June 29, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Thad and Heath Kunz made a presentation to the Water Committee and discussed modeling and its value to the other NRDs they have assisted. Thad Kunz - Principal Hydrogeologist from Scottsbuff has worked on the Cohyst model along with modeling projects with the NRDs from the Western part of the state.  It was explained to the Committee and Staff that this would be the base model that could be used to develop specific models to answer questions for a certain area or project.  This base model will develop an updated boundary of the 10/50 line (Hydrological Connected Area) along with a new stream development factor (SDF).  The model cell size can be adjusted from 2.5 to 640 acres with a recharge value given to each cell.  Larger cells are recommended initially for the model runs.  

Paul Woodward attended and explained the numbers shown below.   
 
At last month's Water Committee and Board meeting, discussion was started on a Groundwater Modeling Project to assist in the Missouri Trib Model.  Staff attended a meeting with NeDNR, LPS and Papio NRD on June 15 to discuss more details of the project.  One item discussed was the size of the grid, which the groups felt 40 acre grids should be considered.  This will allow for accurate information if, in the future, more detailed modeling will be needed for Quantity or Quality Areas and Wellhead Protection Areas.  Attached is a Memorandum from Paul Woodward along with a flow chart showing the steps in the modeling process.
The group discussed the idea of one regional model or including an individual model per NRD.  This is a question that the Water Committee and Board need to decide.  The question to discuss, what is the long-range vision of the District in terms of surface and groundwater?  Costs for the District over 3 years are $20,955.56/year ($15,716.67 over 4 years) for the regional model or $26,222/year to include an individual model for LPN District.   From the meeting, NeDNR thought there would be no issue of contributing $188,500 or $235,000 respectively, depending on the direction of the Committee and Board.   

Paul Woodward got a cost estimate back from JEO for the groundwater modeling.  They provided a cost for a two-model scenario where the Lower Platte from Columbus to the mouth would be one model and the remaining area of the Papio NRD adjacent to Lower Elkhorn would be the other.  This cost estimate is $660,000.  If they did need to do an additional independent model (say one for each NRD), this would add another $225,000.  If I factor in NDNR paying approximately as much as the NRDs do collectively, then the two scenarios for WSF funding would look like this:
 

NDNR	188,500	28.561%		NDNR	235000	28.5%
LPN	62,866.67	9.525%		LPN	78666.67	9.5%
LPS	62,866.67	9.525%		LPS	78666.67	9.5%
PMR	62,866.67	9.525%		PMR	78666.67	9.5%
WSF	282,900.00	42.864%		WSF	354000	42.9%
	660,000				825000

 

Rationale:  Variances are due September 15.  The staff discussed scoring options with the Committee.  It was presented to the Committee, where a producer could receive additional points, if they have been implementing BMPs prior to submitting the variance.  If they need additional points, they could implement the practices over a 2-year period.  Suggestions to change chemigation to split application and to include grid sampling. Staff have reviewed the current and draft variances with the same available base points on both.  A comment was given that the variance process is for water quantity, so should water quality practices be included?  Staff and Committee will discuss at the July 27 Water Committee Meeting.  

Rationale:  Variances are due August 15. 

Rationale:  Request from the Yindricks':

Is it possible not to decommission John's well but take out all of the high capacity well equipment and put in a submersible pump to water cattle? He WOULD NOT use it for any form of irrigation. It is in the corner of the pasture and the pivot has been moved off and it would just be for a cattle tank. 

Cathy

The committee felt this was a reasonable request and irrigation well G-149371 cannot be used to irrigate the acres previously transferred to another location.  
 

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 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:  Staff is in the process of writing a WSF grant per direction by Committee and Board at May meetings.  WSF grant is due July 31. 

Best Management Practices included in grant with dollar amounts.

• Iron Chlorisis products -$36,000
• Cover crops - $24,000 in addition to the NRCS contract
• Fertigation - $5,000
• Variable rate Nitrogen - $20,000 in addition to the NRCS contract.
• RO units for households -$20,000 (This is part of the infrastructure funding, so it will not be included)
• Gravity to pivot or SDI - $50,000 in addition to the NRCS contract
• Soil Sampling - $20,000 in addition to the NRCS contract
• Soil Moisture Sensors with advanced technology - $7,500
• Water Flow Meters - $170,000
• Hydrological Assessment - $56,000

The total cost of the Best Management Grant would be $408.500 with a 60-40 split. The grant would pay $245,100 with LPN share $163,400.  

Rationale:  Staff has been assisting UNL in obtaining cooperators in the Wahoo and Shell Creek Watersheds.  At this time, we have 4 cooperators in Shell Creek.  The staff has talked to 2 individuals in Wahoo Creek and are hoping to get signatures by early next week.  The goal is to get 5-7 cooperators per watershed.  The plan is to seed between August 1 and September 1 with no cost to producers for seed, applicator and operator. Seeding options for this cover crop projects are rye or rye/turnips/rapeseed.   Informal field days will be conducted when the fields are planted. 

Handout attached.  

Rationale:  Attached are the minutes from the April 19, 2022 Board Meeting.  An inter-local agreement was discussed at this meeting to extend the agreement for an additional 5 years.  Attached is the agreement which needs to be approved by NRD Boards and NeDNR to continue.   The group would like the inter-local signed by July 1.  As the Board has already approved $10,000 in dues for the upcoming year, staff would like either the Board Chairman or General Manager to sign the inter-local agreement on June 30.

The technical group met on June 28 to discuss drought plans for each district.  The LPN drought plan is a joint plan through the Consortium.  The group also discussed the amount of acres that will be allowed per district.  Staff reported that the LPN GW Management plan allows 200 AF of water per year.  Some districts are considering limiting acres because of the drought.     

Rationale: 

For 2022, we have 676 renewals and 34 new permit applications for a current total of 710.  Inspections for 124 renewal permits have been completed and 28 new permits.
 

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 Payment	County
Jason Lutjens	Irrigation	$1,000.00	Platte
Martin J Ernst	Domestic	$449.90	Colfax

 

Rationale:  Attached are pictures from the demonstration field using SoyGreen on high PH soil.  

Rationale:  The group met on June 23 to update the conditions in the Lower Platte River System.  The Platte River has been declining, as shown by the Ashland River gage, but Lincoln Water System does not anticipate any actions this summer because all of their wells are now up and running.  They also reported about the study to consider a secondary water source.  

Rationale:  Fremont Lake No. 10 show high E.coli Bacteria from sample taken 6/20/2022.