January 6, 2026 at 9:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Discussion will be held on potential new boundaries and rules for the Platte/Colfax Water Quantity Management Area (SQS # 2).  Staff has been working on options on different boundaries, allocations and the possibility of new wells.  Producers from this area have been notified on this discussion item.  
Attached is the presentation showing the options. The Committee, staff and producers discuss potential boundary 1 as the preferred option.  Discussion on allocation where a 4-year 40-inch allocation would be preferred, but they do not like the rolling allocation.  The area east of the potential boundary 1 line might need a lower allocation.  It was recommended that flow meters and water use reporting continue in the existing area to collect the data and determine if irrigation management is happening.   Discussion on allowing new irrigation wells on the west side of the area, it was recommended to proceed slowly and develop a sound procedure before issuing a permit.
Staff would be putting together rules and regulations for the Committee to review at the next meeting.  After the Committee meeting, staff will be conducting a meeting in the area for the citizens.  

Rationale:  Attached is a table concluding the 2025 well permits. 

Rationale:  Raikes Farm Enterprises is requesting a supplemental well permit for the NE SW S30-13N-9E, Saunders County.  If the well has sufficient pumping capacity, they would like to convert the other well to a livestock well.  

Rationale:  There has been one application for the Soil Moisture Sensor Incentive Program submitted by Matthew Soukup. This program offers 50% reimbursement up to $750 of the actual purchase of the soil moisture sensors. 

Rationale:  Certification classes are set for the upcoming year.  This class is required every 4 years for producers to be eligible for services from Lower Platte North NRD like variances, well permits and chemigation permits.  The class has been updated from previous versions.   

Dates and Locations:

• January 29, 1 pm at ENREEC, Ithaca
• February 4, 1 pm at Extension office, Fremont
• February 17, 10 am at Columbus Library, Columbus
• February 25, 1 pm at Lindsay Town Hall, Lindsay
• March 10, 6 pm at ENREEC, Ithaca

Online certification is available as an option. 

Rationale: 

Two 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: 

Flow Meter Cost Share	Meters	Dollar Amount
Scott Muhle	1 Meter	$1,000
Dean Shonka	2 Meters	$2,000
Carl Grotelueschen	1 Meter	$1,000
Curt Bohac	4 Meters	$4,000
Ellen Still	1 Meter	$1,000

An application from Jonathon D Sobota for a Gravity to Pivot Conversion for $10,000.  Jon had an EQIP contract from a couple of years ago that just got approved this fall.  The plan is to fund this application through the WSF Grant, as LPN is wrapping this grant up but might have some funding for this application.  
 

Rationale:  Staff will start looking at the best locations for new monitoring wells.  This is part of the goals of the Groundwater Management Plan to establish up to 4 new monitoring wells per year.  

Rationale:  The Newman Grove Source Water Protection Contract has been completed. 

Met with DWEE to discuss potential projects involving Mead and Yutan. These will be looked at more after the pilot program for Malmo is complete to see how successful it is.

Rationale:  Is the Committee interested in a Water retreat?