NORFOLK – One of the most anticipated topics hit the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board of Directors’ agenda on Jan. 25 – applications for standard variances to expand groundwater irrigated acres within the district.
At a special board meeting held in October last year, board members approved a motion to allow up to 295-acre feet of new stream wa ter depletions for new groundwater irrigation development in the Hydrologically Connected Area (10/50 Area) and up to 2, 500 acres of new groundwater irrigation development in the Non-hydrologically Connected Area (Non 10/50 Area).
In November last year, the Lower Elkhorn NRD received nearly 300 applications for stan dard variances to consider requests to expand irrigated acres and/or construct new irrigation wells. Eligible applications were processed using a scoring system that has been in place in the district since 2009.
To be considered for approval, any standard variance application had to meet a minimum soil score of 80 in the soil conservation category. Due to this requirement, eight locations in the 10/50 Area and 14 locations in the Non 10/50 Area were not approved.
On Jan. 25, the Lower Elkhorn NRD board voted to approve 53 standard variance applications allowing 305.93-acre feet of new stream water depletions for new groundwater irrigation development (or 2,891.4 new irrigated acres) in the 10/50 Area and 38 applications totaling 2, 836.04 acres of new groundwater irrigation development in the Non 10/50 Area.
“Letters will be sent to landowners as soon as they can be generated,” Lower Elkhorn NRD General Manager Brian Bruckner said.
In related news, a public hearing will be scheduled to discuss the district’s rules and regulations for the management of groundwater.
At its September meeting last year, the Lower Elkhorn NRD board voted to have staff prepare amendments to the district’s Groundwater Management Area Rules and Regulations.
These amendments will affect the quantity management sub areas in the Lower Elkhorn NRD, and there also will be other minor changes recommended throughout the document. Additional discussion on the matter will be scheduled for Feb. 8 as part of the Committee of the Whole meeting.
Once finalized, a draft of the proposed amendments will be sent to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to allow them the opportunity to review the proposed changes and provide feedback.
The Lower Elkhorn NRD also is exploring options for partnerships to create a shared position for a Natural Resources Conservation Service source water protection specialist.
This person would engage in outreach and assistance with farm operators and landowners to incentivize conservation practices on lands located in wellhead protection areas.
The district is working on forming a collaboration with the Lower Niobrara, Lewis & Clark and Upper Elkhorn NRDs to fund and share this employee.
The NRCS will provide 50 percent of the salary/benefits, office and vehicle for the employee, while the other partners will cover the remaining costs for the position.
“I like the idea that rather than regulation, we should be doing education. And this is part of that,” said Lower Elkhorn NRD Subdistrict No. 1 Director Chad Korth of rural Meadow Grove.
In other news, the village of McLean approached the Lower Elkhorn NRD board requesting permission to add a new water user to their service.
After purchasing the property approximately one-eighth of a mile west of McLean, the new landowners have asked to extend an existing water main from McLean to their residence.
The property owners have been unsuccessful in locating adequate water on their land for a well and are facing no other options to get access to water on their property.
Because McLean is a customer of the Wau-Col Rural Water System, village officials had to ask the Lower Elkhorn NRD board for permission to allow the new connection.
The next board meeting is scheduled for 7: 30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the district office in Norfolk and on Facebook Live.
