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PRRIP—ED OFFICE DRAFT 06/13/2014 <br /> 356 $200,000 a year in future budgets and that would be the Program's match that would be leveraged into <br /> 357 this new effort. <br /> 358 <br /> 359 Williams asked if spraying phrag sterilizes the soil. Farnsworth said that generally happens, but if you <br /> 360 don't loosen the soil up around the roots species like canarygrass and spurge will come back. Strauch <br /> 361 asked if our dollars will go toward spraying only. Heaston said those entities would be involved in this <br /> 362 partnership so the partners would be the same but the funding would be directed at activities beyond just <br /> 363 spraying. Williams asked if chemicals leach into the water and affect crops downstream. Heaston said all <br /> 364 the chemicals are labeled for aquatic use and water quality monitoring is conducted. Farnsworth said <br /> 365 spraying generally occurs after irrigation diversions are over. <br /> 366 <br /> 367 Berryman asked what is being looked for today. Heaston said he wants to start writing the grant <br /> 368 application for submission prior to the next GC meeting. Kenny said what Heaston is looking for is GC <br /> 369 approval to use Program monies in the future as match in this grant application. Funding has come <br /> 370 through WP 1-b in the past and this year there is $100,000 in the budget for this item. In the future, the <br /> 371 thinking is to move this to a $200,000 level in FY15 and beyond. Schroeder said he would like to make <br /> 372 sure the Service has a chance to discuss this further to make sure things happening on a parallel track with <br /> 373 other entities are coordinated. LaBonde wanted to clarify that Heaston is asking for a cash match and not <br /> 374 just an in-kind activity match. Heaston said both if staff time is used but the primary thing now is the <br /> 375 matching cash of $200,000. Schroeder asked if the grant coming from the Program will be eligible. <br /> 376 Farnsworth said the activities will be off Program lands and will be the same thing we have done the last <br /> 377 several years. Campbell said his concern is the limitation on matching federal dollars with federal dollars <br /> 378 (Program funds going toward a possible NRCS grant). Heaston said that is not what is being proposed. <br /> 379 Campbell said we could also consider budgeting those dollars with state money within the Program to <br /> 380 help with this idea. <br /> 381 <br /> 382 Ament moved to endorse allocating $200,000 per year in Program funds from line item WP1-b for the <br /> 383 next three Program fiscal years (FY1 S-FY17) to be considered as matching funds in the grant application <br /> 384 to the Nebraska Environmental Trust subject to Finance Committee approval of the final grant <br /> 385 application and distribution of the final grant application to the GC; Campbell seconded Kraus asked <br /> 386 what the role of the Program and staff time is in this endeavor. Heaston said it wouldn't change from <br /> 387 what is being done now, meaning some time to help develop priorities and objectives for the activities. <br /> 388 Farnsworth said it is largely providing technical assistance like we are doing now and the Program's <br /> 389 consideration for staying involved in this activity include focusing on Lake McConaughy to Chapman; <br /> 390 spraying and vegetation removal and management; and applying management in a science framework <br /> 391 according to Program management objectives. Heaston abstained from voting. Motion approved. <br /> 392 <br /> 393 Public Comment <br /> 394 LaBonde asked for public comment; none offered. <br /> 395 <br /> 396 Executive Session <br /> 397 Schneider moved to enter Executive Session; Williams seconded GC entered Executive Session at 9:42 <br /> 398 a.m.Mountain time. <br /> 399 <br /> 400 Heaston moved to end Executive Session; Berryman seconded. GC ended Executive Session at 10:15 <br /> 401 a.m.Mountain time. <br /> 402 <br /> PRRIP June 10-11,2014 GC Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 11 <br />