June 28, 2017 at 5:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

At the May 8, 2017, Board Meeting, the following motion to table was passed by all present:

A motion by Dave Saalfeld and second by Jim McDermott to table until budgeting time, budgeting $20,000 for the development of an aquifer risk map for FY17-18 and continue discussion on development of the interactive mapping tool, with cost estimates presented in the budget for committee review

The total number of approved permits for 2017 is 15

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2017:  Correct as of 6/28/2017

Staff conducted a 4 hour pump test on Martin Erickson irrigation well on June 23, 2017.  Water measurements were taken every 4 hours along with setting the Brazda Monitoring Well Data Logger to record every 10 minutes. A water quality sample was taken after the 4 hour test, which the NRD is still waiting for results. Staff talked to Martin about getting soil moisture sensors installed and drilling the required monitoring well in the NW part of the field.  The soil moisture sensors were installed by Aaron Nygren on 6/27/2017.  A couple of graphs are attached showing the pump test results. The Brazda well dropped 3.44 feet during the 4 hour pump with a recovery in about 24 hours.  A complete report is attached on Martin Erickson Pump Test.

Staff recommends that the Committee amends the variance agreement that the Monitoring Well in the NW¼ NE¼ 20-14N-07E be installed before pumping of the irrigation well can commence.  Attached is the original variance agreement for the drilling of the Martin Erickson well.  

Jennifer Schellpepper - DNR wants to wait on approval of LPN IMP until the Lower Platte River Basin Water Plan is complete and the Water Banking/Transfer portion of LPN plan is included.  

This year we had 2 new producers for watermarks moisture sensors and one new one with an ET gage.  Total producers signed up over the years of the program is 132.

Here is a comment from Aaron Nygren: Of those 132 what we don’t know is how many of those are still actively using the equipment, some I know are ordering new sensors, others I know have switched to Servi-Tech or capacitance probes, and a few have quit using anything…  The area with the best long term retention and expansion of users is the Humphrey/Lindsay area, otherwise it is a scattering of users here and there.

An invoice from Klein Sales for $699 for purchase of equipment for Martin Erickson and John Hannah is attached.

A reimbursement request was sent to the Water Sustainability Fund on June 14, 2017 for $24,227.

John Miyoshi attended the Commission meeting on June 20, 2017 to ask the Commission for approval to allow the District to expand cost-share for flow meters to 2 miles beyond the SQS #2 Boundary.  The request also asked for allowing cost-share for changing out Gallons registers to Acre Inch on existing flow meters. The Commission approved the request for both items.  

Cost-share rates will be the same as approved by the Board initially with 8 inch meters - $770 and 6 inch meters - $577.  GWEL wells would have cost-share as follows: $1,000 per 8 inch meters ($770 from WSF and $230 from LPNNRD = $1,000) and at $749 per 6 inch meters ($577 from WSF and $172 from LPNNRD = $749).

Cost-share on existing flow meter that have gallons reading registers to convert to Acre-Inch would be $225 with producer paying the labor cost.

All cost-share invoices will need to be at the LPN office by March 1, 2018 with the NRD closing out the grant by May 1, 2018.

The Water Sustainability Fund is a 60-40 cost-share.  Staff recommends to participate in the WSF cost-share grant.

The LPNNRD has received no flow meter cost-share applications since the last Water Committee meeting.

At the November 30, 2016 Water Committee, a motion was made to fund GWEL cooperator wells at $1,000 per 8 inch meters ($770 from WSF and $230 from LPNNRD = $1,000) and at $749 per 6 inch meters ($577 from WSF and $172 from LPNNRD = $749)

As of June 15, 2017 we have received a total of 176 applications.  All meters have inspected to insure that the meter is installed properly.  

McCrometer has introduced the Dura Mag Electromagnetic Flowmeter to their lineup of irrigation
flowmeters. They would like the District to consider adding it to the irrigation approved flowmeter
listing. The flowmeter meets all the Districts criteria for inclusion. It would also fit into the District’s
electronic meter maintenance program.

Attached are three PDFs with information on the DURA MAG flow meter.

A few quick points from Ken Quandt on the McCrometer Dura Mag:

• +/- 1 % accuracy with 2D upstream and 1D downstream
• Sizes available include:  4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”
• The standard warranty on the meter is 2 years.  Battery life is expected to be 5 years and the battery has a warranty of 3 years.  DC power also available.
• Standard outputs include 4-20 mA, pulse output, and telemetry-ready output options.
• On-board datalogger included with 5 years of data storage.

Staff feels this meter meets all the criteria to put it on the list.

No recent activity since last Committee Meeting.

This area was reduced from 32 sections to 21 sections in 2015.

No recent activity since last Committee Meeting.

2016 is the first year of this Phase 2 Area.  There are 45 registered active irrigation wells in the ten sections of this new area.

No recent activity since last Committee Meeting.

2016 is the first 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.  

No recent activity since last Committee Meeting

For 2017 we have 537 renewals and 80 new permit applications for a current total of 617.  Inspections for 80 renewal permits have been completed.  In 2016 the NRD had 98 new permits for a total of 573. 

The breakdown by County for the Total Number of Renewals within the LPNNRD.

The breakdown by county of the number of renewal inspections completed.

The breakdown, by county for the ## new chemigation permit applications, are listed below:

Description of permit application

At the May Committee Meeting, staff was asked to present for discussion the variance scoring sheet and a draft Phase IV for Water Quality.  

> Variance scoring sheet is attached that was used in 2016.  Some questions at last Committee Meeting were:

    1. Types of Irrigation Systems

    2. Soil Types and Classes

    3. Minimum pumping requirement like 200 - 300 GPM

    4. Longer pump tests like 12 or 24 hours compare to 4 hours.

> Adding another Phase rule.  Attached is some information on bordering NRDs and a draft on what Phase IV might look like in Lower Platte North.  

Part of the Rules and Regulations is utilizing an Advisory Board.  This Board has not met for awhile, so this list might need to be updated.    

Advisory Board

The District shall establish an Advisory Board composed of individuals representing different groups that will be affected by the District’s Management Area.  The purpose of the Advisory Board is to provide recommendations to the staff and Board in developing the rules and regulations for the District’s Management Area.  The Advisory Board is composed of 15 members representing the following groups:

Farmer/Irrigator - 4

Farmer/Dryland - 1

Fertilizer Dealer - 2

Turf Grass Production - 1

Crop Consultant - 1

Cattle Feedlot - 1

Hog Confinement - 1

Poultry Operation - 1

Packing Plant - 1

Golf Course Manager - 1

Municipality - 1

Here is the list from 2008

These are the proposed numbers that Katie Cameron is looking at for the Water Sustainability Fund

Here is the Updated Information, at this time no Lakes in Lower Platte North are on the list.

Week of June 19^th , 2017   

This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the NDEQ web page (http://deq.ne.gov). 

Unfortunately we have hit that time of year. We have our first beaches for the year going onto the Health Alert List. The hot temperatures mixed with a high level of available nutrients in the water have caused some Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in a couple of southeastern Nebraska lakes.

While swimming, wading, and skiing should be avoided. These lakes are still great places to camp, fish, and enjoy the beautiful Nebraska scenery.  

For further information about HABs and the microcystin toxin please visit the links on our BeachWatch website. (http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/Beaches2017.xsp)

Harmful Algal Blooms

TWO Lakes will be on “Health Alert” this week. NDEQ in conjunction with numerous collaborators monitor public beaches and sample for microcystin, a toxin produced as a result of a Harmful Algal Bloom. A lake that exceeds 20 ppb of microcystin will be placed on “Health Alert”. That lake will remain under  “Health Alert” Status until such time that it has tested below 20 ppb for two continuous weeks.

If a lake is under a Health Alert, signs will be posted recommending people avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc.

Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing, and camping are OK.  

Bacteria

Lakes that tested high for E. coli bacteria this week are listed below. E. coli  bacteria levels measured above 235 colonies/100 ml of sample are considered a higher risk for illness when swimming.  Considering the more rapid changes in bacteria conditions, signs are not posted with these higher levels although we want people to be aware and use their own judgment on their use.

Lakes with High E. coli Bacteria Levels

This information is updated weekly on our web site, http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/Beaches2017.xsp . We hope you find this interesting and useful.

Travis Turgeon and Bryce Wright passed the Natural Resource Ground Water Tech Exam.  They will be helping with Chemigation, Water Sampling and Water Levels in July.  Congratulation Guys! 

Will Brueggemann accepted the position for Water Technician and plans on starting July 10.  Will was an summer intern for LPN in 2016 and has passed the Ground Water Tech Exam.  Staff will be working with Will and DHHS on getting his license reinstated. Welcome to the LPN Water Department! 

At June's Board Meeting it was voted to add CMAT and the Phoenix Database Field App Proposal to FY17-18 Budget.  Attached is FY17-18 Proposed Water Budget.

Water Department Staff Priority List:

1. Mobile Application and Field Data Collection (Master Database)

2. AEM Flights 

3. Monitoring Wells and Test Holes 

4. Monitoring Equipment for Wells in SQS #2

5. Hydrological Risk Map 

6. GW Elevations WANN subarea

Attached is the drought map for June 20. 2017, which depicts part the LPN District abnormally dry. This information is provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor.