September Survey of Lakeland Wildbirds

It had been many years since the numerous lakes and wetlands in the Lakeland district of southwest Brown county had been visited so the gathering of Nebraska birders and knowing that they would visit the district prompted a Saturday outing on September 15th. It was a morning with fog prevalent, but reaching the first locale of Clear Lake at 8 a.m., conditions for observing wildbirds on the lakes became okay. Each site was visited and records kept for each during the primary observation time of two hours. Two spotting scopes as individually used were essential for getting distant views during a fine birding outing. After noon, white cap waves and heat shimmer occurred as conditions deteriorated for bird watching activities.

This is a list of the placenames in their entirety as used for personal database record keeping. Sites are listed in the order visited:

• Clear Lake, Philbrick Lake Quadrangle; permission to take a look around provided by a cabin owner mowing the lawn as he wanted chores done before the start of the Big Red football game.
  
• Chain Lakes, Koshopah NE Quadrangle; a series of three lakes that can be readily viewed from a distance from a vantage point or two along the county road to the south of the lakes.
  
• Willow Lake Brown County WMA; numerous gulls were floating in the center of the lake but their distance made it difficult to determine identifications, but general characteristics indicated that the majority were the same species. Further observations by the NOUers added records of occurrence for additional species, during and after the lunch break. The latrine structure here was decrepit and people present had to wander into the trees and grass to take care of business. This place can be a nice place to camp or visit but the lack of attention to an essential and necessary maintenance — especially of the latrine — by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission diminishes any appreciation. At least the picnic tables were not anchored so they could be moved together so the group could congregate and talk among ourselves.
  
• Enders Lake
  
• Enders Basin; the depth of water was exceptionally greater than had ever been observed, with the usual shallow water channel between this lake and Enders Lake several feet underwater. There was no shorebird habitat present as has been appreciated during multiple previous visits.
  
• Schoolhouse Marsh; prominently open water with associated species mostly along its western upland extent.
  
  
• Long Lake, Philbrick Lake Quadrangle; along the drive along the south side of the lake and towards the recreation area, there were hundreds of Monarch butterflies gathered in the cedar trees, and were getting active in the sunshine during our passage along the trail road. It was an amazing sight to see them gathered on the foliage or as bunches in short airborne flights dramatic in contrast against the blue sky.
  
• Long Lake SRA; visited after an intrusion through the yard of the resident rancher that knows that people can drive through his yard anytime as they traverse an indicated route to the state property.
  
• Philbrick Lake; water birds not present.
  
• AGA Marsh WMA (American Game Association Marsh WMA, which is one of the earliest designated wildlife management areas in the state of Nebraska); butterflies were also prevalent and some of the NOUers took pictures but their attempt was not something of any significance but at least they tried to get a photographic memory.
  
• Philbrick Valley Meadow
  
• Clapper Lake; only very obvious species as seen from a distance.
  

There was a dearth of waterfowl with the most significant sighting being five Trumpeter Swan at AGA Marsh WMA which included a pair and a large cygnet. Ducks were most often associated with small, ephemeral wetlands alongside county roads. The big flock of Wild Turkey were at the Wales Ranch, on the southern edge of AGA Marsh WMA. Pelicans and cormorants were common, with the latter species most numerous roosting on snags at Enders Basin and Willow Lake.

The prevalence of Bald Eagle may be indicative that the species nests in the Lakeland District? A special observation was a bunch of Killdeer gathered in a small area of recently mowed meadow in Philbrick Valley. In a tree a short distance eastward, was where the many crow were gathered.

Three of the best sightings were the Common Loon, Say's Phoebe and Great Egret. There were several places were flighty sparrows provided only an instant view and then disappeared into the autumn vegetation. Tree snags at Long Lake SRA were an obvious attraction the eight flickers seen.

This is a list of the 52 species observed, with 49 observed by Gordon Warrick and myself and an additional three species subsequently reported by people on the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union outing. Place names have been condensed for space purposes.

Proper Name	Clear Lake	Chain Lakes	Willow Lake	Enders Lake	Enders Basin	Schoolhouse Marsh	Long Lake	Long Lake SRA	Philbrick Lake	AGA Marsh WMA	Phibrick Valley Meadow	Clapper Lake
Canada Goose	9	- -	9	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Trumpeter Swan	5	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Wood Duck	7	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	10	- -
Blue-winged Teal	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Mallard	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	12	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Pheasant	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
Common Loon	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Pied-billed Grebe	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Horned Grebe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Western Grebe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4
Great Blue Heron	3	3	- -	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Great Egret	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American White Pelican	2	28	11	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	18
Double-crested Cormorant	1	- -	- -	- -	62	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	49
Turkey Vulture	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Sharp-shinned Hawk	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Cooper's Hawk	1	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Northern Harrier	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Bald Eagle	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1
Red-tailed Hawk	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Coot	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Killdeer	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	19	3	1
Wilson's Snipe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3
Franklin's Gull	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3
Ring-billed Gull	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	35
Forster's Tern	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Black Tern	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Mourning Dove	- -	- -	5	20	- -	12	21	20	- -	1	- -	2
Great Horned Owl	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	1	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Northern Flicker	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	8	1	- -	1	- -	1
American Kestrel	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1
Say's Phoebe	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Kingbird	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Blue Jay	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	1	- -	- -
American Crow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	32	- -	- -
Black-capped Chickadee	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Barn Swallow	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	5	- -	- -	- -	- -
Marsh Wren	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
White-breasted Nuthatch	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Starling	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Bluebird	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Goldfinch	1	4	- -	2	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Western Meadowlark	- -	5	3	2	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	5
Red-winged Blackbird	4	75	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	10	- -	5	- -	20
Common Grackle	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Song Sparrow	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Chipping Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -
Lark Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -

This survey was done in conjunction with the autumn meeting of the NOU at Ainsworth. Their group arrived in the Lakeland area at 11 a.m. and then visited four particular locales within the Lakeland area: AGA Marsh, Enders Lake and Enders Basin as observed from the county road, and then lunch at Willow Lake Brown County WMA. Additional records were kept along Moon Lake Road and a wetland east of the Calamus River crossing on the county road towards Highway 7. There were many ebird checklists submitted by attendees at this meeting and the overall tally was reported as 134 species.

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Situations Noted in Association with Lakeland Ranch

The following details were provided to officials at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on September 17th.

This email is in regards to several items noted during the weekend in association with the Moon Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (a.k.a. Moonlake Wildlife Ranch) at Lakeland, southwest Brown County..

Item 1:

When trying to visit South Twin Lake WMA the morning of September 15, the access road was blocked by a large gate at the boundary of the MLWS. There were two chains with a padlock on each which obviously prevented any further travel. The attached photographs show the signage on the gate and adjacent fence as well as other signs, including one indicating this was a public access trail to the WMA.

How is it that the landowner can prevent access to public property? When will this situation be changed so the WMA can be readily visited? The landowner seems to think they can keep out the public, but this is simply wrong and needs to be immediately corrected!

Also, the public access signs need to be replaced with signage in proper condition to convey that the trail is a public travelway. I have visited this area multiple times in the past, and want to visit it again in the near future.

Item 2:

In the photo showing the portion of the gate and adjacent fence, it is obvious that the wire mesh fence extends from ground level to 7 or 8 feet in height. This type of fencing extends along the entire perimeter of the MLWS here and as also noted at the primary gate to the ranch headquarters. The character of the fence does not allow any ingress or egress by larger mammals including white-tailed deer, coyote and antelope. The landowner has effectively fenced out a portion of natural range of these species, while the fence also does not allow any natural movement of these species.

How is it that the landowner can effectively "take" a public resource ... that being the large mammals trapped within the fenced ranch area?

Item 3

The landowner has introduced prairie dogs, as evident on an aerial photograph showing the large residence on the south side of the fish pond. There are multiple burrows present. Does the landowner need to have NGPC permission to introduce this species onto private property?

When Audubon of Kansas introduced prairie dogs at the Hutton Ranch, they had to go through approval by NGPC as evident by the public meeting which I attended some years ago.

Item 4

With the MLWS completely fenced and any access inhibited by locked gates, how will NGPC ensure that quick and ready access is available if there is a need to fight a prairie fire in the vicinity of the WMA. This also applies to access that would be needed by any local fire department.

Item 5

How is the NGPC making sure that livestock associated with the MLWS do not go through the South Twin WMA fencing and graze the area? There are likely bison on the adjacent range, and a barb wire fence is not sufficient to stop their movement. Is the vehicular access point to the area suitably fenced or have a barrier to make certain livestock of the adjacent property owner cannot get onto the site. It is only through agency vigilance as well as that of the public that the area can be monitored to ensure its quality.

Further Details of South Holt County Wildbirds

Another survey of distinct wetlands along the southern boundary of Holt County provide additional details on the value of these habitats for wildbirds. The observations were recorded on September 3^rd by Jason Thiele at the local wetlands, most of which are associated with the headwaters of Clearwater Creek, thus the CC designation. Each of these site names have been designated to the specific site indicated by the ebird checklists, but are a geographic locality rather than a roadway site name as originally given. Some of the wetland habitat areas are part of the same area, but were designated as different localities because they were in either of the two counties ... Holt or Wheeler. Road 846 is the county boundary.

This is the list of the 47 species observed. Note the prominence of waterfowl, including the ibis (glossy or white-faced) and the number of pelican that utilize Goose Lake WMA. Shorebirds noted were other important finds. Many of these species may forage at the smaller wetlands area and then return to the wildlife management area for an overnight stay. This survey effort was also valuable in denoting songbirds present in the area during late summer and after the breeding season.

Proper Name	Goose Lake WMA	CC Meadow	CC Wetlands	CC Wetlands North	Clearwater 502 Meadow	Clearwater 846 Meadow	Clearwater Wetlands	Clearwater Wetlands North	Deloit Meadow
Canada Goose	--	--	--	40	--	--	--	--	--
Wood Duck	--	6	9	3	--	--	--	--	--
Blue-winged Teal	--	40	30	15	--	30	10	--	--
Mallard	--	12	2	2	--	8	--	--	--
Ibis	--	15	--	--	--	--	1	--	--
Great Blue Heron	--	--	--	1	--	--	1	1	1
American White Pelican	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	150
Turkey Vulture	--	--	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Cooper's Hawk	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Red-tailed Hawk	1	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Killdeer	1	--	--	8	--	6	--	--	--
Least Sandpiper	--	--	--	--	--	8	--	--	--
Wilson's Snipe	--	--	--	--	--	1	--	--	--
Solitary Sandpiper	--	--	--	--	--	2	--	--	--
Forster's Tern	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Eurasian Collared Dove	--	--	--	2	--	--	--	--	--
Mourning Dove	2	--	--	30	--	2	1	3	1
Belted Kingfisher	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	--
Red-headed Woodpecker	--	--	--	3	--	--	--	--	1
Northern Flicker	--	1	--	1	--	1	--	--	1
American Kestrel	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	--
Eastern Kingbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	1
Warbling Vireo	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Red-eyed Vireo	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Black-capped Chickadee	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Barn Swallow	1	--	--	30	--	2	--	--	--
Marsh Wren	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
House Wren	--	--	--	--	--	1	--	--	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Grey Catbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5
Brown Thrasher	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Common Starling	10	--	11	30	--	--	20	--	--
American Robin	--	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	2
American Goldfinch	1	--	--	3	--	2	--	--	--
Nashville Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
American Yellow Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Wilson's Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Yellow-headed Blackbird	--	--	--	3	--	--	20	--	--
Bobolink	--	--	--	30	--	--	--	--	--
Western Meadowlark	3	--	--	6	--	4	--	--	--
Baltimore Oriole	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Red-winged Blackbird	--	8	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Brown-headed Cowbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	40	--	--
Common Grackle	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5	--
Song Sparrow	--	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Chipping Sparrow	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5
Northern Cardinal	2	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--

The overall tally of 47 species for this survey effort compares to 40 species as recorded on August 12^th. The combined total is 57 species for both dates.

These records are especially valuable as they provide further details on the occurrence of a great variety of wildbirds that occur at wetlands habitat present along the proposed corridor of the r-project. This industrial powerline would bisect some of the wetland settings. It would also impose a powerline across the flight path used by wildbirds as they fly from the overnight roost at Goose Lake WMA to the wetlands just to the south.

Late Summer Birds Noted in the Valentine Vicinity

These are the various bird species noted during July and August, 2018, in the immediate vicinity of Valentine, NE.

The overall number is typical for the post-breeding season during a time of the year known as the summer doldrums. The most prominent feature of these two months was the occurrence of fledged young, most notably those that visited the bird seed buffet at the shack. Many of the species listed are year-round residents. Some notables included:

* Wild Turkey: a female with six young originally arrived in mid-July, but the number of young soon decreased to five and this number was consistent through the remainder of the period. In early august a second female was present, but it had only one youngster.

* Turkey Vulture: daily residents seen as they soared over the North Lake Shore Hills.

* Mourning Dove: the notable increase in August certainly reflects the occurrence of fledged young and as the birds gathered in post-breeding flocks.

* Western Kingbird: certainly present in Valentine during the entire period.

* Eastern Kingbird: associated with the north side of the Mill Pond and the Water Tanks Tract during the entire period.

* Yellow-headed Blackbird: a single male occurred with the many blackbirds at the seed buffet. This is the first time this species has been seen during either of these two months in recent years.

* Red-winged Blackbird: following the occurrence of many of these birds including adults and fledglings, the numbers were very reduced as the species left the area.

* Common Grackle: similar occurrence as the Red-winged Blackbird; the 35 were the last occurrence of significance at the horse pens and bird seed around the shack on August 1^st.

* Indigo Bunting: lesser occurrence than expected.

The sixty species listed are indicated in taxonomic sequence as defined by the International Ornithological Council, 2018.

Proper Name	192	199	210	213	220	230	230
Canada Goose	--	7	6	--	--	--	--
Wood Duck	--	--	1	1	--	--	2
Wild Turkey	6	10	10	16	17	14	14
Great Blue Heron	2	--	--	--	--	--	1
Turkey Vulture	10	8	28	--	5	5	9
Red-tailed Hawk	1	1	2	--	--	--	1
Killdeer	--	--	1	--	1	1	--
Spotted Sandpiper	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Rock Dove	5	2	7	--	7	--	--
Eurasian Collared Dove	8	7	7	3	6	4	3
Mourning Dove	7	6	16	7	21	12	12
Common Nighthawk	--	1	--	--	--	--	--
Chimney Swift	5	9	26	--	--	12	--
Belted Kingfisher	--	1	2	--	--	1	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	1	2	--	--	--	--
Downy Woodpecker	1	1	--	--	1	1	1
Hairy Woodpecker	--	--	--	--	1	--	--
Northern Flicker	--	1	4	--	1	1	1
American Kestrel	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Eastern Phoebe	1	2	1	--	1	--	1
Western Wood Pewee	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Eastern Wood Pewee	--	1	5	--	1	1	--
Western Kingbird	4	--	7	--	6	--	--
Eastern Kingbird	1	2	2	--	1	2	--
Great Crested Flycatcher	3	5	6	--	--	3	--
Bell's Vireo	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Red-eyed Vireo	1	1	3	--	--	1	--
Blue Jay	--	2	8	--	1	3	4
American Crow	--	2	2	--	--	--	--
Cedar Waxwing	4	2	4	3	2	11	3
Black-capped Chickadee	--	5	2	--	2	--	--
Purple Martin	6	6	11	21	--	--	--
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	10	5	--	2	--	--	--
American Cliff Swallow	20	--	2	--	--	--	--
House Wren	6	9	16	--	3	4	3
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
White-breasted Nuthatch	--	1	2	--	1	--	--
Grey Catbird	1	2	2	--	1	1	1
Brown Thrasher	1	--	--	--	--	--	--
Eastern Bluebird	--	1	1	--	--	--	--
American Robin	5	10	14	--	6	20	15
House Sparrow	10	20	15	--	10	15	--
House Finch	3	4	4	4	3	6	4
American Goldfinch	3	3	5	--	3	4	3
Common Yellowthroat	2	2	4	2	--	--	--
American Redstart	--	1	2	--	--	--	--
American Yellow Warbler	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Yellow-breasted Chat	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Yellow-headed Blackbird	--	--	--	1	--	--	--
Orchard Oriole	1	--	2	--	--	--	--
Red-winged Blackbird	20	25	23	30	1	--	--
Brown-headed Cowbird	5	5	7	--	2	--	--
Common Grackle	5	10	7	35	4	--	--
Chipping Sparrow	5	4	12	--	4	6	8
Field Sparrow	1	--	2	--	--	--	--
Lark Sparrow	--	2	5	4	4	4	--
Spotted Towhee	1	1	7	--	--	--	--
Black-headed Grosbeak	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Northern Cardinal	1	1	3	1	1	1	1
Blue Grosbeak	1	--	1	--	1	--	--
Indigo Bunting	--	--	2	--	--	--	--

New additions to the tally for these months were the American Kestrel, Western Wood Pewee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, American Redstart and Yellow-breasted Chat in July, most notably at Government Canyon.

The tally for 2018 differs from 2017 (70 species on 11 dates) and 2016 (70 species on 16 dates. Obviously the number of dates when records were kept can make a difference in the over number of species recorded, which totals 81 overall for these two months since August 2015.

Bird Survey of Summer Avifauna in Goose Lake District

An unusual bird survey effort occurred on Sunday, August 12 at several wetlands in the vicinity of Goose Lake, WMA in southeast Holt county. Jason Thiele visited the wildlife management area, Detters Lake to the west and also kept notes of occurrence for wetlands present at the headwaters of Clearwater Creek (which eventually empty into the Elkhorn River) along county road 846.

What is notable is that the largest extent of waterfowl were at the small wetlands rather than at Goose Lake. The results are also valuable for indicating songbirds of the later part of the breeding season. This is a list of the 39 species recorded — with most of the songbirds from the wildlife area — according to records available at ebird.org:

Proper Name - Indicated Number

Canada Goose - 55 Wood Duck - 20 Blue-winged Teal - 120; 70 at one spot and 50 at another Northern Shoveler - 4 Mallard - 10 These five species of waterfowl were at a wetland complex which is a portion of the headwaters area of Clearwater creek, a waterway hydrologically connected to the Elkhorn River which then connects to the Platte River that has a known designation as "waters of the United States" Northern Bobwhite - 2 Pied-billed Grebe - 1; also at a Clearwater Creek headwaters wetland Great Blue Heron - 3; seen only at the Clearwater wetlands Turkey Vulture - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Killdeer - 6; only at the Clearwater wetlands Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Franklin's Gull - 1 at the WMA lake where there is a fisheries resource Belted Kingfisher - 1 Eurasian Collared Dove - 1 Mourning Dove - 9; either at the WMA or one of the Clearwater Creek wetlands surveyed

Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 4 American Kestrel - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 16; a dozen at Clearwater wetlands Warbling Vireo - 1 Blue Jay - 1 American Crow - 6 Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Barn Swallow - 6 House Wren - 1 Grey Catbird - 1 Common Starling - 5 American Robin - 8 American Goldfinch - 9 Common Yellowthroat - 1 American Yellow Warbler - 1 Western Meadowlark - 8 Baltimore Oriole - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 49 Song Sparrow - 2 Field Sparrow - 2; actively breeding at the WMA Northern Cardinal - 2

Notably missing is any indication of the Eastern Meadowlark, which is typically a regular resident in the extensive wetland meadow habitat in the area.

The proposed r-project industrial powerline would be placed along county road 846, and which would basically create an artificial skyline barrier between Goose Lake WMA and important marshland southward along the county road that includes habitats in northern Wheeler county.

There are historic records for this region available from August 1990 and 1993, as well as a some additional results from July and more in September in different years.

Ineffective Roadside Erosion Repairs Along Park Lane at Minnechaduza Creek by the Cherry County Roads Department

Presented July 31, 2018 at the Cherry County Commissioners meeting.

There is an ongoing erosion problem along Park Lane at the bridge crossing over Minnechaduza Creek. Water runoff from the street has been diverted by the Cherry County Roads Department (CCRD) – the entity responsible for maintenance of this roadway – onto Valentine City Park property and which then drains into the creek.

Gully erosion at failed spillway.

An obvious extent of erosion was occurring in early July so the situation was reported to the CCRD office, with a request that a repair be done. The following steps by CCRD were then taken, as personally observed:

1. 1) A smallish berm of some sort of unknown aggregate was placed to move water southward to where it could pour off the bridge and into the creekway; the berm at the gully was washed out by a subsequent rain
   
2. 2) A larger berm of aggregate was placed at the problem site, which washed out during the next rain
   
3. 3) An asphaltic mix was strewn over the repaired berm to divert the water southward
   
4. 4) The asphaltic mix berm was modified so there would be a “spillway” into a gully to direct water runoff into the creek; a portion of the spillway was washed away during the rainfall on July 23rd, and the problematic situation was once again reported to the CCRD office. At this time it was mentioned the CCRD employee indicated that some sort of repair would occur on August 1, so a request was made for further details with findings requested to be heard later in the week.
   
5. 5) On July 25 a bunch of large rocks were dumped into the erosional gully to seemingly thwart erosion. It was another effort of failure as there are too many voids that will allow the unchanged route of the runoff water to erode beneath the rocks.
   
6. 6) Upon asking on July 26 at the CCRD office about the repair to supposedly occur on August 1, no information could be provided.
   The dump of big rocks occurred following an apparent consultation with a City of Valentine official (this situation has been discussed at least twice with the city manager).
   

This situation is problematic for at least these reasons:

Park Lane at North Lake Shore Drive. Erosional problem at the lower right of this photograph.

1. A. The problem has not been suitably fixed despite five attempts by county employees.
   
2. B. The runoff is being conveyed down the creek bank so erosion is occurring next to the bridge abutment, which might eventually result in a threat to its integrity?
   
3. C. Stormwater runoff from a county road is being forced upon a western extent of Valentine City Park, diminishing this public property. Why should a county issue become a city problem!
   
4. D. Sediment resulting from the runoff gully is going into the creek, and thus is a situation where fill is being illegally placed into waters of the United States, according to Section 404 regulations as dealt with by the Army Corps of Engineers. Runoff sediment is obvious in the creek at this site, thus there is a violation of this federal mandate. A sediment fence was placed along the creek-side on July 30.
   
5. E. Runoff water and erosional material is allowed to get into Minnechaduza Creek, degrading its water quality (as regulated by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality) by adding automotive road debris into the creek, as well as allowing roadside trash to get into the creek waters thus contributing to unacceptable pollution.
   

When will a long-term, permanent solution be placed here? An example of one solution is obvious on the west side of the street, where there is a drainage culvert. There are other solutions available (reshaping the street surface to establish a less-concentrated runoff pattern; perhaps a pond or wetland for runoff from Lake Shore Drive at the northeast corner of the Mill Pond, or maybe a bioretention garden at the park?).

The bottom line is: Why do Cherry county residents have to continue to pay for ineffective work associated with a roadway? Who is accountable for this obvious failure, thus far?

Rocks dumped by the Cherry County Roads Department at the erosion problem aside Park Lane, and within Valentine City Park.

Erosional material and can trash below the drainway failure at Minnechaduza Creek and Park Lane. June 30, 2018.

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County Fails Again With Repair While Valentine Street Department Does Right

August 20, 2018

The City of Valentine is attentive to roadway issues and their reaction and action was very obvious on the north side at Minnechaduza Creek on Friday, 17 August.

There is an ongoing and unacceptable situation along the Park Lane where it crosses Minnecheduza Creek. Maintenance along this roadway is the responsibility of the Cherry County road department. Cherry county officials and employees had repeatedly failed in their repair efforts, as despite five useless repair efforts the erosional problem continued. Even after the situation was presented at a Cherry County commissioners meeting where a document with details and photographs was presented, nothing changed. The only thing heard at the meeting was bloviating by a particular commissioner about this or that in previous years and how great the results had been during past times. There was an indication that the problem would be dealt with, yet it was not. Whatever county employee responsible for this failure needs to be held accountable as he has wasted multiple hours of employee time and thus money on doing worthless things.

Because of the big rain on Wednesday, August 15th, the sediment fence placed by the street crew of Valentine to prevent material from getting into Minnechaduza Creek was overloaded and there was a stream of the sediment that flowed beyond the fence but thankfully did not pollute the creek. Next to the street, there was a safety hazard as the roadside dropoff was more than 12 inches and the creekward incline fell off even more dangerously.

Upon reporting the situation to staff in the Valentine city office on Friday morning, the entire situation changed. The city of Valentine street crew took control. The office staff conveyed my message. A city worker quickly assessed the problem. A suitable and effective crew arrived, including heavy equipment and they were focused and seen to be quickly working to solve an ongoing problem, within the morning to provide a temporary repair.

City of Valentine staff and its street crew quickly arrived on last Friday morning – after having left a brief message in city hall – and addressed a situation which was actually the responsibility of the county. The current diversional situation is quite fine to avoid further erosion. It is however quite unknown when the county will provide a permanent solution to an obvious and ongoing problem. There would be no more stormwater runoff causing erosion on the bank along a county road. The creekbank in west Valentine City Park was being given attention and work done to ensure that sediment would not get into Minnechaduza Creek. The Friday repair was more than enough to make certain the fill, overlying asphaltic mix and temporary curbing would replace a worthless county effort.

The current repair is, however, only temporary. There has been no indication of a permanent repair by the county. The works needs to be acceptable to the City of Valentine and local residents. Perhaps commissioner Jim Van Winkle should pay attention to happening now, rather than speaking of past times which mean so little at their monthly meetings. Thankfully in January he will no longer be able to publically convey his historic haze of events which mostly now have only a slight significance. Perhaps commissioners Tanya Storer and Martin DeNaeyer should pay attention to local concerns rather than travel to Washington D.C. during these August days. Do they think their presence meant anything to people that have actual, significant national accomplishments? It seemed to have just been a photo opportunity?

City of Valentine employees listened and acted. My hearty thanks to them!

P.S. There was no change at this locale following the rainfall on the 19th. So there appears to be an adequate, temporary repair until the county does an actual permanent repair.

Request Filed to Classify Wind Turbines as an Industrial Feature in Cherry County

A request to amend the Cherry County, Nebraska, zoning regulations was filed July 19, 2018 to revise the designation associated with wind turbines. The request was to change the regulations so wind turbines are an industrial feature, rather than the currently classification as “commercial/utility”. An additional request was to have industrial wind turbines specifically indicated as an industrial use as referenced by section 303 of the county regulations.

The request was filed by Cherry County landowner William R. Weller – whose property adjoins many parcels owned by a land-owner who has signed an agreement to allow wind turbine placement on their property. Mr. Weller also paid the $50 filing fee early in the morning on July 19 at the county offices. A two-page attachment was included in the filing, indicating where changes in the regulatory text were being requested, mostly associated with section 613 of the zoning regulations.

When the was submitted to the county zoning administrator, a request was made that the item be placed on the agenda for the August 7th Planning and Zoning Board meeting to indicate a specific date and time for a public hearing and an active public consideration of this proposal.

This is the request filed with the zoning administrator by Mr. Weller.

Request for Revisions to the Cherry County Zoning Regulations

July 19, 2018; changes are indicated by bold text. This online document has been slightly changed for formatting purposes, but there were no substantive changes in content.

303.42 INDUSTRIAL USE: Of, relating to, concerning, or arising from the assembling, fabrication, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, or processing of goods, or mineral extraction.

Revise to:

303.42 INDUSTRIAL USE: Of, relating to, concerning, or arising from the assembling, fabrication, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, or processing of goods, mineral extraction or any WECS with a wind turbine(s) height above ground exceeding 100 feet.

SECTION 613 WIND ENERGY CONVERSION FACILITIES

613.03 Commercial/Utility Grade Wind Energy Systems

Revise to: 613.03 Industrial Grade Wind Energy Systems

Purpose: It is the purpose of this regulation to promote the safe, effective and efficient use of commercial/utility grade wind energy systems within Cherry County.

Revise to:

It is the purpose of this regulation to promote the safe, effective and efficient use of industrial grade wind energy systems within Cherry County.

Definitions

2. Commercial/Utility WECS shall mean a wind energy conversion system of equal to or greater than 100 kilowatts in total name plate generating capacity.

Revise to:

2. Industrial WECS shall mean a wind energy conversion system of equal to or greater than 100 kilowatts in total name plate generating capacity.

Requirements

Commercial/Utility Grade wind energy systems shall be permitted as a Conditional Use within any district where...

Revise to:

Industrial Grade wind energy systems shall be permitted as a Conditional Use within any district where...

Table on Setbacks; column title

WE-CS Wind Turbine Commercial/Utility WECS

Revise to: Wind Turbine Industrial WECS

Special Safety and Design Standards

All towers shall adhere to the following safety and design standards:

Section 1. The Commercial/Utility WECS owner(s) and/or operator(s) shall conduct an analysis on potential shadow flicker at any occupied...

Revise to:

The industrial WECS owner(s) and/or operator(s) shall conduct an analysis on potential shadow flicker at any occupied...

Section 3. All Commercial/Utility WECS shall have a sign or signs posted on the tower, transformer and substation

Revise to:

3. All industrial WECS shall have a sign or signs posted on the tower, transformer and substation...

4. All wind turbines, which are a part of a commercial/utility WECS, shall be installed with a tubular, monopole type tower.

Revise to:

All wind turbines, which are a part of an industrial WECS, shall be installed with a tubular, monopole type tower.

6. Color and finish:

All wind turbines and towers that are part of a commercial/utility WECS shall be white, grey, or another non-obtrusive color. Blade finishes shall be matte or non-reflective.

Revise to:

6. Color and finish:

All wind turbines and towers that are part of an industrial WECS shall be white, grey, or another non-obtrusive color. Blade finishes shall be matte or non-reflective.

12. ... each Commercial/Utility WECS shall have a Decommissioning plan...

Revise to: 12. ... each industrial WECS shall have a Decommissioning plan...

13. Noise:

No Commercial/Utility WECS shall exceed 50 dBA at the nearest structure occupied by humans.

Exception: a Commercial/Utility WECS may exceed 50 dBA during periods of severe weather as defined by the US Weather Service.

Revise to:

No industrial WECS shall exceed 50 dBA at the nearest structure occupied by humans.

Exception: an industrial WECS may exceed 50 dBA during periods of severe weather as defined by the US Weather Service.

Resource Agency Destroys Grassland Vegetation

The Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District recently destroyed wildland vegetation at the Valentine Mill Pond in order to comply with a recommendation from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

A unique area of warm-season grasses, forbs and other plant species growing in a small tract northeast of the mill pond was intentionally mown as it is the emergency spillway for the mill pond. Not included in the discussion is the well established drain which can be opened to facilitate removal of water from the pond.

An inquiry at the MNNRD office indicated that the mowing was done because of a “recommendation” by DNR. Staff were indifferent to the distinction of a recommendation to a requirement.

Results of the mowing – which is the first time the site has been mown in the past few years – was more than dismal. Results are indicative:

1. Vegetation was sheared to a minimal height and in some instances was cut so low that bare ground was apparent.

2. Ruts were left where the mowing occurred in lowland while there were moist-soil conditions.

3. Several clumps of cut vegetation were left behind which could result in further degradation of vegetation due to a “smothering” effect of the piles.

4. Mowing was done during a time of the year when wildbirds were breeding in the immediate vicinity, including a resident Common Yellowthroat.

5. Areas were mown which had a ground elevation above what could be considered as being within the required spillway.

MNNRD officials took no responsibility for these results, instead agency staff said that the “recommended” mowing had to be done. There is a big difference between recommended and required. NRD staff did not want to consider this distinction.

An inspection by DNR staff occurred on March 28, 2018 according to a document provided by the state agency. One “deficiency requiring attention” was trees on a downstream slope. The two state of Nebraska employees must have been inattentive as this tract of vegetation did not have any tree or shrub growth. This is a place observed daily during the past three years and where there was no such growth. The NRD responded with an eventual mowing, once when there was an equipment breakdown and then a second time when the greatest extent of grassland vegetation was destroyed.

Following the second mowing in July, an email exchange occurred with DNR staff. Initially, there was an information exchange, but after indicating a short list that might help to protect vegetation values while still meeting the necessity for dam safety, the person at DNR cut off the communication by a terse comment that the NRD can cut the vegetation weekly if they want. This was their indicative response to establishing parameters that could protect a bit of a natural vegetation space.

When asked – via email by a DNR employee – what might be done to protect the natural values associated with the spillway area, my points were:

1. Mowing should not occur every year as biannual mowing would be sufficient

2. Do not mow to an extent that “scalping” of the vegetation occurs and nearly bare areas are a result; there should be approximately six inches of remaining vegetative height

3. Indicate the extent of emergency spillway area that would need to be mown so that natural vegetation on portions of the site could thrive without disturbance

4. Do not mow during the bird breeding season, or approximately April 15 to August 15

5. Consult with an authority on warm-season vegetation so that mowing would occur at a time that would be beneficial to the continuing vitality of this little bit of natural plants and which is a unique feature of the mill pond public space

6. These items should be established by a signed memorandum of agreement to ensure that the NRD and DNR agree on how the grassy space would be managed

Numerous pictures have been personally taken at what has been a quite fine growth of summer plants, including different sorts of warm-season grasses. There is nothing better than a view of “turkey-foot” or Big Bluestem as seen against a western sky. Indian Grass has also been indicative, as well as Switch-grass. Species of various special pollinator insects have appreciated the variety of special forbs including milkweed. There was common mullein they appreciated. Habitat was removed with particular intent.

A bit of natural space at the Mill Pond – known as Lake Minnechaduza in 1919 – has been important to many sorts of wildness that anyone could enjoy every day. It is deplorable that government officials whose job is conservation, do exactly the opposite in failing to conserve unique resources and where there is relatively barren ground instead of lush vegetation.

The final communication with the DNR was an email of indifference and a pathetic statement that the NRD could mow the tract every week if they wanted to. Whatever was to occur was something that the agency did not care about, as they were only responsible for the safety of the dam. This statement was made despite the inspection report having trees as an item specifically considered among the “downstream slope” section of the dam inspection checklist.

Something could have been done to reach an equitable solution, but instead state bureaucrats decided to do nothing for the vegetative resource and unique public setting. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources indicates requirements yet takes no responsibility for the results.

In the case at the Valentine Mill Pond, a unique resource is ravaged with apparent indifference by the NRD because of the DNR.