January 29, 2026 at 9:30 AM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  A letter is attached from DWEE approving the Groundwater Management Plan updates with some suggested recommendations on water quality improvements.  The plan is to set a hearing date and advertise on the LPNNRD website for 4 weeks. A couple of suggestions are to conduct the hearing on March 9 at 11 am or in the latter part of March during the Committee Meeting. 
The committee directed staff to make minor changes under Water Quality to address the comments in DWEE letter.  They agreed to have the hearing at 11 am on March 9th in the Board Room at Wahoo. 
An invoice is attached from LRE Water for $4,252.75 for the approved contract on water quantity and scoring sheets review.   

Rationale:  At last month's Water Committee Meeting, a group of producers, staff and committee discussed the Platte-Colfax Water Quantity Management Area (SQS #2).  Staff made a presentation to the group for discussion, which is attached.  
After discussion with the Committee and staff, the recommendations are as follows:

• The existing boundary area will continue to require flow meters and water use reports for verification that irrigation management practices are being implemented. 
• A new boundary area is shown in green on the attachment titled "Committee Suggested Boundaries."  The suggested area includes the area where the recovery time was one of the longest, along with the area that is showing aquifer depletion.   
• The new area, shown in the green boundary, will continue with an allocation of 40 inches over 4 years.  The rest of the area will not have an allocation but water use reporting from flow meters will be required.  
• No new high capacity irrigation wells (50 GPM) will be allowed in the proposed area, as shown on the map within the green boundary and expansion of acres is done on a case-by-case basis.  High capacity livestock and industrial wells will be by Board approval.  New irrigation wells can be reviewed and allowed in cases where tracts of land are being split up with no new expansion of acres allowed.    
• New irrigation wells could be allowed in the area west of the green line with an in-depth groundwater model of the proposed well being provided to the Committee by a reputable firm showing the potential decline if the well is drilled.  The cost will be on the producer applying for the new well.  Other conditions can be required, like test holes and pumping tests per site.
• Timetable of new wells being drilled:
  • Hearing of new rules and boundaries would happen in November 2026, with potential Board approval after the hearing documents are evaluated.  
  • Variance applications will be taken in 2027 until September 15 for potential approval in October 2027 of the applications.
  • An evaluation would be required of the location by the producer after variance is approved to move forward.
  • Staff, Committee and Board will review the evaluation to determine if a well permit will be issued.  A policy will be established on how to evaluate the study.    
  • The first well could be drilled after approval by the Board or in the fall—winter of 2027-28. 
• Expansion of acres in the area west of the green line will be allowable to a maximum of 20 new acres per quarter after variance request and approval.  
• All conditions that are in place presently can be re-implemented immediately if conditions warrant. 

An informational meeting is planned for Thursday, February 19, at the Humphrey Community Center from 10 am to noon.

Rationale:  Discussion on a policy for individuals wanting to change status on the purpose of what the well was originally registered for.  More discussion in future Committee Meetings. 

Rationale: 

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

 

Rationale: 

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

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
David Deerson	I	$797.43	Saunders

 

Rationale:  The following invoices have been received and ready for payment:
Tim Rodehorst - 2 flow meters - $2,000
Jon Engel - 1 flow meter - $1,000
Lloyd Cuda - 1 flow meter - $1,000
David Sobota - 7 flow meters - $7,000
Jonathon Sobota - 1 flow meter - $1,000

Jonathon Sobota - Gravity to pivot - $10,000 

Total - $22,000

Rationale:  An invoice is attached for annual dues of $30,000 per contract. 

Rationale:  We are in the process of finding locations as well as getting permission from landowners and municipalities to install dedicated monitoring wells in the district. We are currently looking in the areas of Newman Grove, Cedar Bluffs, and Mead.

Rationale:  DWEE has sent the Project Closure Letters for both Newman Grove and Platte Center. 

Rationale:  Staff at Longitude 103 have started the process of transferring the data into their system.  NRD staff has done an initial review and will begin combing through the data starting the first week of February.  Some discussion with other NRDs on the initial cost with the NRDs that were not utilizing the software when it was first developed in 2023.  The first NRDs paid $5,000 and a second update is happening right now.  

Rationale:  A quarterly invoice is attached for $4,344 for stream gauges on Shell Creek and Wahoo Creek. 

Rationale:  If the Committee wants a GW retreat, dates to consider are February 18 through the 20th or March 5th and 6th.  What would be a preferred time of day?  Discussion would be groundwater quality regarding nitrate trigger levels, phase areas and other rules changes.
The Committee decided on Thursday, March 5th, from 1 to 4 pm, with the condition that the majority of Board members would be in attendance.