October 1, 2026 at 9:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting
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1. REGULATORY
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1.A. GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA
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1.A.1. Variance Request in the Hydrologically Connected Area (Limited Development Area)
Rationale:
There are 12 variance applications for consideration in the Hydrologically Connected Area (HCA, blue area). Of these, 11 meet the 300 minimum score and qualify for approval, for a total of 647.63 acres and depletion of 70.24 AF (Acre Feet) of depletion. The HCA (blue) area is allowed 200 AF of depletion on an annual basis. The attached spreadsheet includes scoring, depletion and ranking for committee review.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend moving forward to the Board Meeting the applications that scored 300 points and above in the HCA for approval as shown on the attached spreadsheet. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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1.A.2. Well Permit Program
Rationale:
Valley View Golf Course applied for a new well in S34-T17N-R8E—Saunders County. Attached is a map showing where this well would be drilled.
The Committee felt that conditions should be set on this well because of the vicinity of the domestic wells. If interference occurs, staff would contact the golf course for a solution as stated in the conditions. Well permit conditions attached below.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve a new well permit in S34-T17N-R8E - Saunders County for Valley View Limited Partnership for the use of golf course irrigation with conditions shown on attachment. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Discussion:
This is not a replacement well, but unsure of what water system they are on. The nearest irrigation well is on the other side of the river, which should not provide interference. The homes near the golf course are domestic wells. The committee did not feel that there will be interference issues due to Platte River influence. The only risk would be if the Platte River goes dry. The board felt that a restriction should be placed on the well because of the Platte River, such as if there is interference with domestic wells.
Attachments:
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1.A.3. Cost Share Programs
Rationale:
The Nebraska ONE RED program was announced during Husker Harvest Days and provides incentives to help farmers try new technologies and participate in voluntary conservation and farm-management practices. To be eligible, farmers must be growing corn, soybeans, sorghum, or canola and have at least 80 cumulative acres in an eligible area, which includes:
Discussion:
Can enroll a maximum of 1,000 acres, and need a minimum of 80 acres. When producers sign up for Ag Database, they can get $2,000. Every subsequent year for three years, they can get $1,000. Additional reimbursements are possible based on other programs that you enroll in. The program will run for three years, but the state may try to extend for another year. If a producer signs up 1,000 acres, they could potentially earn up to $18,000. Staff would like to promote this program as much as possible because the state is only taking the first 7,500 applications. There is particular interest among the committee in pivot nozzle upgrades and subsurface drip irrigation. Eligible fields include certified irrigated acres and Phase 2 areas and above. The committee would like to invite Sentinel Ag and Dr. Joe Luck to give an educational presentation, since their products are eligible for this program.
Attachments:
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1.B. CHEMIGATION
Rationale:
For 2026 we have 4 renewals and 0 new permit applications for a current total of 4. Inspections for 26 new permits and 214 renewal permits have been completed. |
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1.C. GROUND WATER QUALITY
Rationale:
RO Unit Cost Share
Julie Bideaux - 1 RO Unit & Well Registration - $1,091.92 & $240 Dean Novak - 2 RO Units - $2,400 Tyler Benal - 1 RO Unit - $1,200 Jeff Anderson - 1 RO Unit & Well Registration - $1,200 & $240 Our RO program requires application approval prior to purchase and installation of equipment. Tyler's application was received after purchase and installation of equipment. Tyler was unaware that the cost share was offered at 8ppm for a nitrate sample. As the states RO tax credit applications start at 10ppm. His wife was pregnant at the time, he was more concerned about clean water for his family rather than cost-share assistance. We recommend accepting his application as Tyler has provided all of the appropriate documentation. 2026 Water Sampling Maps Attached is a map of our 2026 statewide network nitrate sampling. Staff is working on additional maps that will be provided to the board. Water Sampling Kits Nitrate result letters will be mailed next week to our phase area producers.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approve RO payments to Julie Bideaux - $1,331.92 , Dean Novak - $2,400, and Tyler Benal - $1,200. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Discussion:
The committee felt that Tyler Benal followed the correct procedures, but was unaware of the ppm requirements. Because of this, the committee felt that they could extend eligibility for RO cost share.
There was discussion about the phase areas, and revisiting the nitrate ppm thresholds. This may change the size of the phase areas, so maps should be created to review what these areas would look like based on new rules and regulations.
Attachments:
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1.D. Special Quantity Subareas
Rationale:
There are two invoices from Spheros. One is the final invoice for the scoring sheets/quantity area project in the amount of $1,854. The second is an invoice for continued model construction and calibration of the SQS Groundwater Model in the amount of $10,102.25.
Attachments:
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2. GROUND WATER PROGRAMS
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2.A. LOWER PLATTE NORTH NRD GROUND WATER STUDIES
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2.A.1. Phase Area Update
Rationale:
The LPNNRD has $44,286.35 remaining in the WSF Grant, which provides a 60% cost share. Staff asked WSF for a scope change, which was granted on 9/29/2026.
With the scope change, LPNNRD is permitted to use grant funds to purchase vadose zone sampling equipment and to extend the reverse osmosis (RO) cost share throughout the district for water that tests above our cost share program's 8ppm nitrate requirement.
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend that staff proceed with getting quotes for vadose sampling equipment, utilize WSF funds for reverse osmosis (RO) systems, and extend the boundary of the project to include other areas of the district with water quality concerns. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Discussion:
The committee feels that the more we can learn about where the nitrogen is in the vadose zone, the better. This will allow the LPNNRD to improve nitrate contamination.
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2.B. Longitude 103 Migration
Rationale:
Data was migrated from Phoenix to Longitude 103's HydroData and ProducerConnect software on 9/14/2026. There are many data issues, such as missing entities, phone numbers, incorrect water usage, and more. Longitude 103 proposed a re-migration of data to correct issues, which should occur 10/2/2026.
Staff have created a postcard, email, website landing page, job aid, and video to announce the changes and provide instructional material to help producers with reporting. In-person training is planned for the following dates, times, and locations:
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2.C. AI Model
Rationale:
In the July water committee, the committee asked staff to provide additional information on the inputs, outputs, and value of an AI model before progressing to RFQs and RFPs.
Suggested Scope and Uses of AI Model:
Value of the AI Model:
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend moving forward with the Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Quotes (RFQ) process to evaluate the creation of an AI model for groundwater behavior prediction based on LPNNRD data and inputs. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Discussion:
The committee is concerned about large water users, and how we go about including them in a system like this to get ahead of future developments. The model would start in the SQS2 area as a pilot project, and if we have success, then it could potentially be expanded from there. The committee would like to focus on areas where there is risk in terms of water quantity. The committee feels that it is worthwhile to get quotes through an RFP/RFQ process and make a decision from there.
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2.D. DECOMMISSIONED WELL PROGRAM
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2.D.1. Well Estimates/Pre-Plug
Rationale:
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2.D.2. Plugged Wells
Rationale:
# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.
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3. SURFACE WATER PROGRAMS
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3.A. STATE LAKES, FOR THE WEEK OF
Rationale:
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).
Big Indian (11A) and Cub Creek Lakes will remain on Health Alert. Wirth Brothers Lake has tested high for E. coli this week. There are 2 beaches on Health Alert this week.
There is 1 beach with E.coli testing above 235 colonies/100 ml.
Well, another season of Beach Watch has come to an end. |
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4. Other
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4.A. 2027 GMDA Conference
Rationale:
Mark your calendars for the next Groundwater Management District Association (GMDA) conference, which will be held February 2-4, 2027 in Savannah, Georgia. It would be great to have a member of the water committee attend with staff.
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4.B. Rules and Regulations Updates
Rationale:
Staff are reviewing the Groundwater Management Area Rules and Regulations, and working on a draft with updates. Staff would like to dedicate some time to review the rules and regulations with the committee during each committee meeting, and schedule a Board of Director's Retreat in early 2027 to workshop the rules and regulations. Staff is seeking feedback on the order of topics to review, and a tentative date for a board of director's retreat.
Key topics would include rules and regulations around:
Discussion:
The committee would like to improve wording and simplify the rules and regulations to make them easier to read and understand. The order of topics is good, as long as maps can be created for phase areas based on nitrate ppm changes for the Groundwater Quality topic. The committee proposes a water retreat with a few potential dates to consider in January and February, and open the meeting up to current and past members of the water committee.
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