April 2, 2026 at 9:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Taylor Farms is requesting to transfer 15 acres from NW NW 12-17-5E to SE S12-17-7E.  These sites are located in Dodge County between North Bend and Fremont.  

Staff explained that there would be a gain in acre feet of water, which is part of the 5-year allotment with the Coalition.  

Maps are shown.

Rationale:  Sandra Muhle is requesting clarification of a tract of land that she is now the primary owner.  The tract land is in the N NW 17-18-1E, Platte County and north of Columbus Lakeview Schools; a map is attached.  The well located in this tract is shown on DWEE website G-019000 as an active irrigation well drilled in 1956.  This well is physically not there as investigated, but the map shows 35.11 irrigated acres.  NRD staff could not find any record of irrigated taxes being paid on this tract of land.  Sandra has applied for a variance, but is this an expansion of acres or a new well and how many acres does she need to apply for? 

Shown are the rules to determine irrigated acres.  The NRD does not have a policy once the acres are certified to decertify the acres.

Staff handled the issue with parties prior to the Committee meeting.  A new well variance has been applied for, which will be reviewed in September.  No existing irrigated acres will be shown on this tract and paperwork on the old well will be filled out to decommission the existing well.  

Historic Irrigated acre shall mean:
(1) in stay management areas any acre that is certified as such pursuant to rules and regulations of the District and that has actually been supplied water through irrigation works, mechanisms, or facilities (a) for two of the last ten years prior to the effective date of the stay management area and two years of the most recent ten year period subsequent to the effective date of the stay management area or, (b) at least one of the last two years prior to the effective date of the stay management area, or (c) land that is defined as sub-irrigated, or (d) land that was previously irrigated two of the last ten years prior to the effective date of the stay management area and two of the last most recent ten year period subsequent to the effective date of the stay management area was enrolled in a federal conservation program;
(2) in non-stay management areas, any acre that is certified as such pursuant to rules and regulations of the District and that has actually been supplied water through irrigation works, mechanisms, or facilities (a) for two of the last ten years, or (b) at least one of the last two years, or (c) land that is defined as sub-irrigated, or (d) land that was previously irrigated but during two of the most recent ten year period was enrolled in a federal conservation program;
(3) The District may grant an exception for good cause shown;
 

Rationale:  Greg Fujan would like to transfer acres within the restricted area and SQS 1.  Robert Shanahan has agreed to give up 40 acres in the SE SE 21-15-5E and NE NE 28-15-5 to Greg; which will transfer the acres to the SW SW 28-15-5E.  These sites are on the eastern side of the SQS #1 management area.  

The Committee commented that as this is moving acres away from the middle of SQS 1, this should be a benefit.  Greg commented that the water levels have stayed steady over the years from the well he plans on utilizing.  

Attached is a map of the locations along with the NRD management map.  

Rationale:  Kalend McCurdy is requesting 2 high-capacity wells for duck ponds that will pump 300 GPM for the SE NE Section 34-17N-3E and NW SW Section 35-17N-3E, Butler County, across the river south of Schuyler. A map is attached showing the 2 locations with the plan to fill 10 acre ponds for habitat.

The Committee wants to make sure that these wells do not interfere with other wells in the area and if complaints are received, the NRD has the right to shut the wells down.  The wells can only be used from September 1 to May 31 per policy.      

Rationale:  Paul Boyd is requesting 4 de-watering permits in SW SW S36-18N-7E for the purpose of excavating a 2.5 acre pond. This site is NW of Fremont and Hwy 30.  From spring water level measurements from NRD GWEL wells, the water levels are 7.2 and 7.39 feet below the surface in this area.   

The committee wanted more information as to where the water would be draining, have neighbors been notified and the purpose of the pond.  No action was taken on these permits.  

Map and graph attached. 

Rationale:  Attached is a draft policy for a change in water use, the current DWEE modification form, and what the state form could be changed to. 

Rationale:  A map shows the certification of acres that will need to be rectified.  

The committee discussed the acres affected by the highway and whether the producers control the acres or the State Dept. of Transportation.   

Rationale:  The Board Meeting is on April 15, starting at 10 am in the NRD Board Room at Wahoo.  
Copy of report is attached.

Rationale: 

For 2026 we have 146 renewals and 7 new permit applications for a current total of 153.  Inspections for 0 renewal permits have been completed.

May 1st chemigation inspections will start. 

Rationale:  Staff is over half done on spring water levels. 

Rationale:  Nitrate Results Above MCL: 11.8, 16.7, 13.2, 21.1, 16.5, 12.1
Pesticide Results: None Detected 
Uranium Results Above MCL (all): 116 ug/L, 30.9 ug/L, 91.4 ug/L

YSI
-Sent in one of our three YSI instruments to be serviced. The last one was sent in to be serviced in July 2025. The state sends theirs in yearly to ensure they are as accurate as possible. 

Quote total - $1,180.21

Phase Area Rules & Regs 
-Updated recommendations/ proposals will be brought to the next committee. 

Rationale: 

2 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
Mary Norton/Jeremy Schreiber	I	$1,073	Colfax

 

Rationale:  Flow meter cost-share 
Timothy Rickert - 1 flow meter - $1,000
David Hahn - 1 flow meter - $1,000 
Jeremy Theilen - 1 flow meter - $1,000
Roger Wilshusen - 1 flow meter - $1,000

Rationale:  The group met on March 27 and decided to send out a news release concerning the drought.  Some of the concerns are the amount of moisture received this winter and snow pack in the Rocky Mountains. 

Rationale:  Newman Grove Monitoring Well Bids

We had two well drillers interested in the project, however, one was unable to get his in due to family circumstances.

Rationale:  For the Newman Grove Monitoring Well Project, CSD is planning on digging the test holes. Attached is the agreement with CSD, and the estimate for a 400-foot test hole is $5,000. We need a motion to proceed.

Rationale:  Attached is the quote for transducers with the purpose of monitoring water quantity within Wellhead Protection Areas. This will be fully reimbursed from the transducer agreement in the amount of $$9,309.18.

Motion is recommended to proceed.

Rationale:  The Contaminant Management Strategy Guide was submitted to DWEE. They are currently finishing up the Wellhead Protection Plan. Open houses are the next step to be completed once DWEE is done.

Rationale:  Spheros (formerly LRE) will be giving a progress update report on the scoring sheet and water quantity project LPN contracted in January 2026.  They will also present a modeling suggestion as a tool to utilize with variances and well permits.    

An abbreviated presentation was given to show the progress of the scoring sheets and to present the idea of a groundwater model to assist with well permits and variances.  

An invoice is attached for $2,607.25 for the contracted work.