Transferring Irrigated Acres in the Lower Loup Natural Resources District
Any landowner interested in transferring irrigated acres from one location to another must first consider the drainage basin and stream depletion factor information for both locations.
The following links go to maps to help a producer better understand information regarding transferring water rights within the District. The first map shows the specific drainages the LLNRD considers when determining whether a transfer is feasible. The primary drainages across the LLNRD have a 2 mile buffer around the hydrological unit designated by the USGS. This buffer accounts for some of the potential impacts from groundwater pumping on each of the streams. Transfers are only allowed downstream within the same drainage.
Another criterion used by the District is Stream Depletion Factor (SDF). SDF was created from the Elkhorn-Loup Model. The number shown is the percentage of impact the pumping of a theoretical well in each section would have on the baseflow to a stream over a 50 year time period. The closer a section is to a stream, the higher the impact. The state utilizes the "10% over a 50 year time period" as a baseline for water management criteria.
A table has been provided for use in determining both the drainage basin of each section as well as its average SDF value. Use the property’s legal description to determine its basin and SDF information.
