NPNRD board approves water allocation
By Sandra Hansen, The Scottsbluff Star-Herald
Following months of discussions and a public hearing, the North Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors unanimously approved a 56-acre-inch per certified irrigated acre allocation for ground water irrigators during the next four years.
The proposal had met with stiff opposition during a Feb. 18 public hearing when ground water users argued the economic impacts of a base 14-acre-inch per year allocation for 2010-2013.
One of the objectives is to reduce depletions to the North Platte River to 1997 levels, when the Platte River Cooperative Agreement was signed by Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and the U.S. Department of the Interior. That agreement eventually led to the development of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan that establishes deadlines and methods for reaching the depletion goals.
Exemptions as well as penalties for non-compliance are included in the new set of rules that become effective on Monday, March 29, so irrigators are urged to contact the NPNRD office for more information regarding changes to Chapter 6 of the NPNRD Rules and Regulations. As examples, a 9-inch carryover from 2009 is possible, while a water overdraft in 2009 could result in acres not being irrigated.
NPNRD ground water irrigators had operated with an 18-inch allocation for the past few years, except the Pumpkin Creek management sub-area, which has operated under its own reduction program as an over-appropriated area for several years.
NPNRD ground water irrigators had operated with an 18-inch allocation for the past few years, except the Pumpkin Creek management sub-area, which has operated under its own reduction program as an over-appropriated area for several years.
Other items on Thursday's agenda included a presentation on U.S. Geological Survey projects in the district and Panhandle regarding intentional ground recharge and canal leakage, and legislation addressing aquifer depletions that could affect Lodgepole Creek, Pumpkin Creek, Box Butte County, and Republican River irrigators.
The board also discussed how members could become more informed on the NPNRD Water Committee actions and proposals prior to voting on them during the regular meetings
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