If you own irrigated land in the Lower Loup Natural Resources District, every irrigated acre had to be certified with the NRD by January 1, 2008. NRD General Manager Leon "Butch" Koehlmoos said landowners who failed to certify by the deadline are in violation of the NRD rules and regulations and could face cease and desist orders and potential fines.
Lower Loup NRD Water Resources Specialist Dell Harris said delinquent certifications should still be filed with the NRD to avoid the penalties.
Harris said over 854,495 irrigated acres had been certified as of the close of business on December 31st, with forms from over 1,300 landowners still to be processed. NRD General Manager Leon “Butch” Koehlmoos said the District’s Board of Directors has indicated that it plans to enforce the certification regulations to the full extent.
Under recently passed groundwater management rules, the Lower Loup NRD will also halt the expansion of irrigated acres in the District beginning January 1st.
Koehlmoos said certification will not only mean a landowner has met the NRD’s regulations, it also allow landowners to avoid any complications that could arise if the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources declares the Loup River basin "fully appropriated." That designation means the maximum level of sustainable development has been reached. Such a designation would mean that no new surface water or groundwater uses could be granted without offset created by the elimination of a prior water use.
NRD Assistant Manager Russ Callan said that the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources officials have issued a draft report that shows the Loup basin is not fully appropriated in 2007. Callan said the basin was able to avoid designation thanks to its moratorium on the granting of new groundwater well permits.
There are four steps to the Lower Loup’s Irrigated Acres Certification process. The first step is to pick up the NRD’s certification form from your NRCS office and a copy of the aerial photo of your irrigated field from your local FSA office. Please contact the offices before you stop in as an appointment may be required. Once you have the aerial photo, mark it with the boundaries of your irrigated field.
The next step is to take the marked photo to the County Assessor’s office. There you'll match the acres you are certifying with your property tax records. Once that is complete, the Assessor will provide you with a raised-seal document that is required by the NRD. Finally, submit the raised-seal Assessor’s document, the marked aerial photo and completed NRD certification form to the Lower Loup. The NRD will then add your information to its irrigated acres database.
For more information on the Lower Loup NRD’s irrigated acres certification process, contact NRD Water Resources Specialist Dell Harris at the NRD Headquarters.
