects assist individual producers by allowing for fewer regional projects rather
than numerous projects throughout the watershed on private lands. It will also allow for a more
complete project, easier monitoring, less maintenance, and better evaluation of success.
5. Describe any activities that have already taken place that support the proposed project. Characterize the existing
infrastructure and capacity of partner(s) that provide a solid foundation from management of the proposed project.
Consider future partnership resource needs and describe any other steps that are needed to ensure project
success, such as hiring, coordination, outreach, training, etc.
Lower Platte North NRD is the local project sponsor on several large watershed implementation projects that
involved the construction of large multi-benefit flood control structures since our beginning in 1972. We have the
responsibility with obtaining land rights, project construction and operation and maintenance on forty seven such
structures in our District. While LPNNRD will be partnering with Saunders County and numerous landowners,
LPNNRD is ultimately responsible for securing and providing local matching funds for the completion of the
proposed project. LPNNRD, with our experienced staff and taxing authority, is prepared to take the necessary
steps to insure the success of this project. We will continue our very successful outreach to watershed residents
though are established locally led watershed committee and strong information and education programs. We are
prepared to provide necessary training and provide additional staff as needed to insure success of the project.
Through this effort, we will continually be seeking out non-traditional partners throughout the entire watershed.
Activities that are already taking place to support the proposed project is our partnership with NRCS, the
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and EPA, where four Wahoo Creek sub-watersheds have been
designated as Water Quality Initiative (WQI) areas to receive special EQIP and EPA 319 funding for landowners
to complete conservation practices (i.e. terraces, grass waterways, small basins, buffer strips, wildlife habitat
etc.) to help achieve the numerous identified water quality goals. Three of four originally designated
sub-watersheds are receiving the special WQI assistance. The watershed water quality goals extend over a forty
year period and beyond.
In order to address the impaired status of Wahoo Creek, LPNNRD also developed the Wahoo Creek Watershed
Water Quality Management Plan in 2013. This plan addresses the following pollutants: nutrients (phosphorous
and nitrogen), sediments (field and gully erosion) from overland sources, sediments from stream bank and bed
erosion, and E. coli bacteria. This plan meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement of
containing “Nine Elements” of an effective watershed plan and incorporates many previous water quality planning
efforts. This plan identifies the following goals: Overall Goal of the plan: Protect and enhance the quality of all
water resources within the Wahoo Creek Watershed through technical assistance, financial assistance,
education and outreach, and proactive action.
Goal One: Remove streams from the 303(d) list (currently listed for bacteria/ E. coli) by reducing
E. coli concentrations below Nebraska’s Water Quality Standards (WQS) and the established TMDL. The TMDL
is set at a recreational season geometric mean of 113 colonies/100 ml (90% of Nebraska’s WQS). This will
require 79% reduction.
Goal Two: Reduce stream bank and streambed erosion to protect adjacent property and Infrastructure, and
reduce sediment loading by stabilizing an additional 66 stream miles, resulting in a reduction of 10,817 tons/year.
Goal Three: Reduce field and gully erosion (sedimentation) through reducing the annual sediment load by 15,400
tons/year.
Goal Four: Reduce nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) loads from agriculture lands by 958 tons/year of nitrogen
and 365 tons/year of phosphorus.
Goal Five: Protect or enhance the aquatic habitat found throughout the watershed.
Goal Six: Restore impaired water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, and streams) and/or protect current and future water
bodies and special resource areas from water quality degradation
Goal Seven: Continue information, education, and public outreach
6. Describe how project outcomes will be evaluated. This may include monitoring, modeling, measurements, and/or
photo points, etc. Specify how the partners will collect data and report progress that demonstrates project objectives
have been met or exceeded.
Water quality monitoring (sampling) will be used to determine the effectiveness of structures in
reducing sediment and pollutant loads. Sediment loads will also be calculated during the design
stage to ensure effective capture rates. The goal is to ensure that segments of the stream affected
by this basin are not on the 303(d) list of impaired waters. Sampling efforts will begin in the spring
of 2016 to establish a baseline for future monitoring comparisons.
The goal of flood reduction will be measured by modeling pre and post construction flood extents.
Reduction in flooding will allow for increased crop production, reduced erosion rates, and reduced
risk of injury (and loss of life) due to flood waters.
The goal of improved wildlife habitat will be evident through the creation of open bodies of water
providing habitat for aquatic life and an accessible source of drinking water for other wildlife. The
improved wildlife habitat may also benefit recreational actives such as hunting, fishing, or bird
watching. For developing wildlife habitat we will follow the successful pattern that was completed
on the Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project. A major component of the Wahoo Creek
watershed plan involved the creation of Lake Wanahoo on Sand Creek , the construction of seven
sediment/floodwater basins, and the restoration of floodplain wetlands in the Sand and Duck Creek
watersheds.
A feasibility report and environmental impact statement for “Environmental Restoration of the Sand
Creek Watershed, Nebraska” was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in
2001. This report demonstrated that the creation of Lake Wanahoo, along with the restoration of
wetlands, and the implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the Sand
Creek watershed would reduce flooding and improve water quality in Wahoo Creek. In 2003, the
Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (LPNNRD) developed a watershed management
plan that detailed conservation and BMP practices that would be appropriate for the Sand and
Duck Creek watersheds. The Sand/Duck Creek watershed management plan was designed to
optimize the use of BMPs in the Sand/Duck Creek watershed to improve the water quality of Lake
Wanahoo and in turn Wahoo Creek. As part of this project effort, the EIS report will be reviewed
and updated as determined necessary by partnering agencies.
7. If applicable, indicate how the project will “assist producers in meeting or avoiding the need for natural resource
regulatory requirements.” Section 1271B (d) (4)(A) of the 1985 Act.
The objective of this project is to improve water quality, by reducing nutrients (phosphorous and
nitrogen), sediments (field and gully erosion) from overland sources, sediments from stream bank
and bed erosion, and E. coli bacteria and help prevent frequent damage to infrastructure and
cropland from flooding within the Wahoo Creek watershed. Implementation of this project will also
provide benefits to fish and wildlife by reducing sediment and nutrient loading in the stream and
will also provide for beneficial habitat.
In 1998, the Natural Resources Conservation Service completed the Wahoo Creek Watershed
Plan. This plan identified that “nearly 3.3 million tons of soil erode annually, causing resource
problems within Wahoo Creek Watershed. Erosion reduces annual crop yields and lower long-term
productivity of the land for future generations”. This project will be a major step toward helping
protect numerous downstream agricultural producers in the watershed.
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has placed portions of the Wahoo Creek
(LP2-10100) on the Section 303(d) list of impaired waters for recreation and aquatic life due to E.
coli and Selenium. In order to address the impaired status of Wahoo Creek, LPNNRD also
developed the Wahoo Creek Watershed Water Quality Management Plan in 2013. This plan
addresses the following pollutants: nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen), sediments (field and
gully erosion) from overland sources, sediments from stream bank and bed erosion, and E. coli
bacteria. This plan meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement of
containing “Nine Elements” of an effective watershed plan and incorporates many previous water
quality planning efforts. This plan identifies several goals with the overall goal to protect and
enhance the quality of all water resources within the Wahoo Creek Watershed through technical
assistance, financial assistance, education and outreach, and proactive action. By accomplishing
these goals the area will be able to avoid federal and state natural resource regulatory actions.
Reminder: The Pillar and Criteria descriptions offer insight into how proposal scoring takes place during the
review phase.
8. Use this space to provide additional information about the project that has not been requested. Only include
information and/or examples that will provide a greater understanding of your proposal.
As mentioned, the objective of this project is to improve water quality, by reducing nutrients
(phosphorous and nitrogen), sediments (field and gully erosion) from overland sources,
sediments from stream bank and bed erosion, and E. coli bacteria and help prevent frequent
damage to infrastructure and cropland from flooding within the Wahoo Creek watershed.
Implementation of this project will also provide benefits to fish and wildlife by reducing sediment
and nutrient loading in the stream and will also provide for beneficial habitat.
In 1998, the Natural Resources Conservation Service completed the Wahoo Creek Watershed
Plan. This plan identified that “nearly 3.3 million tons of soil erode annually, causing resource
problems within Wahoo Creek Watershed. Erosion reduces annual crop yields and lower
long-term productivity of the land for future generations”. The Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality has placed portions of the Wahoo Creek (LP2-10100) on the Section 303
(d) list of impaired waters for recreation and aquatic life due to E. coli and Selenium.
This project is for the design, land acquisition, and construction of two of the original seventeen
proposed projects identified in the 1998 NRCS report. Sites 26 and 27 (both dams) will be
constructed to detain storm water runoff; thereby slowing the water velocity and allowing
sediment and nutrients to settle out of the water flowing to the receiving stream. The dams will
provide flood control for downstream land by containing runoff and will release water at a
controlled rate through the principal spillway. The structures will also provide grade control for
the upstream basins and reduced velocity of water downstream of the dams.
Sites 26 and 27 are located in the upstream reaches of the watershed. The sites are in adjacent
basins. Site 26 has an approximate drainage area of 2.76 square miles. The structure will have
a maximum capacity of 600 acre-feet, a permanent pool of 29 acres and a flood pool of 60 acres.
Site 27 has a drainage area of 2.3 square miles. The structure will have a maximum capacity of
480 acre-feet, a permanent pool of 29 acres and a flood pool of 54 acres.
Additional information
9. Partners are strongly encouraged to work with NRCS to fully understand program purpose and limitations. If
Adjustment of Terms are needed in order to achieve project objectives, please describe here.
Refer to Appendix A in the APF for Definitions.
No adjustment of terms is anticipated.
10. Does the project require Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA)? If the project requires AFA, please describe
how it will meet the goals and objectives of RCPP.
Refer to Section III, Part C. for AFA eligibility and requirements and Appendix A in the APF for Definitions.
It is anticipated that the project will not require alternative funding arrangements.