NRD budgets for Duck, Buck Creek projects, upgrade Wilson Creek

Nemaha Natural Resources District directors approved a $4.9 million budget Sept. 13 asking for $2.2 million in property taxes from eight counties.

A levy of .04 results in a tax increase of less than $350,000.

This budget includes expenditures for land rights associated with the Duck Creek Watershed structure, which will include a public recreation component.

Road improvements for the Buck Creek flood control structure are also budgeted.

The district is also contributing for the rehabilitation of a Wilson Creek reservoir, near Highway 2 between Syracuse and Nebraska City.The reservoir is east of the state's Wilson Creek Recreation Area near Otoe.

The project will upgrade the dam at Site 8-H to "high hazard" specifications.

Need for the upgrade was identified after Highway 2 was rerouted in 1996.

In other action, directors approved well permits from Michael Bean southeast of Nebraska City and Gordon Doeschot southeast of Firth.

Directors also agreed to pay $5,000 to control phragmites, a noxious weed, on 20 acres downstream of a dam near Adams.