January 31, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Joe Luck - UNL gave an update on three projects that were conducted within the District.  Two of the projects utilized Sentinel's variable rate nitrogen application with satellite imagery.  The other site compared a field with manure application as the primary source of nitrogen.  
Shane Ohlde from VariMax Realtime Crop Management conducted a demonstration on a field in the Schuyler-Richland Area using crop-based nitrogen and irrigation management.  He presented information from his project utilizing satellite imagery.  

Rationale:  A new well permit application from Merle Blum with Mike Conrad as tenant was submitted for the SWSE S2-T16N-8E, Saunders County.  The tract of land is currently being irrigated by well G-037875 in the NE1/4 S11-16N-8E. There are 57.90 certified irrigated acres in Section 2, but they desire to have this pivot with its own well.  The new well will be located in Woodcliff's Wellhead Protection Area, with the map attached.  Attached is an AEM profile map along with a geological log from the well in Section 11.  They would not be adding acres and a flow meter would be required.  Well G-02123A is Woodcliff's water supply well. 

Staff did reach out to Lonny Mahrt - President of Woodcliff's SID, which he plans on visiting with JEO as they are their engineers, but initially he did not have an issue.  Lonny responded by email on Thursday, February 1st, asking for well depth, pumping and geological information which staff provided.  He also asked about the possibility of utilizing this well for emergency fire protection well.  Staff directed him to contact Mike Conrad for this as an option.  

Rationale:  Discussion and possible action on allocation overage.  A producer in SQS #2 water use was 17.28 inches in 2022 and 11.53 inches in 2023.  The 2-year total would be 28.81 inches for the 3-year rolling allocation.  

The committee discussed the option of deducting the 6-inch penalty and the consequences.  A motion at the December Board Meeting increased the allocation to 30 inches over 3 years. The Committee felt that if this producer is allowed to go to 30 inches, a requirement for soil moisture sensors is required and, if possible, work with the local extension on irrigation management.  Staff will also investigate if the flow meter is working correctly and visit the producer.  

Staff conducted an informational meeting for producers about the SQS#2 area at Humphrey.  Jesse Korus presented information from the study conducted by his students. NRD staff presented current rules for this area and water level information.  There were about 20 individuals and 1 Committee member in attendance.  
Some of the comments from the meeting:

• Consider allowing banking of water not used, instead of a rolling allocation.  A set amount would be given yearly.  
• 4 year allocation instead of 3 years to allow 2 corn and 2 soybean years.
• Cost-share on variable rate irrigation systems. 
• Domestic well users should understand the issues when living in a rural area.  
• Assist in drilling domestic wells deeper.  
• All areas of the district should have meters and allocations. 
• NRD data is biased when showing certain water level information.  

Rationale:  Received a flow meter invoice from Nathan Oelrich which is eligible for a $1,000 NRD cost-share through the WSF grant.

Attached is an updated boundary and proposed rules and regulations for the proposed Phase 4 management area.  The map shows nitrate results and the area that has uranium contamination over the MCL drinking water limit.  One of the rules would require a producer's best management agreement.  A draft of this agreement is attached for review. Staff recommends that the Committee considers approving the proposed boundary and rules, so information can be distributed to the public.  

A public informational meeting is planned for Thursday, February 22nd, starting at 5 pm.   The plan is to have tables and displays setup for people to visit with presentations at 6 pm.
Tentative Agenda for this meeting:

• Variable Rate Nitrogen Application
• Soybean Physiology and PH soils
• Proposed Phase 4 Boundaries and Rules
• Cost-share and Field Demonstrations Opportunities
• Question and Concerns from Public 

Attached is a soil sample received with 2023 nitrogen reports.  How should this be handled in Water Quality management areas?

Staff will be participating in a "test your well" event on February 18th at Schuyler High School during a Pancake Feed. (Flyer Attached)

Rationale:  Committee members would like some discussion on the following practices.

• Updating irrigation nozzles that are over 10 years old.  At the meeting in Humphrey, Bruno from Platte County Extension showed some demonstration fields where you could see dry strips in the field and then, after replacing them, increase the profitability of the field.  
• Used pivots to replace gravity irrigation in the corners of the field.  
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Units Cost-share.  NDEE has been offering cost-share for RO Units for nitrate water over 10 ppm.  Some of the issues are getting the information out to the public that do not have registered wells and the initial cost of the unit and continuing maintenance. 
• An idea was brought forward was to provide bottled water at a least expensive cost from a company that handles bottled water. 
• NRD staff is planning on conducting an extensive water sampling project within areas that have shown higher nitrate results from NRD water sampling.  Four Corners Health Department out of York has reached out to help in getting this information out to the public.  Other health departments could also assist in this effort.  An example of a door hanger is attached for individuals that might not be home.  
• Giddings Soil Sampling Rig to assist in spot checks on fields and analysis of nitrate leaching.  Attached is a picture.  
• Other thoughts?

Rationale:  TRI CITY Meter was just in the process of starting the second week of January.  They will get started when the fields are accessible.  

The agreement is attached and ready for signatures.

Rationale:  One of the requirements of the LPN Groundwater Rules and Regulations is that all producers that irrigate or apply nitrogen are required every 4 years to attend a NRD Operator Certification class. 
 
Classes being held in 2024:
January 16 - Fremont Extension Office - done
February 1 - ENREEC Mead
February 8 - Lindsay Village Hall
February 16- Ag Park Columbus
February 22 - David City Butler County Event Center
March 14- ENREEC Mead

Rationale:  Staff and Jovan have reviewed the contract with LRE with signatures still needed. 
During the interview process, a comment was given that the Water Committee should have some basic discussion on changes to the plan. 
Groundwater Quality:
        Current Trigger Levels:

• Phase I - 0 to 8 PPM
• Phase II - 8 to 10 PPM
• Phase III - 10 to 15 PPM
• Phase IV - Greater than 15 PPM

1. Number of wells that need to be sampled
2. Utilizing domestic wells for implementing regulations
3. Where do health regulations get implemented?
4. Other considerations

Groundwater Quantity:
        Current Trigger Levels:

• Unconfined Aquifer
  • Level Two - 10% drop in saturated thickness
  • Level Three - 15% drop in saturated thickness
• Is 100 foot saturated thickness the same as 15 feet when considering declines?
• Confined Aquifer
  • Level Two - 7% drop in  potentiometic-aquifer thickness
  • Level Three - 10% drop in potentiometic-aquifer thickness
• Should in-season pumping be considered in NRD regulations?
• Water use information.
• Stakeholder Group

The committee gave staff some direction on what changes should be considered.  

Rationale: 

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

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County

 

Rationale:  Staff had a request from a Committee Member to gather information for an UTV to collect geological information.  Staff received some information from Jared of AGF about doing 80 acres or 25 miles.

Jared.'s response:  

As long as there are not many obstacles and an UTV can drive over the area that is a one-day job.  Depending on the crews location it could be a bit less or a bit more.  You still need to be aware of powerlines and fences and other metallic objects as the towed systems area also impacted.

The best way I represent the technologies is the AEM is a township mapping tool, and the pulled systems are section mapping tools.

The Wallaby is out of service and Collier has switched to the tTEM, which is a good thing.

We have access to two systems that we can run and have all the software if you want to try it before going down that road.  We are very happy with the system. It can only see ~ 60 meters (depends how much clay rich till).

It boils down to labor and skilled operator and processors.

Jared D. Abraham, MS, PG, PGP
Aqua Geo Frameworks, LLC
10848 Ridge Rd.
Fort Laramie, WY 82212
jabraham@aquageoframeworks.com
(303)-905-6240
www.aquageoframeworks.com

 

Rationale:  Annual dues are attached for $30,000.

Rationale:  Attached is a report from Daryl and Will (mostly Will).