Draft Rules & Regulations for Ground Water Management Area

June 10, 2009

The Lower Platte North NRD is in the process of updating Ground Water Management Area rules & regulations to provide a framework for allocating new well permits in areas of the district that are under the moratorium declared in December 2008. (More info on that moratorium here.)

A draft copy of the proposed changes is now available for download in PDF format, with strike-throughs and other editing marks left intact so that the changes can be compared to the original text. A final copy of the proposed changes should be posted next week.

A public hearing on the proposed changes will be held on Friday, July 10 at 5:30 pm at the NRD offices in Wahoo.

• Download Draft Copy of GWMA Rules & Regs Update (PDF, 511kb)

Well Moratorium Info

320 Students Attend Spring Conservation Sensation

May 7 , 2009

Three hundred and twenty elementary students from 10 area schools got an up-close look at nature on Wednesday when they attended the annual Spring Conservation Sensation at Czechland Lake near Prague.

The students rotated through 8 different hands-on activities designed to teach them about natural resources and the importance of conservation. Nearly 6,000 students have attended the Conservation Sensation since it began in 1991.

• Full Story
• Photo Gallery (will open in new window)
• GPS Photo Gallery (photo locations plotted on map using GPS coordinates from camera)

More information on the Conservation Sensation.

New Helicopter Flights Scheduled for Geologic Study in Swedeburg Area

April 8 , 2009

As part of the Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA), an upcoming geologic study in the Swedeburg area will use a method known as a helicopter electromagnetic (HEM) survey, capable of quickly mapping subsurface geology over a large area. A HEM survey was conducted between Gretna and Ashland in March 2007. The upcoming survey will be located between Wahoo and Ceresco and is scheduled to begin the week of April 20, 2009. The approximate flight area for the study is shown on the map below.

During a HEM survey, instruments which transmit electromagnetic signals are suspended beneath a helicopter in a horizontal tube. The helicopter flies at an altitude of 100 to 300 feet and will follow a preplanned route using a global positioning system (GPS) to provide optimal coverage of the area. These flights will pose no threat to people, facilities or homes. There is also no direct threat to livestock. The presence of a helicopter, however, can be startling to people and animals, especially confined animals such as corralled horses and poultry.

The helicopter will not fly directly over cities or towns and will also try to identify and avoid flying directly over corralled livestock. However, if you have livestock that would be startled by helicopter noise, or if you have any questions about the pending study, please contact Water Department Manager Larry Angle at (402) 443-4675 at langle@lpnnrd.org.

Public Hearing on Platte River Uplands Subarea

April 8 , 2009

The Lower Platte North NRD will hold a public hearing on April 13 at our office (511 Commercial Park Road in Wahoo) to take testimony from the public on the temporary stay on the construction of new wells and expansion of irrigated acres in the Platte River Uplands subarea.

The temporary stay will expire on June 6, 2009. The NRD will take testimony on whether:

• the temporary stay should be made permanent,
• a second temporary stay should be declared, or
• the temporary stay should be allowed to lapse.

The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13.

This public hearing will be for the Lower Platte North NRD temporary stay for the Platte River Uplands subarea only, and does NOT address the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources decision on the appropriation status of the Lower Platte River Basin.

If you would like more information on the Platte River Uplands Subarea stay, please contact us at (402) 443-4675 or lpnnrd@lpnnrd.org.

Department of Natural Resources Reverses Fully Appropriated Determination

April 2 , 2009

On March 30, 2009, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources reversed its preliminary determination that the Lower Platte River Basin was fully appropriated.
(Department of Natural Resources Press Release [PDF])

However, the NRD is required to formulate a plan for allocating new well permits in the affected area and the Department of Natural Resources will need to approve that plan before any new well permits in the current stay area can be granted. The district is anticipating that this process will not be completed until mid-summer 2009 at the earliest. Therefore, the stay for the "hydrologically connected" area (red areas on map below) will remain in effect for the time being.

This does not affect the NRD's prior moratorium areas (yellow areas on map), which will remain in effect regardless of the status of the rest of the basin. The green areas on the map are not currently under a stay or moratorium and the NRD is still accepting well permits from those areas.

More Information on Fully-Appropriated Determination

Report: Findings for Lower Platte Do Not Support Fully Appropriated Status

March 13 , 2009

A recently completed scientific and legal review by nine Natural Resources Districts (including the Lower Platte North NRD) has concluded that the preliminary determination that the Lower Platte River Basin is fully appropriated is not supported by the science and is in conflict with the State’s regulations.

These findings were presented at a public hearing on the basin's appropriation status on March 12 in Fremont. A press release, the full report and a letter to Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Director Brian Dunnigan are available using the links below.

• Press Release
• Letter to DNR Director Brian Dunnigan (PDF)
• Lower Platte Basin Technical Review (PDF)

More Information on Fully-Appropriated Determination

New Viaduct Available for Download

December 16, 2008

The new issue of the Viaduct is now available for download in PDF format. Stories in this issue include:

• Lake Wanahoo Dam Construction Underway
• New Grass Drill for Colfax County
• East Central Land Judging Contest Winners

... and more.

Download (PDF, 1.5 MB)

For more information or to subscribe to the Viaduct, go here.

Download
More Info

Well Permit Status in Lower Platte North NRD

December 12, 2008

On December 11 a large number of permits to drill new irrigation wells began to be submitted in anticipation of our basin being declared fully appropriated by the Department of Natural Resources. In order to protect these individuals from economic loss the decision has been made to accept, but not process any new permits to drill until after the first of the year. Background information for this decision is as follows: (-more-)

Full Story

NRD Honors Area Conservationists at Annual Banquet

December 1, 2008

Area conservationists were honored at the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District’s Annual Banquet on November 30 at the Klein Center in Brainard.

Each year, the NRD gives awards for outstanding efforts in conservation of our soil and water resources. Award winners are chosen by NRD staff and directors.

(-more-)

Full Story

Lake Wanahoo Dam Construction Underway

October 31 , 2008

With bulldozers rumbling in the background, Lake Wanahoo sponsors and supporters gathered at the project site one mile north of Wahoo for a long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony on October 30.

It was a day 15 years in the making, with the ambitious project winding through a long string of successes and setbacks before those first shovelfuls of dirt could be moved.

“They say good things come to those who wait,” said Project Coordinator Mike Murren. “Well, we waited a long time but in the end it was worth it.”

(-more-)

Full Story