August 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting
| Agenda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2. REGULATORY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A. GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.1. Variance Request in the Hydrologically Connected Area (Limited Development Area)
Rationale:
Deadline for applicatons is September 15.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.2. Variance Requests in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area (Normal Development Area)
Rationale:
The District received 4 applications for new irrigated acres in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area (NHCA) totaling 68.267 acre feet of new depletion, consisting of 385 acres. Under LPNNRD's Groundwater Management Rules & Regulations, the Board can annually approve up to 75 acre feet of new depletion in the NHCA. Attached is the application list.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the 4 applications for 365 acres and 68.267 Acre feet of new depletion in the Non-Hydrological areas of the District, as shown on the attachment. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.3. Well Permit Program
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.3.a. Well Permits Approved
Rationale:
Wells Permits Approved: #
The total number of approved permits for 2023 is #
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.4. Irrigation Runoff Complaint
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.5. Supplemental Well Permit
Rationale:
Jamie Yindrick for David and Jerry Proskovec has applied for a third well on the NW1/4 S2-16N-3E, Butler County. This is the tract of land that LPNNRD approved a transferred of irrigated acres last year..
Attached is a map showing the location. Jamie was present at the Committee meeting and explained that between the 2 wells presenting the system is pumping about 300 GPM. The supplemental well will be a submersible well to increase the efficiency of the irrigation system. Discussion on the amount of water in the aquifer in that area and concerns about neighboring wells. It would be hard to determine if the new well would contribute any more or less to lowering the water table during pumping.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the supplemental well permit for David and Jerry Proskovec for the NW1/4 S2-16N-3E, Butler County. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.6. Flow Meter Discussion
Rationale:
Attached are some graphs and other information on water use within each aquifer sub region. A map showing meter locations and aquifer sub-areas which shows the diversity in the District. Jon Mohr from LRE and staff explained the diverse differences in saturated sands and confining and unconfining aquifers that lie within the District.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.7. Special Quantity Subareas
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.8. Cost Share Programs
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.8.a. Irrigation Well Sample Kits
Rationale:
325 kits to producers so far in 2023. 251 of these have been returned - twelve of these were in today's mail (August 30. 2023).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.9. Bellwood Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2023 is the twenty-first year for this Phase 2 Area.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.10. Richland - Schuyler Phase 3 Area
Rationale:
2023 is the eighth 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.
85 more samples from this area have been returned - these are either at HHS Lab or are to be taken to HHS Lab. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.11. Lower Platte River Basin Water Management Plan Coalition (LPRBC)
Rationale:
Attached is an invoice for $10,000 for Coalition dues.
The technical group met and discussed having NeDNR make the necessary updates on the database rather than contract it out. Each group will be uploading data to test out the database. A discussion was held with each NRD reporting on the plan for adding new acres.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying the invoice of $10,000 for Coalition dues. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.A.12. Voluntary Integrated Water Management Plan - LPNNRD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.B. CHEMIGATION
Rationale:
For 2023 we have 641 renewals and 63 new permit applications for a current total of 704. 245 inspections have been completed. 8 currently remain and need to be inspected. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3. GROUND WATER PROGRAMS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.A. DECOMMISSIONED WELL PROGRAM
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.A.1. Well Estimates
Rationale:
2 new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.A.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
1 wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the payment payment of $1,067.80 to Jack Barta for 1 well abandonment. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.B. LOWER PLATTE NORTH NRD GROUND WATER STUDIES
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.B.1. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
Cost-share Invoices Received as of 8/29/2023:
Cost-share Applications as of 8/29/2023:
LRE invoice for $3,301.25 per contract on hydrological assessment project. Jon Mohr from LRE and LPN staff presented information on the assessment at the Committee meeting during a prior agenda item. A research study conducted by UNL on the economic impact of farmland prices on groundwater regulations is attached. The study concluded that groundwater regulations had no significant impact on farmland prices.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving cost-share payments to Oehlrich Farms for $2,000 and Gene Novak for $1,000. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Recommended Motion(s) #2:
Recommend increasing the dollar amounts from $800 to $1000 for cost-share on all flow meters in the Schuyler/Richland Management Area, as there is not much differences in price. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.B.2. Regenerative Ag Confernce
Rationale:
Attached is some information about a Regenerative Ag Conference at Concordia University on February 28, 2024. At the present time, 5 NRDs are hosting, including LPN, with each one being asked for a $500 contribution for speaker and meal. Other sponsors will be contacted for sponsorship. Does LPN want to be a participating NRD?
The committee was not comfortable in making a recommendation as this subject has been discussed for numerous years with different names.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.B.3. Lower Platte River Consortium
Rationale:
A call-in meeting for updates was held on September 7 at 10 am. Next meeting is October 17 at MUD west in Omaha.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.C. Long Range Plan
Rationale:
Attached is the annual long-range plan with the plan to have approval at the Board Meeting.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
4.A. USGS STREAM FLOW GAUGING SITES
Rationale:
Attached is an invoice from USGS for $18,190 for Streamgages at Shell Creek near Columbus and Wahoo Creek at Ashland, and one real-time groundwater level monitoring site. The agreement that was approved at the February 2023 Board Meeting with USGS is attached.
An agreement from USGS for 2023-24 was received on September 5, 2023. The agreement attached is for October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 with the new amount with USGS for $19,010.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the current invoice from USGS for $18,190 for 2 streamgages and 1 groundwater monitoring site along with continuing the agreement with USGS for 2023-24 for $19,010 with Board Chairman Signature. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
5. OTHER
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
|
