January 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Doug Bartek received an approved expansion of acre variance (LPN-V024-0635 in NHCA area) for 64 acres located in the NE SW 23-16-8E, Saunders County on September 10, 2024.  Doug talked to a pivot and well drilling company about installing a pipeline from the existing well.  The well driller said that if he plans on running a pipeline for that distance, the pipe will keep coming apart with the amount of pressure within the pipe.  The well driller suggested that drilling a well would be more efficient.  Doug has applied for a well permit, which will be on Dalton Bartek land.  A map is attached showing the proposed location of the well.   
A motion is needed to change this variance from expansion to a new well variance, for 64 approved acres.   

Rationale: 

The total number of approved permits for 2024 is 36

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2024:  Correct as of 1/8/2025.  

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	5	1					6
Colfax	1				1		2
Dodge	1	2				1	4
Boone	4						4
Madison							0
Platte	4	5				1	10
Saunders	5	4				1	10
Total	20	12			1	3	36

 

Rationale:  Mark with Tri-City Meters is continuing meter maintenance. 

Rationale:  Attached are upcoming certification classes. 

Rationale:  Staff have 2 situations that have arisen on flow meter installations.  

1.  One producer has an option on his field with an irrigation well for a solar farm, with the intention of the company starting development in the next year.  The committee directed staff to allow this producer 1 year to see if this solar farm actually gets developed.  
2.  A well that irrigates 3 acres and is only used periodically needs a flow meter?  Rules from Section G, Rule 5 in Phase Two Groundwater Management. "All operators will submit a Fertilizer Application Report to the District for each field 19 acres in size or larger, at the end of each crop year or by December 15 of each year."
The committee felt as this in a water quality area, then delaying the flow meter installation would be appropriated.  

Staff continue to receive applications and invoices from the Schuyler/Richland Management area.    

Applications that have been received:

 Flow Meter Applications: 

Thomas Fichtl	$1,000.00
Thomas Fichtl	$1,000.00
Thomas Fichtl	$1,000.00
Thomas Fichtl	$1,000.00
Jay Kment	$1,000.00
Jay Kment	$1,000.00
Beau Klug	$1,000.00
Gregg Melliger	$1,000.00
Gregg Melliger	$1,000.00
Dean Shonka	$1,000.00
Dean Shonka	$1,000.00
Tom Svatora	$1,000.00
Tom Svatora	$1,000.00
Tom Svatora	$1,000.00
Midland Land LLC	$1,000.00
Midland Land LLC	$1,000.00
Midland Land LLC	$1,000.00
Trish Vojtech	$1,000.00
Skytown Properties	$1,000.00
Lonnie Kitt	$1,000.00
Bonnie Wolta	$1,000.00

Cover Crop Applications. 
Cover crop applications are $5/acre over EQIP.

Tom Svatara		66 acres	$  330.00	Wheat
Lanny Schmid		40 acres	$  200.00	Rye
Lanny schmid		120 acres	$  600.00	Rye
Lanny schmid		100 acres	$  500.00	Rye
Skytown Properties				Rye

Variable Rate Nitrogen Program: 
Variable Rate Nitrogen Program is an additional $10 over EQIP 

Trish  Vojtech

80 Acres

$800.00

Soil Moisture sensors

Jay Kment		$750.00
Midland Land LLC		$750.00
Trish Vojtech		$750.00
Skytown Properties		$750.00

Invoices Received: 

CMC Land Holdings LLC, 1 flow meter for $1,000.
Big Dog's Properties LLC , 1 Flow Meters. $1,000
MJM Farms LLC, 2 Flow Meters, $2,000
Edwin Slavik, 2 Flow Meters, $2,000.
Calvin and Karen Nelson Trust, 1 Flow Meter, $1,000
Leamder Rerucha, 1 Flow Meter, $1,000.
Lost Creek LLC, 1 Flow Meter, $1,000.
Daniel Zoucha, 1 Flow Meter, $1,000.

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North has a contract with NeDNR for $38,058.73 for the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Program. Attached is a spreadsheet of applications received for 3,512 acres for a total of $42,581. Applications have come from Priority A, B and C with utilizing biologicals the practice majority of the producers checked.    
Ranking will be conducted with approval at the next Water Committee Meeting. 

• Rankings discussed at earlier water committee meetings have A being the top priority, followed by B then C. 
• Some of the producers have been using biological for a couple of years.  If they are approved, staff feel like they should soil sample and decrease nitrogen application from their recommendations.  
• Documentation will include past FSA records, NRD records and/or soil analysis.
• Total acres per producer in B and C will also be considered when ranking the applications.
• Other considerations?

Detailed review will be done at the next Water Committee Meeting. 

Rationale: 

2 new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

3 wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	NRD Cost Share Estimate	Shell Creek Cost Share	Total	County
Joe, Nick and Harry Schmit	Irrigation	$1000.00	0	$1000.00	Butler
Tony  Meister	Irrigation	$1288.29	0	$1288.29	Butler
Daryl Sander	Irrigation	$1375.35	$458.45	$1833.80	Platte

 

Rationale:  At the December Board Meeting, it was recommended that the Water Committee review an option to provide funding for the Water Leaders Academy for residents within the District.  Attached is a policy example from UBBNRD. 
The Committee would like to handle this case by case, for people that are interested in the Water Leader Academy. 

Rationale:  Jon Mohr from LRE presented an overview of the draft GWMP.  Discussion with staff and the committee involved confined and unconfined aquifers, aquifer sub-areas, variance scoring sheet and water quality.  More in-depth discussion for the Board and Committee will be held at the Groundwater retreat on Friday, February 7, from 10 to 3.  David Hume - PG from LRE will be in attendance to discuss numerous items on the agenda.  Please let staff know if you plan on coming for a food count and if a quorum will be present at the retreat.  It is encouraged for other Board members to attend.     
Tentative Agenda:

1. NRD topics 
2. Groundwater Basics
3. Groundwater Management Plan Review
4. Recommendations Discussion
   1. Triggers, scoring sheet, observation wells, sub-areas
5. Open Groundwater Discussion
6. NRD topics/ Discussion

Public meetings are scheduled for January 9 in Wahoo and January 16 in Platte Center.  Information gathered from the Board/Committee, staff, stakeholders and the public will be reviewed and presented at the Water Retreat on February 7.  Discussion is needed on the aquifer sub-areas so LRE can finish the graphs of the wells for the sub-areas.  Attached are sub-areas, draft GWMP and presentation for review.
Attached is an invoice for $2172.75 for November.