Events

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING   –  CENTRAL PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT                     PROPOSED RULES & REGULATIONS 
Pursuant to Sections 46-701 to 46-756 of Nebraska Revised Statutes, the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) hereby provides notice that the CPNRD Board of Directors shall hold a public hearing at 1:45 PM on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the CPNRD office, 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island, NE. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony and other evidence concerning the proposed Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act
Section A – Rule 3
Definitions – Wording and clarification changes.
A.3.34  Added a statement indicating ownership of the property must be the same as the supplemental to groundwater well permit applicant.
A.3.35  For clarification, moved the word well.

Section B – Rule 3
B.3.5  The District’s Groundwater Management Plan, which was rewritten and took effect July 1, 2023, includes installation of measuring devices as a management action of Phase III. Phase III is initiated if groundwater levels in a sub-area were to decline to a level of 50% of the Maximum Acceptable Decline. In preparedness of a sub-area being designated as Phase III, this section was created to assign wells to certified irrigated acres and included the procedure for doing so.

Section B – Rule 4
B.4.1  Certified irrigated acre transfer applications are accepted between September 1st and March 1st. This revision adds clarification for land purchased between March 1st and May 31st, such landowners may submit a transfer application by May 31st of the same year purchased.
B.4.4.2  The District’s rewritten Groundwater Management Plan includes limits to transfers and supplemental wells as a management action of Phase II. Phase II is initiated if groundwater levels in a sub-area were to decline to a level of 25 percent of the Maximum Acceptable Decline. To maintain consistency with B.4.4.1 of Section B – Rule 4 referring to transfer limitations, B.4.4.2 was revised to also include sunset wording for a sub-area in decline.

Section C – Attachment C  Groundwater Quality Management Areas Within the District’s rewritten Groundwater Management Plan were also updated water quality phase triggers. In reflection of those trigger changes the map was reevaluated and water quality phase boundaries were amended.

A full-text copy of the Rules and Regulations can be requested at the Central Platte Natural Resources District (308) 385-6282 or at 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island NE 68803.

Upcoming Board of Directors Meeting
September 26, 2024
1:45  Public Hearing to set levy for Irrigation Rules and Regulations
2:00  Board of Directors Meeting
Location: Central Platte NRD, 215 Kaufman Avenue, Grand Island NE

Central Platte NRD to Hold Public Hearing on Irrigation Rules and Regulations
The Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) will hold a public hearing on September 26^th at 1:45 p.m. on the proposed updates to the NRD’s Groundwater Management Plan Rules and Regulations. The changes listed below aim to improve groundwater management and ensure the sustainability of water resources in the district.

Proposed Rules and Regulations Changes

• Phase I: 0 – 7.5 ppm. The area would consist of 1,435,307 acres, an increase of 45,621 acres.
• Phase II: 7.6 – 10 ppm. The area would consist of 210,042 acres, a decrease of 212,910 acres.
• Phase III: 10.1 ppm and above. The area would consist of 491,656 acres, an increase of 171,681 acres.

The new phase boundaries were determined using water samples collected by NRD staff each irrigation season and verified by producer data submitted on annual crop forms.
The recommendations for the Rules and Regulations also include changes to the following sections:

• Certification of Irrigated Acres
• Closure of the Management Area to Issuance of New Well Permits
• Groundwater Management Areas

Following the hearing, the Board will reconvene at 2:00 p.m. for its monthly meeting, where public comments and proposed changes will be reviewed for consideration. The hearing and meeting will be held at the CPNRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island, Nebraska.

OTHER BUSINESS/ACTION ITEMS