May 1, 2024 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 Requests in the Restricted Development Areas
Rationale:
Variana and Sons Inc in regard to the expansion of acres variance for the N1/2 SW1/4 S33-16N-4E Butler County.
Randy called and would like to delay this application to a future Committee Meeting. |
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2.A.2. Well Permit Program
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2.A.3. Tile Drain Discussion
Rationale:
Discussion on tile drains as this is still an issue within the District. The committee and staff discussed which agency has the jurisdiction over tile drains. This has been handled in the past as a civil suit in the court system.
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2.A.4. Cost Share Programs
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2.A.4.a. Flow Meter Maintenance Program
Rationale:
An Invoice is attached for $16,737 from Tri-City for meter maintenance in Saunders County. This completes the 4-year cycle of meter maintenance within the District. The plan is to go back to Zone 1 for 2024-25, which is northern Butler, Colfax and Eastern Platte Counties.
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2.A.5. Lower Platte River Basin Water Management Plan Coalition (LPRBC)
Rationale:
Members of the Coalition Board held their annual meeting on Tuesday, April 23. The Board approved the IMP reports from each participating agency. They approved next year's budget with the dues being $10,000 for each member. This fund will be utilized in future years to assist in the next modeling effort for determining 10/50 lines and stream depletion values.
Attached is the depletion chart.
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2.B. CHEMIGATION
Rationale:
For 2024, we have 298 renewals and 9 new permit applications for a current total of 307. Inspections for 1 new permit have been completed.
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2.C. GROUND WATER ENERGY LEVELS
Rationale:
GWEL information for Spring of 2024.
The following compares Spring 2024 to 2023 with all areas lower in 2024.
The committee discussed whether the trigger levels and geological regions should be re-evaluated. The majority of the current triggers were developed in the 1990s with the data at that time. More data has been collected with AEM flights and assessments. The plan is to have LRE hydrogeologists present at the May water committee meeting, as they are currently working on the LPN groundwater management plan.
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2.D. GROUND WATER QUALITY SAMPLING
Rationale:
This winter, staff has been collecting domestic samples all winter. 89 water samples were sent to the Health Lab in Lincoln with the average from all the samples 11.22 PPM. The range was 0 to 36.40 with any samples over 10 ppm that did not have a RO unit informed about the rebate program, with NDEE. Four test your wells events were held along with some of these results not being sent to the lab as they showed nitrate under 8 PPM with the testing kits.
The committee discussed a RO rebate system for LPN along with assistance on registering the wells. Staff will be developing a rebate program for the Committee to review at the May Committee meeting. |
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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:
One new well has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
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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.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying the well decommission invoice for Gary Harms for $1,261.13. 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
Rationale:
Attached find a bill from Sentinel Fertigation Inc. for a nitrogen efficiency project. The demonstration site is located on Meduna Family Land in Saunders County.
A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to pay Sentinel Fertification $10,803.88 for equipment needed for the demonstration site. |
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3.B.1. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
The following applications are ready for payment from the LPNNRD.
Received 2 flow meter applications from Edwin Slavik for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Calvin Nelson for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Leander Rerucha for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Lost Creek LLC for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Dan Zoucha for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Violet Theilan for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from CMC Landhloldings LLC for $1000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Denise McAfee for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Galyn Johannes for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Rambour Realty for $1,000/meter. Received 3 flow meter applications from Carl Grotelueshen for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Roger Wilshusen for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Jon Engel for $1,000/meter. Received 2 flow meter applications from Gregg Melliger for $1,000/meter. Received 3 flow meter applications from Midland Land LLC for $1000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Skytown Properties for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Trish Vojtech for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Lonnie Kitt for $1,000/meter. Received 3 flow meter applications from Marcy Kallweit for $1,000/meter Received 1 flow meter application from Brian Kluck for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Keith Kallweit for $1,000/meter. Received 14 flow meter applications from A Glen Kluck Co for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Galen Cech for $1000/meter. Received 2 flow meter applications from Richard Shonka for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Lorene Oehlrich for $1,000/meter Received 2 flow meter applications from Arnold Oehlrich for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Rae Jean Sjogren for $1,000/meter Received 2 flow meter applications from Larry Kohler for $1,000/meter. Received 2 flow meter applications from Gary Wachal for $1,000/meter. Received 1 flow meter application from Scott Muhle for $1,000/meter. The total amount committed for flow meter cost share is $150,000, which NRD budgeted $170,000 for this cost share item. Dan Wachal was approved for a gravity to pivot conversion through the NRCS on the NW of the SE for Section 10-17N-2, Colfax County. The LPNNRD will be proceeding with approving the application for $10,000 received on July 19, 2023. The NRD initially budgeted $5,000 but increased to $10,000 in the fall after receiving a total of 8 applications. This will be the 5th application that NRCS approved, but still have 3 more applications waiting for funding. Received 1 application from Mel Bailey on the Iron Chlorosis Incentive Program for $3,000 on 200 acres at $15/acre located on Section 18-17N-3E.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying invoices for $8,000 in flow meter cost share for the following individuals: Skytown Properties - $1,000; Midland Land LLC - $1,000; Rambour Realty - $1,000; Fred Otradovsky - $1,000; Mark Horejsi - $4,000; $750 to Midland Land for Soil Moisture Sensors Incentive and $395 to Midland Land LLC for Cover Crop Incentive for a total of $9,145. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.B.2. Groundwater Management Plan
Rationale:
Staff met with LRE on suggestions for the GWMP. An update on these recommendations is planned at the May Water Committee Meeting. The plan is to have 2 stakeholders meeting in the first week of June.
An invoice is attached for $4,717.50 per contract.
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3.B.3. Lower Platte River Consortium
Rationale:
The Consortium group met on Wednesday, April 24. Items discussed were water levels by NRDs and Municipalities along with stream flows in the Platte River. An update was given on the current drought and communication between agencies.
A workshop was held after the regular meeting to discuss the purpose of the group, along with potential projects and education. A synopsis is being put together for the group to consider and if any projects have the potential to move forward. The next meeting is planned for May 29 to discuss the current drought and projects. |
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3.C. NEW MONITORING WELLS EQUIPMENT
Rationale:
Staff are working with In-situ on equipment like splitters and rain gauges that would be purchased with the current credits.
Staff showed the current online HydroVue Information from In-Situ to the Committee. |
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4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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4.A. STATE LAKES, FOR THE WEEK OF
Rationale:
Hello everyone!
A new season of Beach Watch begins on May 6th! NDEE and our sampling partners are ready for another season of beach monitoring for microcystin and E. coli bacteria. Sampling will be occurring at 55 beaches on 50 different lakes across the state of Nebraska from May 6th to September 30th. One item to note is that Summit and Wagon Train Lakes will not be sampled this year until lake water levels increase as levels remain low due to recent renovations. A "Health Alert" will be issued at beaches when microcystin exceeds 8 ppb and signs will be posted (see below). When E. coli bacteria levels are measured above 235 colonies/100ml of sample a "Health Alert" will not be triggered, but conditions are considered a high risk for illness if water is ingested. Unlike with dangerous levels of HABs, signs are not specifically posted and beaches are not closed for high bacteria levels. This is primarily because bacteria values change quickly while microcystin levels are more persistent and can remain for several weeks. If you would like more information on HABs follow the links below: NDEE HABs Fact Sheet: http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/ENV042607 EPA Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Water Bodies: https://www.epa.gov/habs Here’s to the new Beach Season! Justin Haas State Lakes Coordinator Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy P.O. Box 98922 245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922 Direct: 402-471-4224 | Main office: 402-471-2186 |
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5. OTHER
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5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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