Programs
Flooding In Nebraska: Before, During & After
2019 JOINT CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
SPONSORED BY: NEBRASKA STATE IRRIGATION ASSOCIATION AND NEBRASKA WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
NOVEMBER 24-26, 2019
Holiday Inn Conference Center
110 S 2nd Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847
308-237-5971
DOWNLOAD EXHIBITOR, ADVERTISER, SPONSOR BROCHURE
DOWNLOAD EXHIBIT SPACE ORDER FORM, SPONSORSHIPS AND ADVERTISING ORDER FORM
DOWNLOAD ATTENDEE BROCHURE (Includes program details)
Convention Program
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
7:00 PM
NSIA Board of Directors
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25
7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Registration
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
NSIA Annual Members Meeting
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM OPENING SESSION
Welcome from Kearney Mayor Stanley Clouse
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM MORNING 1ST SESSION
Overview: Factors Contributing to Spring Floods in Nebraska
Al Dutcher, Nebraska State Climatologist
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM MORNING 2ND SESSION
Streams’ Response to Precipitation and Other Factors
David Rus, Hydrologist and Water-Quality Specialist, USGS
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM BREAK
Visit Exhibits
11:00 AM – 11:30 PM MORNING 3RD SESSION
Flood Control Act and the Missouri River
Matt Krajewski, US Army Corps of Engineers
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MORNING 4TH SESSION
Operation of Water Systems during Floods
Panel:
Steve Owen, Lincoln Water System
Steve Ausdemore, Metropolitan Utilities District
Erv Portis, City Administrator – Plattsmouth, NE
Lucas Billesbach, JEO Consulting Group
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM LUNCHEON PROGRAM
Historical Presentation on Flooding in Nebraska
W. Don Nelson, Former Chief-of-Staff to Senator Ben Nelson
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM AFTERNOON 1ST SESSION
Levees vs. Flood Waters and the Flood’s Aftermath
Panel:
David Kimball, NPPD – Cooper Nuclear Station
NEMA Region 26 Flood Response
Lyndon Vogt, Central Platte NRD
John Winkler, Papio Missouri NRD
Stanley Clouse, Mayor of Kearney, NE
Bob Hilski, Nemaha NRD – Buck and Duck Watershed Structures
Younes Hospitality, Kearney, NE
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM BREAK
Visit Exhibits
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM AFTERNOON 2ND SESSION
Breach of the Loup Power Canal
Neil Suess, Loup Public Power District
4:45 PM – 7:00 PM RECEPTION WITH EXHIBITORS
Join your colleagues for networking, a drink and great appetizers
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM Registration
7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
NeWRA Annual Members Meeting
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
NeWRA Board Meeting
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM MORNING 1ST SESSION
Mining Niobium in Southeast Nebraska
Scott Honan, President, Elk Creek Resources Corp.,
and Director of Business Development, NioCorp
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM MORNING 2ND SESSION
Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Update
Jason Farnsworth, Executive Director, Headwaters Corporation
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM BREAK
Visit Exhibits
11:00 AM – 12:15 AM MORNING 3RD SESSION
Nebraska Agency Reports:
Jeff Fassett, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
Aaron Thompson, US Bureau of Reclamation
Jeff Edwards, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Michelle Koch, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
12:15 AM – 1:30 PM LUNCH
Lessons Learned in Chile
Kris Polly, Water Strategies, LLC and Irrigation Leader
Brad Edgerton, Frenchman/Cambridge Irrigation District
Barb Cross, North Platte NRD
1:30 PM ADJOURN
NSIA Program Activities
- Active participation and financial assistance for irrigation interests in instream flow litigation.
- Support for projects constructed under federal reclamation laws in their efforts to obtain title and/or renew water service contracts for their project facilities from the federal government.
- Support for irrigation projects’ water conservation efforts through a conservation programs workshop.
- Encouragement for changes in state laws for expedited procedures to allow water rights transfers and other water management activities within organization irrigation projects.
- Providing new property and casualty insurance programs with better coverage and at less cost for irrigation projects.
- Providing employee benefit plans designed to ensure sound protection and reasonable cost, helping irrigation organization to recruit and retain good employees.
- Endorse investment opportunities for surplus project funds to allow optimization of investment return for irrigation project operations.
- Keep state and federal lawmakers informed about irrigation issues and economic benefits realized by the state from preservation and support of irrigation project facilities and district operations.
