May 28, 2026 at 9:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting
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1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Rationale:
A motion is needed to take this item off the table before discussion can begin.
The Committee and staff discussed this item at the Committee Meeting. A letter was submitted by Josephine M Kennedy that was reviewed and discussed. Josephine did reach out to AWS well drilling and found that the well on this property was 130 feet deep. Since that time, the domestic well has been registered. Staff showed them a map of wells in the area in relationship to where the new well would be drilled. A graph was shown of the NRD monitoring well just to the south of this location, showing that static water levels have stayed consistent since 2009. If the well is drilled, the Committee would like to see a PVC pipe next to the well for the NRD to assess water level information. The Committee suggested that staff develop a policy to handle situations when interference occurs between wells. A form was developed in 2012 and modified in 2022 asking for a complaint form to be filed with well location, age of well, well depths, pumping levels and other comments. After receiving the complaint, what would be the next steps and that is what the Committee is considering. Keith Ziebenbein applied for a well permit in LPNNRD restricted area (red) for SW SW 29-13-9E, Saunders County. He received conditional approval on his variance request from the Board in September 2025. To move forward on the request required him to drill 3 test holes before a well permit can be approved. The test holes information is attached. Keith was present at the Committee meeting to explain his situation. The Committee was made aware of the conditions on previous approved wells in restricted areas, with Keith understanding that if local well interferences are occurring, his well could be shut off. This item was tabled at the LPNNRD Board meeting for further review. Two maps are attached showing other wells with site locations for comparison to domestic wells. The NRD does measure a well half a mile to the south within the NRD water level network. Graph is attached. A letter is attached from Josephine M Kennedy in regard to this well permit.
Recommended Motion(s):
To have staff develop a policy to handle interference complaints between wells by next Committee Meeting. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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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:
Jon Engel was approved for a variance in 2024 (LPN-024-0645). This site is within the Schuyler-Richland Phase 4 area, and he wants to convert a gravity irrigated field to pivot irrigation. Jon was not approved for a NRCS contract but is still considering this project. He would like to extend his variance to December 31, 2026 to keep this option open.
Need a motion.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend extending Jon Engel variance LPN-024-0645 to December 31, 2026 for developing the acres. 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. Nitrogen Reduction Program
Rationale:
Mike Ebel applied for the 2025 Nirogen Reduction Program, and he did qualify for a payment but was left off of the initial group of producers. He has 120 acres at $15 per acre for a total payment of $1,800. DWEE will be reimbursing this amount to the NRD.
For the 2026 Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act (NiRIA) program, there were 41 applications submitted by 11 producers, of which seven applications have been withdrawn, resulting in a total of 34 applications for consideration. The total acres is 2,870. Twenty-four applications have been approved, and producers were notified by phone and email of their nitrogen reduction baseline and targets for this season. Ten applications are awaiting additional details from the producers so these values can be calculated and applications approved. For the 2026 Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) program, there were 43 applications submitted by seven producers, of which 10 applications have been withdrawn, resulting in a total of 33 applications for consideration. The total acres is 3,262. As of 5/22/2026, NDWEE has approved all applications submitted by producers in the LPNNRD, and allocations will be updated accordingly.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend approving payment to Mike Ebel for the Nitrogen Reduction Act for $1,800 on 120 acres with reimbursement coming from DWEE for the same amount. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.4. Groundwater Quantity Update
Rationale:
Invoiced attached for $10,657.25 per contract from Spheros for variance scoring sheets and water quantity evaluations. They will be starting the SQS # 2 modeling project in the first week of June.
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2.A.5. Cost Share Programs
Rationale:
Flow Meters
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying flow meter cost share to David Novak, $1,000 and Galyn Johannes, $1,000. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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2.A.5.a. Irrigation Well Sample Kits
Rationale:
Staff has sent our water sampling kits to producers in the Nitrate Management Areas. Just a reminder that the Committee/Board decided to waive the required sampling rules and allow producers the option to sample or wait until this year. If producers sampled last year, the cost will be waived for this year.
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2.A.5.b. Flow Meter Maintenance Program
Rationale:
An invoice is attached for $30,340 from Tri City Meters per the flow meter maintenance contract.
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2.B. CHEMIGATION
Rationale:
For 2026 we have 171 renewals and 20 new permit applications for a current total of 191. Inspections for 32 renewal permits have been completed. Inspections for 3 new permits have been completed. |
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2.C. GROUND WATER ENERGY LEVELS
Rationale:
Three monitoring wells south of the Mead cleanup site are triggering a management area. Staff has visited with the Corp staff at the cleanup site, and they will be reviewing the data along with their own information.
Staff explained the situation to the Committee and made them aware of the issues. Staff will continue to work with the Corp on developing a solution. Additionally, an invoice for $597.00 is attached for HydroVu repairs due to mice. Information is attached.
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2.D. GROUND WATER QUALITY SAMPLING
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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:
# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
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3.A.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
Three wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month. John Wiese cost share is not 75–25 because no units were provided for backhoe labor and removal of the pump was above NRD set limit. These items are a joint cost share with NRD and Shell Creek Grant.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend paying well decommissioning payments to John Weise, 1520.68; Dale Wilke, 1,550.06 and Dale Pillen 1,497.62 out of NRD funds with the Shell Creek Grant assisting the individuals with the remaining amount 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
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3.C. NEW MONITORING WELLS
Rationale:
The Newman Grove CSD test holes were a success.
Notes from Katie Cameron: We found a coarser sandstone above the Niobrara deeper than projected in the bid so we have 3 recommended well screen intervals for this location for your consideration (shallow, medial and deep depicted on elog page and as schematics).
The test hole location also seems like a good spot to protect for a future municipal well. A future municipal well might screen both the upper (medial well) and lower (deep well) portions of Ogallala sand to sandstone with potentially better quality and in order to get more volume. The amount of clay between the shallow well sand and gravel unit and Ogallala sandstone would likely inhibit potential mixing between the shallow and medial wells. You would be covering all the bases, existing and future, with 3 wells at this location. Let me know if you have questions or want to discuss the 3 screen intervals.
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3.D. Groundwater Rules and Regulations
Rationale:
Discussion on
Flow Meters Nitrate Triggers Variances Staff will continue to provide information for the Committee. |
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4. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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4.A. STATE LAKES, FOR THE WEEK OF
Rationale:
This information is from the week of May 26. Please go to their website to obtain current information.
This week's beach HAB and bacteria results are now posted on the DWEE web page (Current Health Alerts and Sampling Results For This Week). Another season of Beach Watch has begun!!! There are no lakes on Health Alert this week! Bader Memorial No. 6, Cub Creek, Duck Creek, Holmes, Lone Star, Maple Creek Recreation Area, Rockford, Swan Creek, and Wirth Brothers all tested high for E. coli this week. The elevated levels of E. coli are expected with the amount of rain runoff we have received recently. Bacteria is everywhere in our environment and the rain will pick it up as it runs off the landscape and finds its way into our streams, rivers, and lakes. The good news is that sunlight is a great disinfectant on E.coli. So, when the sun does shine those bacteria numbers will drop very quickly. There are 0 beaches on Health Alert this week.
There are 9 beaches with E.coli testing above 235 colonies/100 ml.
 DWEE staff taking Beach Watch samples. Here’s to a great 2026 beach season! Justin Haas State Lakes Coordinator Department of Water, Energy and Environment 245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68509-8922 Direct: 402-471-4224 | Main Office: 402-471-2186 |
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5. OTHER
Rationale:
Reminder that the summer GMDA conference will be held July 21–23.
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5.A. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
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