October 30, 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 Request in the Hydrologically Connected Area (Limited Development Area)
Rationale:
At the October Board Meeting, variances were approved that scored 333 or higher. It was discovered that 3 applications were not included in the spreadsheet.
Dan Jarecki scored 494.26 with a depletion of 0.24 AF (S14-19-3W. Platte) Dan Jarecki scored 427.62 with a depletion of 7.51 AF (S2-19N-2W, Platte) John & Rose Wiese scored 376.95 with a depletion of 0.48 AF (S35-21-4W, Madison) In the past, applications that fell in the red area but were within 1 mile were scored with the HCA applications. Two applications that were approved, TMV Farms and Larry Rassmussen, were in this situation with their total depletion being 24.08 AF. These applications would not be included in the depletion numbers for the HCA area, so approving the 3 applications that were overlooked would make the total depletion in the HCA area 183.63 acre feet,
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the 2 variances for Dan Jarecki for S14-19-3W, Platte, S2-19-2W, Platte and 1 variance for John and Rose Wiese for S35-21-4, Madison. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.2. Well Permit Program
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2.A.3. Supplemental Well Permit
Rationale:
Phil Buhman is requesting a supplemental well permit for NW NE S4-18N-1W, Platte County, which is located in SQS #2. The staff have been working with Phil and Grosch Irrigation to determine why this well might not be producing enough water to keep all the nozzles working when the pivot is not on level ground. Staff have taken water samples to determine if iron or manganese is causing the screens to become plugged. The sample analysis is attached, which shows levels as ND or fairly low. Phil is requesting a supplemental well to assist in providing enough water. Katie Cameron from ENWRA has evaluated this area and made recommendations for areas in the field where a new well might produce more water. If a new location for the well does produce enough water, then this well would become a replacement well.
The Committee recommends that prior to drilling the supplemental well, Phil Buhman should drill test holes for verification.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the supplemental well permit for Phil Buhman for NW NE S4-18N-1W, Platte County. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.4. Request for a Well Permit
Rationale:
Paul Kettelson representing Four L Farms Inc, is requesting a well permit for NW1/4 NW1/4 S7-21-5W, Boone County. Presently, he utilizes 1 well to irrigate 245 acres. He wants to put an additional well in the NW1/4 to irrigate 127 acres while the other well will continue to irrigate the 118 acres in the NE1/4.
Information is attached. The committee commented that this should improve the efficiency of both irrigation systems.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving the new well permit for Paul Kettelson for the NW NW S7-21-5W, Boone County to improve efficiency of the irrigation systems. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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2.A.5. Special Quantity Subareas
Rationale:
Last year the Board approved a 30 acre inch 3-year rolling allocation for 1-year in the Coflax-Platte Special Water Quantity Sub-Area (SQS #2), with an option to extend to another year until Groundwater Rules and Regulations are updated. New allocations need to be established annually by December 15.
The Committee is planning on holding a vote on allocation at the next meeting with the intention of implementing the allocation policy by updating the Groundwater Rules and Regulation within 1 year. |
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2.A.6. Cost Share Programs
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2.A.6.a. Irrigation Well Sample Kits
Rationale:
All sample kits have been received and analyzed.
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2.A.7. Bellwood Phase 2 Area
Rationale:
2024 is the twenty-second year for this Phase 2 Area.
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2.A.8. Richland - Schuyler Phase 3 Area
Rationale:
Attached are graphs showing the 2 water quality areas for review.
Attachments:
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2.A.9. LPNNRD Operator Certification
Rationale:
Staff and UNL have set up nitrogen/irrigation certification classes for 2025:
Tuesday, January 21 - David City at Highway 92 building from 10 to 12 pm Wednesday, January 22 - Columbus at the Library from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, February 6 - Ithaca at ENREEC from 1 to 3 pm Thursday, February 13 - Lindsay at Community Center from 10 to 12 pm Tuesday, February 18 - Fremont at Extension Office from 6 to 8 pm Tuesday, March 18 - Ithaca at ENREEC from 7 - 9 pm Online tests will also be available. |
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2.A.10. Groundwater Management Plan Update
Rationale:
Attached is an invoice from LRE for $12,009.26 for updating the Groundwater Management Plan. The staff have received some preliminary draft documents that they are reviewing.
Attachments:
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2.A.11. Nitrate Assessment Project
Rationale:
An invoice is attached for $1,486 for's LPN share of the joint project with Newman Grove and Platte Center.
Attachments:
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2.B. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
Information is attached for the hearing on November 14 at the Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Schuyler. The hearing will be held at 7:00 pm with staff available prior to the hearing.
Supporting documents are attached. Cost share has been offered for the following with dollar amounts spent or committed. Water Flow Meters - $150,000 with $170,000 budgeted Gravity to Pivot Conversions - $90,000 with $100,000 budgeted Cover Crops - $1,000 with $24,000 budgeted Iron Chlorosis - $3,000 with $36,000 budgeted Fertigation Equipment - $2,000 with $5,000 budgeted Variable Rate Nitrogen Programs - $0 with $20,000 budgeted Grid Soil Sampling - $0 with $20,000 budgeted Soil Moisture Sensors - $3,750 with $7,500 budgeted The cost share deadline for flow meters were April 1. 2024 to receive $1,000. Staff would like to continue offering $1,000 until March 1, 2025, as other cost share items were not utilized. Staff will also keep prioritizing gravity to pivot conversion to producers who receive NRCS funding. The Committee reviewed procedures and suggested some wording changes with 8-36 being acceptable with pre-approval.
Attachments:
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2.C. Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act (NiRIA)
Rationale:
Attached is a draft application for NiRIA along with information on how they will be evaluated. This information was posted statewide last week. The NRD has received the contract from NeDNR to move forward as approved at the October Board Meeting.
Staff have started promoting this project throughout the District.
Attachments:
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2.D. GROUND WATER ENERGY LEVELS
Rationale:
Staff are 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:
One new well has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting. This well is in the Shell Creek area so it will receive funding from the Shell Creek Grant for the additional cost listed below.
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3.A.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
No new 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. Lower Platte River Consortium
Rationale:
The group met on October 23 to discuss a 5-year inter-local agreement between all parties. The group has been meeting regularly to discuss drought conditions in the Lower Platte River Basin. A drought plan was developed in 2019 which included projects to supplement water supply in the Platte River. These initial projects have been discussed and evaluated by the group. The group conducted a workshop to consider different alternatives which are included in the updated 5-year plan. Attached is the 5-year inter-local agreement to continue participating with the group. The budget is $0 for the upcoming year. If a project is brought forward in the future, each participating partner would have to approve and consider the dollar amount at that time.
A press release is planned to be released by the group, which is attached.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend LPN continue to be part of the Consortium and having Board Chairman sign the 5 year interlocal agreement. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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5. OTHER
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5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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