A recent agreement between the South Platte NRD and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) has placed the District within striking distance of being in compliance with state law regarding fully appropriated areas.

On June 20, 2008 SPNRD chairman Keith Rexroth and NDNR acting director Brian Dunnigan exchanged letters of agreement approving the District’s Integrated Management Plan (IMP). The IMP became effective on July 20, 2008.

Under requirements of the Nebraska Groundwater Management Protection Act, the state’s natural resources districts that have areas designated as fully- or overappropriated are required to work with NDNR develop integrated management plans to manage the state’s ground water and surface water resources.

 

The Integrated Management Plan was jointly developed by the District and NDNR. It was prepared in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. 46-715, 46-716, 46-717, 46-718 and 46-720.

As stated in the IMP, its goal is: to work together for the greater good of all the citizens of the South Platte Natural Resources District to cooperatively develop and implement a local Integrated Surface Water/Ground Water Plan that has an acceptable degree of certainty of 1) maintaining a sufficient water supply for use by present and future generations, 2) maintaining and protecting the region's agricultural economy and the viability of cities and villages and 3) promoting the growth of economic activities while seeking to avoid adverse impacts on the environment.

To attain the IMP's goal, objectives are to:

1. Conduct data collection and analysis, including: 1) information on current water uses, 2) availability of the water resources in the region, 3) determination of the level of sustainable use, and 4) develop/utilize appropriate scientific and technical tools to guide decision making.

2. Provide education to explain why the District is developing the IMP and how it will help to sustain the water supplies of the region.

3. Encourage the use of practices that conserve water in the region's aquifers.

4. Work with adjacent states and NRDs to minimize the adverse impacts of water uses in those areas on the SPNRD and to minimize the impacts from water uses within the SPNRD on other NRDs.

5. Streamline and make permit application processes more uniform and predictable.

6. Provide information and assistance for the transfer of water uses among counties, cities, villages and producers within the State.

In doing so, the IMP must recognize that it took a long time for the current conditions to develop and a long time may be required before the implemented plan can be successful. If successful, it is expected that the implementation of the IMP will maintain the ability of local groups to develop and manage the water resources on which their quality of life depends.

 

One section, dealing with the District’s overappropriated areas, will need to be revisited later on. That review will come when the Basin-Wide Plan for the Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River is completed. The District’s overappropriated areas along Lodepole Creek and the South Platte Valley are affected, so the local plan must conform to its provisions. Currently it is hoped the basin-wide plan could be completed by late 2008 or early 2009.

 

The Districtwide Groundwater Management Area Rules and Regulations were first approved by the SPNRD Board of Directors in October of 2002. Adopted in accordance to authority granted in Neb. Rev. Stat. 46-701 to 46-754.

The purpose of the rules and regulations was to implement the South Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Management Plan. The Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act provides the authority for the Plan and the Districtwide Rules and Regulations. The goal of the Plan is to facilitate the proper management of groundwater for quality, quantity and irrigated management.

Since the rules and regulations, intended to be a living document addressing current issues and needs, were first adopted the Board of Directors has regularly reviewed and changed it where necessary. Each time, as on March 13, 2008, the Board holds a public hearing in accordance with state law to receive input.