South Platte NRD Feb. 9 Board of Directors Meeting

On Tuesday, February 9, 2021 the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD) Board of Directors (Board) held their monthly meeting at 5 p.m. in the South Platte NRD Conference Room (551 Parkland Drive, Sidney NE).

Discussed at the meeting were proposed amendments made to the Districtwide Ground Water Management Area Rules and Regulations. Travis Glanz, Water Resources Coordinator, reviewed the responses received from producers regarding proposed Allocation amounts from letters sent in early January 2021.

Some of the proposed changes include setting the new allocation period from 2022 to 2024 and the transitioning of the Sidney Ground Water Quality Management Subarea from Phase II to Phase III. A public hearing to receive testimonies on the proposed changes will be held on March 18, 2021 at the Country Inn and Suites, 664 Chase Blvd in Sidney. A draft copy of the amended rules and regulations is available online at spnrd.org or a hard copy is available at the SPNRD office.

Chris Kaiser, Natural Resources Coordinator, presented the Annual Nitrogen Management Report. Producers who plant corn in the Sidney Ground Water Management Subarea are required to report water and soil sample results as the Subarea is in Phase II quality management. The Sidney Ground Water Quality Management Subarea is proposed to transition from Phase II to III in 2022. This is due to the Subarea being above 9.5 ppm for over three consecutive years. The Subarea increased from 10.55 pm in 2019 to 12.16 ppm in 2020. Phase II requires soil testing on 60 acres or less while Phase III will require soil testing of 40 acres or less.