LLNRD BOARD APPROVES 2,000 ACRES OF NEW IRRIGATION FOR 2011

Applications for new irrigated acres in the Lower Loup Natural Resources District will be accepted next month. Development of up to 2,000 new acres of groundwater irrigation has been approved for 2011 by the Lower Loup NRD Board of Directors. District General Manager Leon “Butch” Koehlmoos said that the application window will be open from September 1- 20, 2010, only. This is the second year that the NRD Board has approved new irrigation in the District.

NRD Assistant Manager Russ Callan said that up to 10,000 acres of new irrigation can be developed in the Lower Loup and in each of the other NRDs in the lower Platte River Basin over four years thanks to a bill passed by the Nebraska Legislature. That bill, LB-483, allowed limited groundwater irrigation development by NRDs in river basins where a fully-appropriated designation had been reversed.

Koehlmoos said that the 2010 applications would not be carried over and landowners would have to re-apply for the new irrigated acres in 2011. Applications for new irrigation will be ranked using criteria that include the stream depletion factors, the status of groundwater and surface water, the concentration of irrigation, the number of acres being developed, and the soil classification. A non-refundable fee will be required with each application. Those seeking 25 acres or less will be charged $75. Applicants who seek more than 25 acres will be charged $75 and an additional $3 per acre for each acre over 25. Applications will be ranked based on the above criteria only. Date of receipt (as in first come, first served) is not a factor as long as the application is received during the September 1-20, 2010 application period.

The application form requires information on the landowner and/or their contact person; field description and FSA aerial photo depicting the field; the number of acres of new irrigation requested, and the application fee.

Applications for new irrigated acres in the Lower Loup NRD must be postmarked by Saturday, September 20th. The forms are available by clicking here. The forms are also available from NRCS offices in the District and at the NRD Headquarters office, 2620 Airport Drive, in Ord. Landowners will be notified of their application's outcome by December 1.

The application form requires information on the landowner and/or their contact person; field description and FSA aerial photo depicting the field; the number of acres of new irrigation requested, and the application fee.

NRD General Manager Leon "Butch" Koehlmoos said that up to 10,000 acres of new irrigation can be developed in the Lower Loup and the other NRDs in the lower Platte River Basin over the next four years thanks to a bill passedby the Nebraska Legislature. The bill, LB-483, allows limited groundwater irrigation development by NRDs in river basins where a fully-appropriated designation had been reversed.

This page last modified on 8/26/10.