Water Issues to be the Topic of Joint Elected Officials Meeting

Who: Mayors, city council members and county board members of Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties will join members of the Papio-Missouri River NRD Board, state senators and others to discuss area-wide needs for water quality improvements and flood prevention. This unique officials meeting will set the stage for seven public forums to be offered in February and March.

For six years, representatives of 11 governmental bodies have been working together to develop wise water quality and flood prevention policies. This group, the Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership, includes the Cities of Bellevue, Bennington, Boys Town, Gretna, LaVista, Omaha, Papillion, Ralston, Douglas County, Sarpy County and the Papio-Missouri River NRD. The Papillion Creek Watershed covers 402 sq miles, parts of three counties, and over one-third of Nebraska’s population.

What: The Phase IV Study of water quality and flood prevention needs in the Papillion Creek Watershed Area will be presented by HDR Engineering. Each city, along with both Sarpy and Douglas County, must have a final stormwater management plan in place by 2009 to meet Environmental Protection Agency and state water quality requirements. “All Partnership jurisdictions will be acting on this information within the next few months,” said Jim Thompson, NRD Board Chairman. “Our watershed has limited options, time and land available for water quality and flood prevention improvements. We are attempting to bring together over 150 elected officials that are directly impacted by these federal regulations.”

The Papillion Creek Watershed is the most flood prone urban area in the state. Many water bodies in the watershed are also listed as impaired by the NE Dept of Environmental Quality.

When: Saturday, February 2, 2008, 9:00 - Noon

Where: Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine St., Omaha

For more information about the Partnership
Visit www.papiopartnership.org