Dry conditions can affect water quantity

Keeping groundwater clean and safe for citizens across the 15-county district is a top priority for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).  Maintaining groundwater quantity is just as important, especially during dry conditions.

After the drought of 2012, the LENRD board made the decision to establish allocations on groundwater pumping for irrigation wells located in areas where the aquifers experienced acute in-season groundwater level declines. “Each year, the board determines the annual groundwater allocation amounts for the upcoming year for the Quantity Management Subareas,” said, Brian Bruckner, LENRD assistant general manager. “We use these allocations to manage the resource, providing a level of protection for all users.”

The board voted to establish the 2022 allocation amounts at:  18 acre-inches per irrigated acre for gravity/flood irrigation systems, 13 acre-inches per irrigated acre for subsurface drip irrigation systems, and 14 acre-inches per irrigated acre for all other irrigation systems in the Eastern Madison County Quantity Subarea, and 17 acre-inches per irrigated acre for gravity/flood irrigation systems, 12 acre-inches per irrigated acre for subsurface drip irrigation systems, and 13 acre-inches per irrigated acre for all other irrigation systems in the Wayne County Quantity Subarea.

The board also approved the adjusted LENRD Subdistrict Boundaries delineated by the data provided by the 2020 U.S. Census update.  Slight adjustments to the boundaries were necessary due to the population changes in some portions of the district.

In other action, the board voted to accept the bid of $9,663.75 to place riprap along the west shoreline at the Maple Creek Recreation Area, just west of Leigh. They also instructed staff to prepare bidding documents for the Willow Creek Streambank Stabilization Project downstream of the Willow Creek State Recreation Area, southwest of Pierce.

The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m.  Watch for further updates and stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.