April 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  The draft transfer policy is attached with corrections on page 2, number 13, changing parcels to acres.  The Board passed the draft transfer policy at the April Board Meeting with final approval to be considered at the Water Committee and May Board Meeting.   

Rationale:  The committee and staff discussed the request and commented as Jamie Yinkrick requested the transfer on December 29, 2021, that the deadline of March 1st had been met.  Jamie will still need to complete all the paperwork necessary for approval.  

Jamie Yindrick requested to transfer irrigated acres at the December 29, 2021 Water Committee. His request is transferring irrigated acres to Section 2-16N-3E from Section 9-15N-4E (located just west of Bruno in SQS #1), which currently has 73.43 certified irrigated acres. The land receiving the acres does have 2 active irrigation wells but the acres were never certified with the NRD.  Jamie has submitted and drilled a replacement well for G-136646. The originally well hit rock and never got to full depth. 

Jamie assumed that this property had certified irrigated acres because of the existing wells.  He also commented that the owners were confused about what they needed to do to certify the acres.  

Information is attached with a scoring sheet.  The tract of land in Section 2 scored 295 points using LPN scoring system.  The two areas that scored low on the sheet were Saturated Thickness and Specific Yield.  Staff re-evaluated the saturated thickness utilizing the AEM data and found areas that were over 25 feet, which would give an extra 10 points or a 305 score.   

Section 2 is located in Octavia Groundwater Aquifer Subarea, with Section 9 located in Prague Aquifer Subarea. The Prague Aquifer Region is more restrictive than the Octaivia Aquifer Region.  

Optional conditions could be utilizing this as an LPN monitoring well and, if PVC tube is available, installing a datalogger.  At the Committee meeting, it was discovered that, as this is submersible well, the conditions could not be adopted.  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: #

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Terry Papa	1	0	Irrigation	Butler	Octavia

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2022 is #

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2022:  Correct as of ####

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

 

Rationale:  Myron (Brent) Behlen's well permit is attached for a new well in SQS#2.  The well permit is for the NW SW S19-19N-1E in Platte County.  

Attached is the well permit and letter from the producer on why they are asking for a new well.  Water use was 13.03 total inches for 3 years or 4.34 inches/year on 256.39 acres. (2019-2021) 

Information from AEM data, Water Use and Hydrogeologic Boundaries attached.  

Optional conditions on the permit could include a PVC tube being installed so LPN could install a datalogger for remote reads.  If the pumping level drops below a certain level, the well will then have pumping restrictions. 

Staff showed the Committee the AEM data and explained the location of potentially more plentiful water.  From AEM flight information, it showed better water on the east side of the property.  Staff will contact the  Behlen's and discuss the data presented.  It is recommended that a test hole is dug before installing the well to verify water availability.  

Discussion about conditions for this well was a datalogger, potential drawdown triggers and pumping restrictions.  Staff will discuss these issues with the Behlen's before approving the well permit.

Rationale:  Staff is continuing to compile names and options for producers whose Nitrogen/Irrigation Certification has expired.  The options that will be sent to these producers are:

• Online testing
• Take home tests
• An in-person class on July 19 with UNL called the 4Rs.   

All of the letters will point out if compliance can't be met, the Board will potentially issue a Cease and Desist Order.  

In the last month, an additional 9 people have taken the online test and passed.  
 

Rationale:  The annual meeting was held on April 19 to approve partner's IMP reports, allowable depletions for the next 5 years and the budget.  The directors of the coalition approved all of these items, which include $10,000 membership dues.  An interlocal agreement will be distributed to each participating partner's Board for approval, to continue with the Coalition.  

The group discussed below normal precipitation and how each NRD is handling land development, if it occurs.  NeDNR made a presentation on the Lower Platte dashboard and was asked about the news release from the Consortium.  NeDNR also updated the group on the Perkin Canal project.  

To view the dashboard, visit the Department of Natural Resources’ site at  dnr.nebraska.gov/water-planning/lower-platte-river-basin

Information is attached on the depletions, plan updates and budget.  

Rationale: 

For 2022, we have 320 renewals and 9 new permit applications for a current total of 329.  No Inspections have been completed. The renewal deadline is June 1st and must be postmarked or turned in on that day. If the active permit lapses, a new permit must be applied for, purchased, and inspected prior to use this season. 
 

Rationale:  Maps were created from Spring 2022 water levels with a summary from Spring 2021 to 2022.  

59% of wells measured have decreased from 2021 water levels with 22% increasing.  (19% unchanged)

Rationale:  Staff went through a couple of examples for the Committee and discussed the recommended reasonable rates and cap limits. 

Reasonable rates:

Pump and Obstruction removal: Currently $125.00; Suggested Rate $145.00

Chlorine/per lb: Currently $13.90; Suggested Rate $15.00

Chlorine/per gallon: Currently $4.25; Suggested Rate $5.00

Bentonite/per 50 lb bag: Currently $13.00; Suggested Rate $16.00

Gravel/per ton: Currently $31.50; Suggested Rate $36.00

Concrete cap/prefab cap: Currently $40.00; Suggested Rate $45.00

Backhoe/per hour: Currently $95.00; Suggested Rate $110.00

Labor per hour: Currently $60.00; Suggested Rate $75.00

Mileage: Currently $2.25; Suggested Rate $2.45
or stay at $2.25

Sales tax: up to 7.5%

Miscellaneous- Mobilization etc. - 75% of that cost with a cap of $250

 

Rationale: 

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

 

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Walter Bohaty	Irrigation	$1,000.00	Butler
Barbara Vanek	Irrigation	$965.75	Saunders

 

Rationale:  Potential Projects with other partners:

• Age Dating of Groundwater with Lower Loup NRD and USGS from Columbus to Fremont.  
• Groundwater Modeling with Papio and Lower Platte South
  • A meeting was held with NeDNR and other NRDs on this project.  Suggested cost could be between $600,000 to $1,000,000.
  • The project could start within 1 year.
  • Plan to meet with the other NRDs about submitting a grant to WSF (60-40).
  • NeDNR will contribute to this effort.
  • If the grant is unsuccessful, this model will still need to be completed to determine 10/50 lines and stream depletion factors. 
• Missouri River Trib Model with NeDNR
  • The model completed above would be a regional model that would be put into the larger model. 

Projects that are currently being conducted within LPN

• Recharge project with ENWRA
• Updating 1995 Groundwater Level Map with UNL/CSD and ENWRA
• Modeling SQS#2 area with UNL/CSD, NeDNR and ENWRA
• Denitrification Study with UNL Water Center
• Stream Sampling of Wahoo and Shell Creek
• Water Sampling around Platte Center and further west with analysis of the extent of nitrate contamination.

Rationale:  Potential Best Management Practices for a grant.

• Buffer Strips - eligible for the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program
• Iron Chlorisis products for high Ph soil to encourage crop rotations.  Cost-share $15/acre (Total $36,000)
  • 1200 acres a year over a 2-year period
• Cover crops - Add an additional $5/acre with NRCS contract (Total $24,000)
  • 2400 acres a year over a 2-year period
• Fertigation - $500 per site (Total $5,000)
  • 10 new sites
• Variable rate Nitrogen - additional $10/acre over NRCS contract (Total $20,000)
  • 1000 acres per year over a 2-year period
• RO units for households - $500 per household (Total $20,000)
  • 40 households. 
• Gravity to pivot or SDI - additional $10,000 per conversion over NRCS contract (Total $50,000)
  • 5 conversions over a 2-year period
• Soil Sampling - $10/acre over a NRCS contract ($20,000)
  • 1000 acres per year over a 2-year period.
• Soil Moisture Sensors with advanced technology - $750 per site ($7,500)
  • 10 sites 
• Water Flow Meters $1,000 per meter ($170,000)
  • 170 meters with one per site.
  • 130 total wells in Bellwood Area with 15 with installed meters.
  • 436 total wells in Richland-Schuyler Area with 56 with installed meters.  
  • Voluntary installation 
  • Coordinate with NRCS flow meter cost-share (irrigation management)

The total cost for the Best Management Grant would be $352,500 and with a 60-40 split, LPN match would be $141,000.   

WSF - July 31
NET - September 6

Rationale:  LRE is providing a proposal to complete a Hydrogeologic Assessment with an option for an electronic, or GIS-based deliverable (rather than a hard-copy map book). This project would create consistency with both the 3D AEM Framework and Hydrogeologic Assessments that have been completed for LENRD and PMRNRD, and what LPSNRD will have completed by mid-2023. The proposal assumes that LPNNRD would incorporate this effort into a Water Sustainability Fund (WSF) application. 
 

Rationale:  Attached is a couple of documents from UNL/CSD.  This agreement was originally signed in 2015.  The amended agreement would go to June 30, 2025.  The purpose of this agreement is to allow CSD to assist LPN in drilling test holes.  This allows LPN and UNL/CSD to continue the cooperative agreement without developing a new agreement as projects arise in the next few years.   There is no cost in extending this agreement.   

Rationale:  The Consortium released a news release describing the purpose of the group and to make the public aware of water use.  This group meets monthly and more frequently, if needed, to discuss the situation on the flow of the Platte River and any other drought-related concerns.   

A News Release and Drought Map are attached.  

Rationale:  Staff sent letters out to well drillers to determine their interest in drilling a new monitoring well north of Richland.  Staff is planning on sending out full packets to drillers who are interested in submitting a quote for this project the week of April 25.

Rationale:  A quote from Phoenix Webgroup for $12,050 +/-10% is attached for converting the current spreadsheet to a required spreadsheet for UNL clearinghouse, which NeDEE then makes an annual report to the Legislature. If the contract is approved, a 50% deposit is required ($6,025).  The 2021-22 budget had $15,000 with $5612.48 remaining. 

This quote will also allow some changes to online reporting.  The changes will be sorting the reports and calculation of organic matter.    

As NDEE is involved in the clearinghouse, it appears they are willing to fund $5,000 for this project.