South Platte NRD Board Looks At Modeling Possibilities

The South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD) Board of Directors (Board) held their monthly meeting Feb . 13 at the South Platte NRD Conference Room.

Jim Schneider, Ph.D., from Olsson Associates presented the Western Irrigation District Model/Groundwater Evaluation Toolbox (GET). This model was created through a contract with the Twin Platte NRD. Using data from the Western Water Use Management Model (WWUMM) and the Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) the model can create a simulation of what could happen to a given set of canal diversions under different water development scenarios. GET puts water managers in the “driver’s seat” and empowers them with an easy-to-use interface software that can run as many hypothetical scenarios as desired, helping answer water management questions within minutes.

Continuing discussions from previous board meetings, Thad Kuntz presented the board with more information on hypothetical subarea modeling. Kuntz power point presentation expanded on data the board needs to make decisions for future water allocations. The presentation included information on possible drawdown of the Ogallala Aquifer in the next 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 years if pumping remains similar to present conditions. Kuntz created a Web Application for the District and reviewed the functionality of the application with the board. Potential features could be added to the Web Application if needed in the future.

Ryan Reisdorff, SPNRD water resources specialist, reviewed a draft agenda that had been prepared for the upcoming Ground Water Advisory Meetings. The meetings were scheduled for all three counties in the District. They were held Feb. 22 in Kimball, Feb. 27 in Chappell, and the last is scheduled March 1st in Sidney.

Chris Kaiser, SPNRD natural resources coordinator, gave a summary of the 2017 Landowner/Operator Annual Nitrogen Management Reports. Sidney subarea producers who plant corn are required to submit an annual nitrate reporting form to the NRD. Kaiser pointed out to the Board that the Sidney subarea has the highest nitrate concentration. Last year the subarea had 5,736 certified planted acres; of the certified acres, 1,864 were planted to corn. Kaiser also reported that producers were using an average of 82 pounds of nitrogen per acre, below the recommended 83 pounds the SPNRD recommends. While nitrate levels in the ground were up this past year compared to the previous year, Kaiser said the reduced amount of nitrogen used will have a beneficial impact in years to come.

For questions or more information contact the South Platte NRD at 308-254-2377 or visit them online at http://www.spnrd.org. SPNRD Board of Director Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month.