R-Project an Apt Moniker for Pending Powerline

Identifying the pending powerline through the southern Sandhills as the "R-Project" is an appropriate moniker ... one which does not pertain to its approximate visual representation.

The name is more appropriate for rampant results which will ensue once construction occurs and the massive towers and drooping lines are imposed across the land. Do not doubt that the power transmission line won't get built. The entire process undertaken by the Nebraska Public Power District and the Southwest Power Pool has been focused upon a when, not if proposition.

This decision originated, as initially approved outside of Nebraska by agency bureaucrats associated with the regional power pool. NPPD agreed and continues to promote this project which will cost more than $300 million to construct.

There are a lot of r-words which pertain to this project which is a juggernaut which will not be stopped, despite any negative findings. It will ruin native habitats. It will destroy viewscapes. It will result in bird deaths. It will be a threat to threatened and/or endangered species. Etc.

NPPD has had public meetings. They have accepted public comment. The entire scenario is conveyed as being open an open process. the agency will convey some perspective to slight the concerns and indicate that their purposes are the most important facts to consider.

However, the agency has not even considered a no-build option!

Also of particular pertinence, currently, none of the information NPPD has garnered in association with this effort has been made available for public review and evaluation. Known details are whatever they want to convey.

What has been the involvement of state and federal environmental agencies? This status is unknown, and may be indicated in whatever environmental assessment that might be prepared and submitted to the public for scrutiny.

Presently, what are the details being considered to provide an acceptable transmission line corridor. These details are not known, not indicated in detail by the utility company. They listen and make a decision suited to their goal.

How might this powerline — which will undoubtedly be built— corridor be optimized in its placement to minimize overall impacts to the land? It would seem that a route associated with current features, such as along Highway 83 would work, but, based upon previous comments, NPPD would rather place a powerline elsewhere, because during a storm, two lines along a similar corridor would result in reduced service to customers.

And unforgettably, there has been nothing presented thus far as to how potential, and known impacts — based upon historic context — will be addressed.

The situation is considered as being an endeavor to "go green" as based upon some people's limited perspective, as very recently conveyed in more than one newspaper-published comment.

This juggernaut of ruination to sandhills' places will not be stopped. The result is one more, especially destructive insult, to the especially unique features of the region.

Powerline Purposes

The three primary reasons for the powerline to be built, according to NPPD details, are:

1). Enhance operation

In reviewing the project website and through direct communication with NPPD reps, it has yet to be determined how a secondary powerline will enhance operation. The agency already provides service which they would probably convey as being "completely satisfactory" since the company could not provide service which was not satisfactory. What sort of enhancement is required for customers within this NPPD service area, and what is the utility company perspective which forces this perspective? A large kilowatt transmission line will not provide power to local customers, unless it is indirectly. This is another aspect which has not been well explained in readily available public information among the sparse details available on the companies website.

2) Relive congestion on existing lines

The existing lines apparently transit enough power to serve NPPD customers within this portion of their service area. If it didn't there would have been a multitude of customer complaints. Removing the congestion is a misnomer for providing more lines to promote and subsidize local power development, which is beyond the amount currently required for use by Nebraska power customers.

Company officials have not indicated weather threats and the influence of weather hazards, nor potential prairie fires, on existing power lines so they need to spread the threat?

It seems that because of "events of nature" that NPPD is considering how to spread powerlines across a greater expanse, because if they were located within a common corridor, they are alarmed that a single event might cause some power outages. So they prefer to spread the damage over a greater expanse?

If NPPD wanted a perfect power providing record, perhaps they should provide each of there customers with an electrical generator and a ready source of propane to operate them, so that no customer has to ever be without power?

Things happen and the company can never address them all!

3) Provide opportunities for development of renewable energy projects

This R-Project is nothing more than an obvious effort to enhance opportunities to take advantage of government subsidies to develop turbine facilities which currently work well to put public money into the pockets of developers and land-owners. How many dollars of public money are being spent in this endeavor?

It's quite obvious that some people nearby the R-Project corridor are interested in this project. A new transmission line will provide them a new means of economic return. The web-site of the Cherry County wind energy association — men focused upon wind energy development — makes this especially obvious.

The environmental armageddon associated with this massive and lengthy power transmission line will occur too soon. Viewscapes will be lost. Habitats will be fragmented. Wildbird mortality will occur because of birds striking wires spread across the skies, since a new barrier will be imposed across former wildlands.

Eventually, additional public and private property will be decimated by placement of wind turbines and service roads. There will be additional powerlines built to connect these facilities to the power line grid.

Will the power produced will be sent to places outside Nebraska, where there is already a surplus of electricity generated beyond the needs of state businesses and residents.

The incessant, yet obviously biased demand for more wind energy, will be done to the detriment of so many resources important to Nebraskans, and to a greater extent in this case, to the exquisite features spread about the dunes and valleys of the unique Sand Hills.

This project is wrought with problems, yet it will certainly be built. The transmission line is but the first obvious destructive event. Additional destruction and degradation will subsequently occur.

Appreciate the hills now because there are more efforts underway to industrialize this special land.

Ongoing Improvements Continue to Desecrate the Distinctive Sandhills

As so-called improvements have continued unabated, distinct characteristics and features of the sand hills have been destroyed or have disappeared. Some features are known only as history associated with times in decades long gone.

Prominently, the region was once an immense expanse of dune covered with prairie grasses, interspersed with small blue lakes and wetlands, with a few trees here and there. Any horizon presented an expanse of unending hills and natural vistas of a unique natural ecosystem.

The hills are now a fractured landscape because of the ongoing and continual imposition of development and civilization, one step at a time. There are roads, towers, endless powerlines, changed habitats and landscapes obvious during the day. More subtle are pervasive invasive species. At night, lights can hardly be avoided.

There is currently a peak in the deleterious conditions, dubitably achieved after one change and another throughout many decades of endless change — i.e., so-called improvements — after another. More will occur, and more features will certainly disappear.

Historic Origins in the 1850s

U.S. Army caravans, more than once or twice, forced native residents from the hills, forcing them into smaller and smaller territories, and eventually onto reservations. Was this an improvement in the lives of the Indians.

Officials land surveyors indicated townships and sections lines upon across the dunes. Was this an improvement for what had been an unmarked place without individual claims of ownership?

The U.S. Government would provide a land claim to pioneers, as long as it was improved by breaking the sod and cultivating a crop in sandy soils, or adding some trees. Was this an improvement upon the native prairie which had developed naturally for thousands of years?

Railroads were built to the edge of the frontier, opening new places to towns and settlers. Was this an improvement as civilization encroached further and further?

The first attempt by the U.S. Government to get the land settled was not quite as successful as it could have been, so the claim law was changed, by a politician. A claimant could get 640 vs. 160 acres. The settler had to still till the ground. This was not an improvement on the earlier Homestead Act.

With the extirpation of elk and bison, gray wolves, residents for eons, tried to survive by eating "slow elk." A bounty was enacted so soon this native mammal was completely extirpated. There are stories among the chronicles that celebrate the death of the wolves. These predators were among the last of the lingering original condition of the sandhills. All the elk were killed long before the wolves.

Ranchers claimed land, and as government officials enforced boundaries, they were limited to property they actually owned. There are a bunch of ranch entities, some still operating which were involved in this ruse. There were illegal land claims, and how did the many instances benefit the sandhills, since the intent was to benefit a land-owner's pocket-book?

Limitations on range land meant that land actually owned was the sole source of grass where cattle could range and hayland for a ranch. Early in the 1900s, ranchers decided upon a new option. Ditch the wetlands to provide a hay meadow rather than an unwanted swamp. In Cherry County in July 1900, N.S. Rowley, of Kennedy, was cooperating with Messrs. Bachelor and Ball to complete a drainage ditch two miles in length, ten feet wide, and five feet deep to drain the Boardman Swamp. Further details followed, as issued on a page of a local newspaper, or in a book of reminiscences by an oldtime rancher.

How was this effort an improvement for the flora and fauna present? What did the birds think when they arrived at a former haven, only to discover that there was no water habitat?

Most of the prairie dog towns present within the sandhills have been destroyed, because they created unwanted holes recognized as hazards. How did their extirpation benefit burrowing owls and other species present at these places?

How many snakes have been killed because, they are also an unwelcomed resident. The same for gophers.

These are obvious examples of animal eradication. Add the elk to this list. Then include unique plants associated with plants that formerly thrived in inter-dune valleys, especially fens which are a unique habitat, and which have mostly been ditched and partially drained.

REA lines spread electric power throughout the region. It was a wonderful comparison to the pioneer times when kerosene lamps or candles where the only light available during the night. With electricity always available, the radio, refrigerator and television spread into every household, provided by wires strung along poles built to every residence. It was a boon to the people. After the initial effort, there were subsequently more power distribution lines constructed by utility providers to give improved service to residents. The poles and lines connect every community within the region. Each segment was carefully constructed, with reliability a focus.

A line from Stapleton connects to Tryon and then to Arthur. Hyannis is serviced by a powerline built to its south, through the Sandhills National Natural Landmark. Along the Highway 20 corridor through northern Cherry county, there is a powerline. For each of these lines, no one was asked whether or not they wanted these constructs. It was just done by a utility company to improve service.

Because it was easier to dump things over the hill, beyond the ranch buildings, there are many unknown dumps, places where unwanted equipment, machinery or things called trash has accumulated, or spots of a similar context, whatever they might be called. The sort of discards is unknown, but is obvious at some places, especially north of Ashby. It may have been easy to get rids of unwanted things, since out of sight, out of mind.

How does dumping discards into an available swale indicate any respect for the land? It is certainly not an improvement, but rather a disgraceful situation that will linger forever, once done, and as never removed.

Cellular-phone towers have proliferated in recent years. The intent is obviously to provide complete coverage, because self-centered people had to have instant access to others. The towers, usually hundreds of feet in height, regularly have a blinking light on its top. They are obviously an essential during emergencies, but cell towers are not built to provide emergency communications.

How does the placement of many towers more than 400 feet in height, contribute to any appreciation of a dark sky at night within, in particular, Cherry County?

These are among the most recent improvements contributing to the demise.

There are more pending.

The R-Project being promoted by the Nebraska Public Power District is a juggernaut by a public utility which expects nothing more than an approval for their proposal. Rate-payers will pay to provide a transmission line to distribute electricity generated by turbines in Nebraska to elsewhere. It will be imposed across 220 miles of landscape, though the constructor did not receive permission from anyone for its construction.

There are plans to place wind turbines at various place within the sandhills. Two prominent spots are south of Cody and westward of Baldy Hill, in northeast Arthur County. Others will certainly be proposed because there are efforts underway in this regard. Each turbine complex will be presented as an improvement to provide green energy ... and how wonderful it will be while the only reason the facility is being built is because of subsidies paid by power users and the general public. The turbines will be hazards to birds and bats, fracture habitat and further the decline in open spaces. The generated power will likely be sent outstate. The impact will be imposed locally while the benefactors will be distant, including the people making money. Of course a few local land-owners will be getting checks, while they gaze in wonder at massive turbines, slowly turning on their property, and the associated access roads and buried powerlines. Ain't that sweet?

Throughout these 150 years of history, there have been only a few murmurs expressing views associated with conservation of natural vistas and an opportunity to enjoy a natural horizon of just land and sky.

Several years, a personal opinion was indicated in an article published in the Lincoln Journal Star, regarding the imposition of cellular service towers in northern Cherry county. It meant nothing, because there are more cellular towers present now within the region than ever before.

The Nebraska Public Power District has recently decided to impost a new transmission line upon Cherry County. It will be built. There will be more turbines.

There will be more and more things placed upon the land, based upon economic benefit for businesses and land-owners.

The land has no opinion. Birds can't express any perspective, and when one hits and turbine blade and falls to the ground to be eaten by a coyote, there is no report in the newspaper. Plants are mute when ripped from the round when a new turbine access road is constructed.

When some light atop a cellular tower blinks ever night now and forever, no one has complained.

Improvements and monetary gain are the primary focus. And don't forget doing any and everything to promote any benefit to the livestock industry, even if that might include killing as many coyotes as possible. Or carrying to pistol to shoot any gopher seen, because they are no longer welcomed in the cattle pastures.

The sand hills' environment is under an ongoing assault which will result in a huge loss of features which future generations might want to appreciate and enjoy. Each year, any such opportunity is lessened. It's such a shame.

This commentary conveys a basic perspective which reflects an obvious reality.

Improvements in many instances are actually degradation, but there is no voice for the land?

Tree Removal First Step for Omaha Projects

For two projects underway in city of Omaha parks, the first step has been tree removal.

Along Happy Hollow Creek, on the east side of Memorial Park, the channel is going to be stabilized using tons of rock that will be dumped on the banks. Dozens of trees were being removed first.

Levi Carter Park

Massive and ancient cottonwoods were taken down in Levi Carter Park. The area will be used as a large "spoil pile" for earthen material to be dredged from the lake, to increase its depth. Not sure what the Red-bellied Woodpecker in the immediate area thought about the loss of what had formerly been foraging habitat, or even possibly its roost and nest.

Note the size of the tree trunk, in comparison to the equipment which caused its destruction.

View of some fowl as seen from Wavecrest Park

A variety of 12-15 species of waterfowl have been typical each day during the recent weeks. The bird use continues despite some periods of cold and just a small area of water that is not ice-covered.

Disc Course Users Violate Laws at Hummel Park

Miscreants associated with a "sanctioned purpose" have been willfully and blatantly breaking Omaha laws at Hummel Park. Their actions are dramatically degrading the park setting.

The purpose of the Omaha Metro Disc Golf Association is to establish a disc golf course upon the northern portion of the city of Omaha park. They have received permission to do this by the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property.

During a recent visit, it became obvious that disc golf miscreants violated laws of the city. A return visit to document the multitude of violations, easily and readily indicated a problem situation. Any of these actions at another city park would not be tolerated and strictly enforced, but there appears to be a different situation at Hummel Park.

The perpetrators have been:

1) Drinking alcohol in a park as obvious by the many beer cans strewn about nearly everywhere along the disc course route; drinking beer is not allowed in parks according to city statutes, as indicated by officials with the Omaha Police Department. There were indications of marijuana use, though this could not be confirmed.

2) Littering in a city park; the endless litter noted was in direct association with the disc golf course route

3) Marking more than 100 trees with arrows, dots and numbers, with each instance vandalism of city property; most of the markings were associated with indicating disc course directions, but some were made for no apparent reason

4) Spray painting graffiti on park features including benches, barricades and fallen trees

5) Excessively removing flora amongst a forest which is unique in the Omaha park system

6) Cutting down trees and other forest vegetation to provide an open fairway, which in several instances is excessive

7) Digging and moving soil to create golf tees, without any apparent effort to properly stabilize the soil to prevent future erosion

8) Establishing trail routes up steep slopes which will certainly erode, as no effort has been made to prevent erosional down-cutting

9) Moving soil and excavating hill slopes within an area known to have been used historically by native Indian tribes, with no evaluation survey done to avoid disturbance of artifact sites or other important heritage site; it should be noted that in past years, however, that city officials allowed construction of the hilltop shelter upon an Indian burial

10) Creating tee sites which were then subsequently abandoned, without any effort to return the spot to its previous, natural and vegetated condition.

Due to Missouri River flooding, any recent disc course work at the park has not occurred as the eastern access routes are blocked. This condition has allowed the park to be relatively undisturbed for several weeks, which was obvious on the date visited as a fine variety of birdlife was appreciated while documenting the abhorrent conditions associated with the disc course.

These are just the obvious items presented in a summary fashion as determined during a close inspection of the disc course route conducted August 17, 2011. Parking was possible at the lot on the north side of the park, along Ponca Road. There were no signs to indicate the park was closed. Nearby, workers were actively constructing the new nature center building.

Disc Golf Perps

This is a summary of those items which were obvious violations of city law, and a few other notable problems. Each instance is based upon a multi-hour, morning visit on August 17, 2011. A photograph was taken of each of numbered items which included a similarly numbered index card to indicate the item of interest. Any mentions of markings upon a tree is based upon spray paint placed upon a live tree, unless otherwise noted.

Disc Golf Hole # 1

#1 - trash by excavated tee

#2 - no. 1 arrow on bur oak tree

#3 - trash

#4 - trash pile along the stepway, along with other separate trash items

#5 - bullseye on tree at the bottom of the steps

Hole #2

#6 - number 2 and arrow on dead bur oak tree

#7 - pizza box sign placed along the trail to the next tee

#8 - smiley face upon tree

#9 - number 2 on walnut tree

#10 - trash container with beer cans, indicating illegal drink in the city park

#11 - number 2 on black locust tree

The course route then goes up a steep slope, subject to increased erosion as the cover vegetation has been cut to the nubbins.

#12 - arrow on dying walnut tree

#13 - trash along fairway which goes straight down a ravine, and since the vegetation has been cutaway, will be subject to increased erosion

#14 - the word "revolt" spray-painted on a hackberry tree

Hole #3

#15 - number 3 painted on a bur oak tree

#16 - pile of trash at tee dug out of a hillside, with no effort made to stabilize the soil to prevent erosion

#17 - more than 12 trees removed to create an open fairway

#18 - "420" graffiti on park bench

#19 - 420 graffiti on a nearby park bench

#20 - trash pile near park bench

#21 - arrow on tree indicating route to next tee

#22 - number 4 plus arrow to next tee spray-painted on a tree

#23 - two arrows indicating route to the next hole

#24 - arrow to tee for hole no. 4 painted on cottonwood tree at start of exercise trail

#25 - arrow to hole no. 4 on tree

#26 - no. 4 and arrow on walnut tree

#27 - no. 4 and arrow on hickory tree

#28 - no. 4 and arrow on tree

This is the same place where the city of Omaha forester marked numbers on more than 50 walnut trees in order to get a count of their occurrence. Perhaps the disc golf "gang" thought that if the city would spray numbers on trees, they could put whatever markings they wanted on trees as well. As an aside, in carefully considering the walnut trees along Ponca Creek, there were a number of unmarked walnut trees, so the city county was not thorough.

Hole #4

#29 - trash pile at the tee, with other pieces of trash nearby

#30 - word graffiti painted upon a tree snag at the tee

#31 - arrow and dot on a tree

#32 - arrow on tree

Hole #5

#33 - arrow painted on tree

#34 - bullseye on walnut tree

#35 - arrow on walnut tree

#36 - arrow painted on tree along Ponca Creek

Hole #6

#37 - beer bottles at tee

There were few arrows on trees in this vicinity, so it took a close reconnaissance to determine the route of the course, which here includes walking along Ponca road. There are a couple of walkways placed across Ponca Creek, which will, based on natural indications of flooding, be readily washed away by a high-water event.

Hole #7

#38 - beer can trash at tee plus other beer cans nearby

#39 - trash at no. 7 hole

#40 - steps cut in creek bank along the route to the next tee; this will result in erosion as the vegetative cover has been removed

Hole #8

#41 - trash at tee included beer cans plus other similar trash nearby

#42 - letter A painted on a walnut tree

#43 - the course route goes straight up the bluff, obviously creating the potential for erosion as vegetative cover has been removed; also, trash nearby

#44 - (skipped)

#45 - arrow painted on tree by course hole

#46 - multiple lines of paint upon a young hackberry tree near the hole

#47 - arrow pointing to next tee

#48 - an arrow on two different bur oak trees

Hole #9

#49 - big cut in hillside to create tee, with no efforts to stabilize the soil

#50 - bullseye on tree snag along the "fairway" cut through the woods

#51 - arrow on tree snag

#52 - arrow on linden tree pointing the direction to the next hole

Hole #10

#53 - arrow painted on tree

#54 - pile of trash at tee

#55 - bullseye painted on live tree

#56 - set of two trees with an arrow on each of them

#57 - arrow on tree at hole, pointing to the next tee

#58 - arrow on tree at hole, pointing to the next tee

#58 - arrow pointing to next tee painted on bur oak with virginia creeper vine,

Hole #11

#60 - trash container with multiple beer cans, indicating the illegal consumption of beer in a city park

#61 - 11s on two adjacent trees

#62 - bulls-eye on northern red oak along the fairway for the hole

Two spray-painted dots on trees along the way were noted but not photographed.

#63 - no. 12 and arrow painted on tree to indicate the way to the next tee

#64 - no. 12 and arrow on tree to indicate direction of the next tee

#65 - arrow on bur oak along the obvious trail to the next tee

#66 - arrow on tree along obvious trail to next tee

#67 - arrow on tree along obvious trail to next tee

#68 - arrow on tree along obvious trail to next tee

#69 - arrow on tree snag along obvious trail to next tee

#70 - arrow on tree along obvious trail to next tee

These arrows were painted on trees a short distance apart, and there were more than six arrows desecrating the trees within a distance of less than one hundred yards along an obvious trail.

Hole #12

#71 - no. 12 painted on tree at tee

#72 - no. 12 painted on hackberry tree by tee, and very close to the previous item

#73 - arrow on tree along fairway

#74 - arrow painted on bur oak along fairway

#75 - bullseye painted on hackberry tree along the course route which has had emergent vegetation cut-away

#76 - arrow painted on tree along course route

#76 - arrow painted on tree along course route

#78 - arrow at course hole pointing direction to next tee

Hole #13

#79 - arrow painted on hackberry tree by tee

#80 - arrow painted on walnut tree by tee

#81 - beer cans in trash container by tee

#82 - no. 13 painted on tree

#83 - bullseye painted on tree along course route

#84 - arrow painted on tree along course route

#85 - arrow on tree past hole pointing the direction to the next tee

#86 - arrow pointing the way to the next tee, a few feet away, sprayed upon a massive bur oak - a grand tree arboreal specimen along the park road -

This desecration of a tree is similar to the abhorrent painting of numbers on the splendid walnut trees along Ponca Creek, as done by the forester of the City of Omaha, earlier in the spring.

Hole #14

#87 - no. 14 painted on tree at tee

#88 - bullseye painted on tree along the course route

#89 - arrow and no. 15 painted on barricade to prevent vehicular access to an unused roadway

A dot was painted on six trees along the hillside trail to the next tee site.

Hole #15

#90 - extensive excavation of hillside to create a tee, with no effort made to prevent erosion

#91 - arrow painted on tree along the fairway; along with a nearby discarded beer can

#92 - big dot painted on tree along the course route

Beer can among naturally occurring tree fall, a short distance from the course "hole"

#93 - arrow on tree pointing the direction to the next tee.

Hole #16

#94 - dot on tree at 16th tee

Also a dot on a tree along the course route.

#95 - arrow painted on tree at hole pointing to the next tee; three trees along the subsequent route were marked with dots of spray paint

Hole #17

#96 - beer can and excavated tee space

#97 - arrow painted on tree along the trail to the next tee

Hole #18

#98 - multitude of beer cans in trash container, once again indicating the illegal consumption of beer in a city park

Five trees along the course route are then marked with spray-painted dots.

#99 - site excavated to provide a tee - with the flags present at other excavations still extant - but now obviously not being used for this purpose; no effort made to restore the site to its previous natural condition. There was trash at the site.

Nearby, along the cleared route of the course, the burrow of an animal native to the park had been abandoned, probably because of disturbance - including clearing with chain saws, noise, and moving deadfall - as observed on a previous visit. The obvious burrow entrance was partially to mostly covered with a spider web, indicating a lack of current use.

#100 - arrow on tree along the course route to the final disc course hole on the hilltop near the picnic shelter and associated constructs

Thus is the tally of obvious violations of the laws of the city of Omaha.

These pictures are examples of conditions noted in the park.

Graffiti drawn on a tree. This is obvious vandalism.	Beer cans indicating illegal drinking and left piled in the forest.
Multiple lines needlessly drawn upon a live tree.	Bullseye and two arrows in very close proximity.
Beer cans indicating illegal drinking and other trash.

One Gang for Another

During previous discussions with the disc course guys, people of the neighborhood and city officials, the goal was to increase use of the park to get rid of an undesirable "gang influence."

Based upon the present findings, one "gang" may be gone but another has taken its place.

Some of the disc course users are obviously doing more damage - short-term and long-term - to the park environs, regularly participating in illegal activities and otherwise reducing the quality of the park space. Efforts to create this course should be stopped and work thus far removed and conditions returned to previous situation.

It is obvious that the disc course people cannot obey city laws and are destroying a natural resource unique to the Omaha residents. Any special interest group should not be allowed to destroy something for their own particular interest. This group does not deserve any special "city sanction" for their aberrant effort as they cannot act responsibly.

Also, every effort possible should be taken to determine the "perps" that have been active in Hummel Park, and cite them as applicable. This effort should include prevention of any further violations of city laws.

The preferred alternative would be to end the disc course effort completely. It should be placed somewhere where it will not cause the unneeded destruction of a unique natural resource by miscreants breaking the law.