NRD board approves revisions to water rules

CURTIS -- More than 20 area residents attended a public hearing to hear testimony on the Middle Republican Natural Resources District's proposed revised rules and regulations for the Ground Water Management Area.

The proposed revisions address certification of irrigated acres, certification of non-irrigation uses and preventing the expansion of current irrigated acres. During the regular meeting directors accepted the revisions with an additional reference added to rule 8.18 that would require changes to be reported by Dec. 31 of the year they occur. The rule on certification will apply to irrigators who have not already certified uses with the district.

Testimony in support of the revisions was heard from Claude Cappel of McCook who also requested a few clarifications. Barry Richards of Hayes Center testified against the revisions. Various residents also asked questions and shared their concern that wells drilled after Jan. 1, 1998, may be treated different in the future from other regulated wells. A letter from Roger Patterson, Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, was read in support of the district's changes and a letter was read in opposition from Lloyd Potthoff of McCook.

The revisions were accepted on a unanimous vote.

In a separate public hearing, directors addressed variance requests from Daniel Knosp, Ronald Jenkins and the McCook Public Schools to drill a total of nine wells. During the regular meeting, these requests were denied.

A non-compliance hearing was held to address those well owners who failed to install flow meters in 2002 or who failed to notify the MRNRD when their flow meter was installed. These irrigators were given the opportunity to provide their installed meter serial number, prove that a meter is currently on order, make their well inactive, or provide the MRNRD with a compliance plan of their own. Directors issued cease and desist orders effective Oct. 31, 2003, to Jon Nieman, Jeffers Farms, George Seward and Richard Wolfe of Hayes County; Jason Boner and Ellis Widick of Frontier County; and Larry Brooks of Red Willow County. This order will prevent future use of that well until it is brought into compliance with district rules. No one found in non-compliance testified at the meeting.

Nearly $1,050,000 in EQIP funding was allocated in the Middle Republican NRD, according to Dave Griffith, NRCS District Conservationist. 43 general EQIP applications for $662,416 and 30 ground and surface water EQIP applications for $387,512 were signed by Sept. 30. He also noted that 107 CRP contracts were signed in Hitchcock, Hayes, Red Willow and Frontier Counties. Conservation plans were approved as submitted.

Reports were heard from directors Joe Anderjaska of Hayes Center, NARD Representative and Wayne Madsen of Trenton, NNRC Representative

Directors heard a report from Cheryl Griffith, Information and Education Coordinator, concerning activities in the past month. The district hosted the Southwest Nebraska FFA Land Judging Contest, and the Frontier County Area 5th Grade Outdoor Education Day in October.

On a 7-3 vote directors voted to join the Nebraska Ground Water Coalition. Made up of at least 15 other NRDs, the purpose of the coalition is for NRDs to address legal issues relating to ground water.

General Manager Dan Smith stated, "It is important at this time that on certain issues, Nebraska's NRDs align themselves together."

The district cost-share summary was reviewed. Approval was given to four new applications totaling $4,526.56 for grass seeding, pipelines, a tank, and well decommissioning.

In other business, new Secretary/Receptionist Chris Berke was removed from probationary status and given permanent employment with the district. After review, directors accepted a bid from Southwest Implement for $4,400 to purchase an Arctic Cat four-wheeler.

The next regular meeting will be held on 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.