• Weather conditions improved in October, but unfortunately the contractor did not deploy significant personnel until the second week of November. Several completion dates for various stages of the project have been set. Two of the revised completion dates have not been met and the terms of the contract for delay are being implemented. It is too late in the year to plant the native grasses and those are to be planted by May 1 of 2016. Temporary cover of winter wheat was planted on much of the disturbed area on October 21.
• In November the contractor was able to get a sub-contractor to complete the storm sewer at 76th and Park View Boulevard. This work allowed for grading work behind homes in that location to be done so that the geotextile soil walls could be constructed. The contractor was able to get a sub-contractor to install the geotextile walls which began on November 23 and was completed in two locations by December 10.
• The contractor has recently been concentrating on getting fences in backyards replaced where they were removed for the geotextile wall construction.
• The rough grading of the channel between 72nd Street and 73rd Avenue is substantially complete, but there is some grading to do along with removal of a portion of the gabion wall on the east side of 73rd Avenue on the north side of the creek. Remaining work in this section includes placement of stone armoring and grade control structures in the lower portions of the creek, finish grading and seeding.
• Rough grading in the section west of 73rd Avenue is generally complete from Champion Park to the east except where storm sewer outlet construction has occurred. The area from Champion Park to the west involves several locations of storm sewer work and a large amount of soil wall installation that was recently done. A significant amount of reshaping and finish grading remains in this area.
• The City has prepared a Commemorative Tree Program which provides an opportunity for citizens to purchase and have a tree planted in a City Park to honor loved ones or recognize organizations. An application process under the review and guidance of the City Parks Superintendent has been developed. This program is scheduled for a recommendation by the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee and then will be considered for approval and implementation by the City Council.
• The City has entered a joint agreement with the City of Papillion to hire a consultant to manage storm water public education and outreach for both cities in 2016. Another Bio Blitz will be held in the fall of 2016 with a new location yet to be determined. An informational display on behalf of both cities will be part of the Nebraska Science Festival on April 19 from 11 am to 4 pm at the KANEKO. Please plan to attend.
• More information on the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project can be found at
www.cityoflavista.org/thompsoncreek.
