November 2, 2022 at 6:00 PM - 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. Variance Request in the Hydrologically Connected Area (Limited Development Area)
Rationale:
Roland Otte contacted staff and has declined variance LPN-V-021-0555 for 5.79 Acre Feet of depletion credit.
Staff have contacted and reviewed variance from 2017 to 2020. A list of variances that were not developed is attached, with a letter being sent out to these producers explaining that their variance is expired and a new variance application would be required if they wanted to develop in the future. In the V-IMP report for the Coalition, staff would be taking credit for 259.89 AF of water .
Attachments:
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2.A.2. Special Quantity Subareas
Rationale:
August Runge would like approval to complete the circle on the pivot. He is working with Bill Bos on projects within Shell Creek Watershed.
Does the Committee feel that staff and the Committee should discuss with a group of producers in the SQS # 2 area UNL study and management strategies? Does the NRD want to re-consider new wells and expansion of acres for certain parts of the management area? This will be an item for discussion at the Water Committee Retreat on November 30.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend to approve August Runge request to allow him to complete the circle for more efficient irrigation management but with the condition that the the area is planted to grass. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.3. Well Permit (SQS #2)
Rationale:
Attached is a livestock well permit for a new well in SQS #2 for Robert Foltz. The well legal description is NW NW 12-19-2W for 1200 head of cattle. The well will pump 300- 500 GPM. A construction permit was approved by DEE in August of 2022 which includes debris basins, holding ponds and a storage pit. Mr Foltz's nutrient management plan approved in 2011 was for 1200 head. Apparently, a well under 50 GPM has been used.
The committee pointed out that 50 GPM well might be a challenge for watering larger cattle in the middle of the summer.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the livestock well permit for Robert Foltz for the NW NW 12-29-2W. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.4. Groundwater Management Plan
Rationale:
Attached is the original Groundwater Management Plan from 1994. GW Rules and Regulations are adopted from the Management Plan. Is it time to update the management plan?
More discussion at the retreat on November 30th.
Attachments:
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2.A.5. Well Permit Program
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2.A.5.a. Well Permits Approved
Rationale:
Wells Permits Approved: #
The total number of approved permits for 2022 is #
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2.A.6. Certified Irrigated Acre Transfer
Rationale:
A transfer application is attached for Duane Johnson. Annette Rogers has agreed to transfer 67 irrigated acres (SE NE & NE SE S11-14N-9E, Saunders Co.) from Yutan South Aquifer Region to the Duane Johnson tract (N1/2 NE S25-14N-7E, Saunders Co.) located on the east edge of the Swedeburg Aquifer Region.
Assessor shows 64.81 irrigated acres and NRD has 65.51 certified irrigated acres for the Roger's tract. In the past, the Board allowed a 5 acre allowance without an additional variance. Duane plans on irrigating 70 acres total with 2 small pivots. The tract for the Annette Rogers is where the solar farm will be going and she plans on decommissioning the irrigation well. If the transfer is approved acre for acre, there will be an increase of 1.62 acre feet of depletion. If approved based on acre feet, the transfer would decrease to 57.71 acres. Discussion at the Committee meeting was about soil types and scoring in the transfer application process onto the receiving tract of land. Soil types are classified as low bottom with occasional flooding as a Class 6-8 soil type which receives 0 points on the scoring sheet. Staff will review the soil type scoring with NRCS with a potential recommendation and change at the Board Meeting. A motion from the floor could be needed on the scoring sheet policy, if staff bring forward a soil type recommendation change.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the transfer for Duane and Kelli Johnson from Annette Rogers for the NRD certified acres of 65.51 with the stipulation that the West Pivot can be developed and the East Pivot on hold until staff can re-evaluate the scoring system for the soil type with a NRCS soil scientist before the Board Meeting. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.7. Cost Share Programs
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2.A.7.a. Flow Meter Maintenance Program
Rationale:
Tri City Meters out of Alda is preparing for year 3 of flow meter maintenance. Maintenance is scheduled to begin in Mid-November or maybe sooner due to an early harvest this year. All of the west township flow meters are scheduled to be maintained next month. There are 348 flow meters in this area. Each site visit for the mechanical meters is $60.00 and each site visit for the battery powered meters is $75.00. Mechanical meters will be re-greased and checked to make sure they are operating correctly and don't have any damage. If the mechanical meter needs to be repaired, that is at the expense of the landowner and is billed directly from Tri City Meters. The batteries in the electronic flow meters will be replaced. The upfront cost of the batteries is absorbed by the NRD and then in turn we bill the producer for the expense of the battery and then receive reimbursement.
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2.A.8. Bellwood Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2022 is the twentieth year for this Phase 2 Area.
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2.A.9. Richland - Schuyler Phase 3 Area
Rationale:
2021 is the seventh 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. The ten sections that were in Phase 2 are now in Phase 3. As such, the 2020, 2021 and 2022 numbers (at bottom of table) are for 65 sections.
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2.A.10. LPNNRD Operator Certification
Rationale:
Staff and UNL are starting to set up meetings for Nitrogen Certification Classes. The first meeting is planned for December 20th at the Oak Ballroom in Schuyler, starting at 1 pm. This meeting is designed for producers that have let their certification lapse. It would be appreciated to encourage producers to show the value of the meetings.
Purpose of the meetings
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2.B. CHEMIGATION
Rationale:
Chemigation totals for the 2022 growing season:
Attachments:
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2.C. GROUND WATER ENERGY LEVELS
Rationale:
The staff has completed Fall Water Levels with some wells from SQS #1 attached showing spring and fall levels. Should the staff/committee have a discussion with producers in this area?
The committee requested that staff develop a graph to display the saturated water bearing formation compared to water levels in determining how low water levels were at the bottom of the saturation zone.
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2.D. GROUND WATER QUALITY SAMPLING
Rationale:
UNL and NRD staff conducted a NRD approved denitrification study within the Schuyler-Richland Management Area. An invoice is attached from UNL with results shown to the Committee after staff review.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend payment to UNL Water Center for $4,026.30 for the denitrification water sampling results. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3. GROUND WATER PROGRAMS
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3.A. DECOMMISSIONED WELL PROGRAM
Rationale:
Staff have discussed the possibility of one staff member obtaining a pump installer or well driller license to decommission wells. Sean Elliott has agreed to take the test to oversee the decommissioning of wells.
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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.
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3.B. LOWER PLATTE NORTH NRD GROUND WATER STUDIES
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3.B.1. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
More discussion on this item will occur at Water Retreat on November 30th.
Information is attached on nitrogen management and the possibility of a Phase 4 area. The WSF grant, that was submitted by the NRD, was approved for best management practices and hydrological assessment for the whole district. Staff will be starting the RFQ process for the Assessment when the grant papers are signed with the Commission. The Committee/ Board will need to set up cost-sharing procedures for these practices. The grant for age dating of groundwater did not get out of the NET review for scoring. Staff and USGS are in contact to understand the reasoning. It is encouraged to check out this article on nitrates. https://flatwaterfreepress.org/our-dirty-water-nebraska-water-nitrates/
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3.B.2. Phoenix Database
Rationale:
Attached is the second half of the payment for the approved agreement with Phoenix Webgroup at the June Board Meeting. An invoice for $5,000 will be sent to Nebraska DEE for their portion. This project will streamline LPNNRD water quality data into the Clearinghouse, which is used for an annual report to the State Legislature.
Attachments:
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3.B.3. Lower Platte River Consortium
Rationale:
The next ILCA meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 17. This meeting will be in person at the MUD Platte West Water Treatment Plant, 21212 Q St, Elkhorn, NE 68022. We will be continuing the drought mitigation projects discussion. It is encouraged for Committee or Board members to attend.
Attached is the drought plan that was developed in 2019. Does LPN want to add to the drought plan with drought management protocols? At the present time, the plan is designed for awareness and public outreach. Migration projects will continue to be discussed. Lower Loup NRD draft drought plan is attached.
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3.C. Modeling Inter-local Agreement
Rationale:
The modeling grant between NeDNR, Papio and LPS NRDs was not approved for a WSF grant. At the October Board meeting, the agreement was approved with the stipulation of a WSF grant approval. Staff held off on getting signatures until a final copy was received and in that time period a decision was determined on the grant. Papio and the LPS Board did approve the inter-local, knowing that an amendment would be needed to adjust the dollar amounts. Does the NRD want to proceed with an inter-local agreement? The plan is to re-apply in March, as the Commission has set an earlier date for WSF grant approvals.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend proceeding on signing the interlocal agreement with the understanding an amendment on dollars amounts will potentially occur before the grant is re-submitted. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.D. Water Committee Retreat
Rationale:
The staff and Water Committee is planning a retreat on November 30th from 3 to 5:30 pm at the NRD Board Room in Wahoo. This is open to all Board members. The Water Committee meeting will be at 6 pm.
Tentative Discussion Items
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4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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5. OTHER
Rationale:
GMDA Winter Conference in Georgia January 23-26, which is the same time as the NARD Legislative Conference.
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5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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