January 2, 2020 at 7:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting
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1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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2. REGULATORY
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2.A. GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA
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2.A.1. Well Permit Program
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2.A.1.a. Well Permits Approved
Rationale:
Wells Permits Approved: 5
The total number of approved permits for 2019 is 31
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2.A.2. Expansion of Acres Request
Rationale:
The District has received two applications for acre expansions from an existing well. These are requests for new acres without increasing consumptive use.
Request #1: Chad King would like to add 40 acres to his existing 224.98 acre system in S23-22-5W, Boone County. The irrigated acres are serviced by well G-044537. Assuming nine acre inches per year for the current system, the additional 40 acres will set the annual allocation at 7.64 acre inches. Request #2: Steve Johnson would like to add 50 acres to his extisting 198.73 acre system in S3-13-8E, Saunders County. The irrigated acres are serviced by well G-135474. Assuming nine acre inches per year for the current system, the addidtional 50 acres will set the annual allocation at 7.19 acre inches.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve the expansion of acres for Chad King on Section 23-22N-5W, Boone County for well G-044537 for additional 40 acres but is limited to 27 inches rolling allocation over 3 years and Steve Johnson on Section 3-13N-8E, Saunders County for well G-135474 for an additional 50 acres with a 27 inch rolling allocation for 3 years. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.3. Surface Water to Groundwater Conversion
Rationale:
Roger Harder asked the Committee to consider converting surface water irrigation to groundwater irrigation. The tract is located in the NW1/4 23-14N-6E, which is SE of Weston. This is right on the edge of the LPNNRD blue/red area, so it would be eligible to be consider for a variance for a new irrigation well. The deadline for variances in the red area is August 15.
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2.A.4. Lower Platte River Basin Water Management Plan Coalition (LPRBC)
Rationale:
A technical meeting was held in Norfolk on December 3rd. The group discussed the online reporting in which HDR will be coming to each NRD to work with them, so information can be uploaded correctly. Another issue was how each NRD handled water use for a livestock facility. A standard will be developed, so there is consistency throughout each NRD.
The group then discussed the V-IMP and the agreed depletion numbers in the initial plan and what would be the process for the next 5 years starting in 2022. The Lower Platte NRD got 2276 acre feet (AF) which 1138 AF was designated for groundwater depletion. At the present time the LPN has used 886.57 AF for irrigated acres and approximated another 100 AF for livestock facilities. Each year the NRD and DNR reallocate according to total use. No surface water allocation has been used, so at the present time LPNNRD has approximately 536 AF available for 2020-21 and DNR has 752 AF available for surface water. (attached is a delepletion chart) The group discussed the next 5 years allotment and with the AEM flights not incorporated into the Platte-Missouri Trib Model an extension was discussed beyond 2022. If extension is granted for another 5 years, no new allotment would be issued. The extension would allow DNR and the NRDs to work on regional models to refine the HCA area.
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2.A.5. Voluntary Integrated Water Management Plan - LPNNRD
Rationale:
Staff will be meeting with DNR for the quarterly review on January 7.
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2.A.6. Cost Share Programs
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2.A.6.a. WaterSmart Grant for Remote Sensing
Rationale:
Quotes for proposals were due December 31 at 4:30 pm. Staff and Committee reviewed the information from the four proposals received. Discussion considered initial cost, annual costs and reliability. The LPNNRD was awarded a WaterSmart Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation for $105,452, with the Bureau paying 50% of the total equipment cost or a maximum of $52,726. The grant included options of adding remote reads for meters and evapotranspiration (ET) information. Staff and Committee felt that knowing what might work and the efficiency would be invaluable information, as the NRD moves forward with online reporting and newer technology. The quotes just looked at remote reads on water level data loggers.
Staff has received an updated quote from METO USA company that included the obtaining remote reads from dataloggers, flow meters and ET information. The quote including this equipment is $38,075.34, which staff would recommend approving, so the grant process with the Bureau of Reclamation is not delayed.
Recommended Motion(s):
To have staff negotiate a potential contract with METOS USA company for remote reads on data loggers, flow meters and evapotranspiration rates (ET) and to approve the quote from METO USA to not exceed $38,075.34. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.7. Bellwood Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2019 is the seventeenth year for the Phase 2 Area. [In 2015 this area was reduced from 32 sections to 21 section.] Six shallow vadose zone samples (Giddings Rig) were collected in November.
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2.A.8. Richland - Schuyler Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2019 is the fourth year of this Phase 2 Area. There are 45 registered active irrigation wells in the ten sections of this area. Two deep vadose zone samples (tracked by GeoProbe) were collected in December. A hearing is scheduled for January 30 at 8:30 am to move this area up to a Phase 3 Area.
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2.A.9. Richland - Schuyler Phase 3 Area
Rationale:
2019 is the fourth year of this Phase 3 Area. This Phase 3 area went into effect September 1, 2015. The 55 sections of this area first went into a Phase 2 Area in 2004. Nine shallow vadose zone samples (Giddings Rig) were collected in November. Four deeper vadose zone samples (tracked GeoProbe) were collected in December. The LPNNRD entered into a signed contract with EA Engineering for $24,458.33 to conduct the vadose sampling. An invoice for 30% of the project is attached for $7,937.50 with NRD staff submitting this to Nebraska Environment Trust for 100% reimbursement. The invoice came in after the Water Committee.
One 2019 requested water sample kit remains outstanding: Kit #19-5302, Randy Kassmeier.
Recommended Motion(s):
To pay invoice 134034 on Vadose Sampling Project 1597401 to EA Engineering for $7,937.50. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.10. LPNNRD Operator Certification
Rationale:
Twenty-eight producers passed the Online Test in 2019.
Winter Classes:
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3. GROUND WATER PROGRAMS
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3.A. DECOMMISSIONED WELL PROGRAM
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3.A.1. Well Estimates
Rationale:
# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
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3.A.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
# wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve well decommissioning payment to John L Bender for $1,000; Yindrick Farms LLC for $1,153.77; K Four J Farms LLC for 364.51; Steven V Frahm for $260.07. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.B. LOWER PLATTE NORTH NRD GROUND WATER STUDIES
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3.B.1. Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA)
Rationale:
Invoice for ENWRA dues for $30,000 and geo-cloud for $3,400 is attached. This is part of the 5 year agreement of the interlocal agreement passed at the LPNNRD Board May 2017. (Agreement is attached)
Discussion at technical meeting on December 11 was on regional geological models to use in a numerical model, which an example would be the Platte Missouri Trib model. This model is the one NeDNR is using for HCA determination. A geological model would combine AEM data, text holes, well logs etc. This would help fill in gaps between the flight lines in determining boundary conditions and the extend of the isolated aquifers. The ENWRA group felt that each NRD could look at areas of concerns and work regionally. The group did feel that a standard be developed so consistency would be developed in looking at the information.
Recommended Motion(s):
To pay ENWRA dues for $30,000 and Geo-Cloud for $3,400 per interlocal agreement. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.C. Water Flow Meters
Rationale:
New proposal
Original Meter Proposed Policy: Cost-share
The purpose of installing flow meters for the LPNNRD is to get a better understanding of sustainable aquifers for future generations. This will also allow the LPNNRD to be pro-active instead of re-active if water consumption becomes an issue. A producer can utilize the flow meter on how the well is actually performing and increase irrigation management efficiency. The Committee recommended to start setting aside funding, like $200,000 a year, into a sinking fund for the purpose of a grant match. |
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3.D. McCrometer Flow Meters
Rationale:
Representative from McCrometer will be present to update the Committee on flow meters offered by the company.
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4. OTHER
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4.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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