June 2, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Staff has sent out certified letters to Jim Lamprecht, Mark Young and Galen Kamrath to voided their variances.  A receipt has come back on all three individuals.  

Other Discussion:
Gene Novak purchased the NW1/4 Section 33-18N-3E.  As shown by the map, the N1/2 has been previously irrigated.  Gene claimed that he used to irrigate the corners in the SW and SE 1/4 of this section.  He wanted to transfer them acres to this quarter, but he only certified what is shown.  Gene then requested that he could irrigate the S1/2 this year as this is planted to corn.  This has been done in the past and staff said this would be OK, as long as he didn't exceed the acres already certified.  He has put in a variance for this fall to irrigate the whole quarter.  Gene was asking if he could transfer these acres that was previously irrigated?  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: #

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2020 is #

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2020:  Correct as of ####

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Boone
Madison
Platte
Saunders
Total

 

Rationale:  An invoice for $22,600 is attached for the first year payment on the geological AEM study with Papio NRD.  This is the first year payment with the remaining amount being included in next year's budget.  

Rationale:  Committee and staff reviewed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  
Attached is a draft budget for the Water Department for 21-22.
 

Rationale: 

For 2021 we have 620 renewals and 20 new permit applications for a current total of 640.  Inspections for 6 new permits have been completed.
 

Rationale:  Maps are attached showing the differences between 2020 and 2021 Spring water levels along with comparing 2013 to 2021.

Rationale: 

# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

# wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Payment	County
Gaylen L. Swartz	Domestic	$576.83	Saunders
Kenneth J. Sousek	Hand-dug	$1,500.00 (capped limit)	Saunders
Kenneth J. Sousek	Domestic	$437.62	Saunders

 

Rationale:  The LPN water staff had a meeting to discuss the approach for the Nitrate Areas. The Committee requested that more information and education for these areas should utilize current staff.  Staff has been working on an outline to accomplish these goals with more details shown as an attachment.   

Committee discussed on having a farmers panel on nitrogen recommendations and what is working for them.  It was also mentioned that a producer in the area might have a High-Boy Rig to plant cover crops in late summer.  

Information is attached on utilizing wheat for nitrate cleanup.  Here is a link on a similar project with UNL https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2021/evaluating-performance-kernza-perennial-grain-eastern-nebraska

Rationale:  Test holes were drilled week of May 24, 2021, with one north of Richland and the other east of Fremont.  A third site is scheduled for northwest of Columbus in the fall.  The site north of Richland went down 180 feet and the one east of Fremont — 264 feet.  The cost for these holes should be around $5,500 (12/ft).  An invoice has been requested before the June Board Meeting, to put the cost in this year's budget.  After receiving the information from UNL/CSD, staff would then start to look at installing the monitoring well.  The priority well will be north of Richland.   

Actual invoice has been received from UNL (attached), for $4,467.50, which is under the estimate.  This is a continuation contract (expiration date 6/30/2022) with UNL/CSD for drilling and analyzing test holes for LPN.  

Rationale:  No lakes within LPN are on the advisory for bacteria or blue-green algae.  Complete information on all lakes are on the NDEE website.