November 1, 2023 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. Irrigation Conversion
Rationale:
Ross Janak is requesting to convert some irrigated acres in Section 36-15N-3E on behalf of the Prochaska Family. This tract of land is located in SQS #1 south of Bruno. (attachments) At the present time, Ross is irrigating the NE1/4 with a pivot and high volume gun. He will be moving the center point of the pivot and increasing its length. The new setup would irrigate the same number of acres but would irrigate some dryland acres in the SE1/4. He would not be using the high-volume gun and giving up acres in the NE1/4.
The committee and staff felt eliminating the high-volume gun would increase irrigation management efficiency.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the request from the Prochaska Family on re-designing its pivot location but not increasing the current certified irrigated acres. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.2. Irrigation Transfer Requests in the Restricted Development Areas
Rationale:
Clint Ratkovec discussed with the Committee transferring irrigated acres within SQS #1. He has some dryland acres and wants to drill a well and irrigate some dryland acres. He has located some certified irrigated acres within SQS #1 that a producer is willing to transfer the irrigated rights from.
Current SQS#1 does not allow new high capacity irrigation wells with new irrigated acres. The committee discussed with Clint the options that needed to be considered and asked staff to obtain irrigated information on land that was being considered for transfer.
Attachments:
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2.A.3. Variance Request in the Hydrologically Connected Area (Limited Development Area)
Rationale:
Sylvia Walters applied for a variance this year and scored 371.8, so it was not approved. Brad Wallin was using his well to irrigate Sylvia Walter's tract. On May 10, 2021 an expansion of acres with an allocation was granted. The motion was as follows: "Recommend to approve the allocation expansion variance on the condition that a letter is received from Brad Wallin to allow the use of well G-144086 to irrigate the S½NE¼ Section 15-21N-5W for 13.01 inches over a required 3 year period. "
The 3 year period expired this year but Brad and Sylvia would still like to continue irrigating as the equipment is in place. They are willing to stay within the allocation of 13.01, in which they used 7.72 inches over the last 3 years. They are asking, if the Sylvia Walter's variance does get approved in 2024, then expansion of acres with an allocation would expire, otherwise they would continue with the 13.01 acre inch allocation.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend allowing a 1-year extension on the existing variance with an allocation for S1/2 NE1/4 S15-21N-5W from G-144086. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.4. Well Permit Program
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2.A.5. Cost Share Programs
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2.A.5.a. Irrigation Well Sample Kits
Rationale:
334 kits to producers in 2023.
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2.A.5.b. Flow Meter Maintenance Program
Rationale:
Requests for proposals were sent out in the first part of October to area flow meter companies, irrigation system dealers, well drillers, and pump installers. The NRD received one bid from Tri City Meters with the proposal attached. The proposal came back with the responsibility of the NRD for billing the landowners. Mark from Tri City Meters's concern is that they do not have any jurisdiction if the bill is not paid, other than small claim courts. The NRD has the requirement of a working meter in the GW Rules and Regulations. Mark is willing to bill the landowners but would want the NRD to be the enforcing agency if payment is not received.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend accepting the proposal to conduct flow meter maintenance from Tri City Meters for a 4-year agreement Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.6. Bellwood Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2023 is the twenty-first year for this Phase 2 Area.
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2.A.7. 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.
All sample results have been sent to producers. |
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2.A.8. Groundwater Management Plan Update
Rationale:
Attached is a working document to start the discussion of updating the Groundwater Management Plan.
The staff went through the working document with the Committee. As the plan is being developed, the Committee will continue to provide input. Staff will start the process of developing a RFQ for qualifying firms to assist in developing the plan.
Attachments:
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2.B. GROUND WATER ENERGY LEVELS
Rationale:
Staff is working on fall water levels.
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3. GROUND WATER PROGRAMS
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3.A. DECOMMISSIONED WELL PROGRAM
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3.A.1. Well Estimates
Rationale:
# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approve estimate value of $1414.50 for the abandonment of 1 well of UNLs Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.A.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
1 well has been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month. We are waiting for the paid invoice but that will be sometime in the next week.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approve the payment of $1044.30 to Luke Glaser for the abandonment of 1 hand dug well Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.B. LOWER PLATTE NORTH NRD GROUND WATER STUDIES
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3.B.1. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
LRE invoice is attached for $1,982.25 for Hydrological Assessment per contract. This project is completed with the staff meeting with LRE to review the deliverables.
Received invoices for Lanny and Gloria Schmid on the following:
This a reminder of how Phase Four could be established. Rule 1 Phase Four Criteria When levels of nitrate-nitrogen exceed 15.01 parts per million, or levels of other human induced non-point source contaminants exceed 100% of the MCL or LHAL, a Phase Four area will be declared. Within the same aquifer; boundary setting for Phase Four Areas will be initiated when: water quality analytical results within a minimum 9 square mile area are at identified trigger levels for a minimum of 2 sampling events. The area must contain a minimum of 10 registered wells and contaminant trigger levels must be exceeded in over 50% of the wells. When irrigation wells are not available, other wells may be used. Initial investigation by the District will be to determine if the contamination is a result of point-source or non-point source pollution. If non-point source pollution is found to be the reason, more intensive investigation for boundary setting will ensue. If a Wellhead Protection Area should be established due to non-point source pollution, the District may set boundaries that are less than 9 square miles. After the establishment of a Phase Four Area, if non-point source contamination levels should decline, two consecutive sampling events below the trigger levels are needed before the Area could be placed in Phase Three, Phase Two or Phase One. Staff presented some nitrate and uranium information to the Committee and showed a couple of options for a Phase 4 area. They will discuss this item in more detail at the retreat and the next Water Committee.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying Lanny and Gloria Schmid for cost-share projects within the Schuyler -Richland Management Area for $20,750. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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3.B.2. Lower Platte River Consortium
Rationale:
To recap, we had a presentation from John Engel covering the projects currently listed in the plan, discussed a water conservation program proposed by NeDNR, and decided to hold a November ILCA meeting at the Lower Platte South NRD office at 10 a.m. on November 14th.
Attached is an interlocal agreement to keep the consortium together until December 4, 2024. There is no cost associated with this agreement, it allows the group to continue communicating on projects and conservation efforts.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend Board Chairman to signed interlocal agreement for the Lower Platte River Consortium. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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3.C. NEW MONITORING WELLS
Rationale:
Eric updated the Committee on the conversation with the Pessel Company, which METOs is a subsidiary of. The CEO agreed that the splice was an inefficient way of installing their equipment. They will be turning this issue over to their insurance company for compensation. If the insurance company denies the claim, they verbally commented that they will assist in correcting the issue.
Attached is a quote from In-Situ for $1,127 from another data logger that had gone bad from moisture. The cable was also damaged, in which 61 feet from the top of the cable had to be cut and a new end was attached.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the invoice from In-Situ for $1,127 for a replacing a damaged data logger. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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3.D. Groundwater Retreat
Rationale:
A groundwater retreat is being planned for the water committee and any other board members for Wednesday, November 29 from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. The Water Committee meeting will start at 6 pm.
Tentative Agenda Item:
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4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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5. OTHER
Rationale:
The GMDA water conference will be held in Nashville on January 23-25, 2024
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5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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