Notice of Public Hearing
Relating to the Middle Niobrara Naatural Resource District and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Integrated Management Plan.
Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-718, the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District (MNNRD) and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) hereby provide notice that the MNNRD and the NeDNR shall hold a public hearing on September 14, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at the MNNRD Office, 303 East HWY 20, Valentine, Nebraska. As required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46 718(1), the purpose of the hearing is to take testimony on the proposed MNNRD/NeDNR Voluntary Integrated Management Plan (V-IMP) and the proposed controls. The geographic area for the proposed V-IMP encompasses the entire land area within the MNNRD boundary. A general description of the proposed V-IMP is: 1) Authority and Effective Date, 2) Purpose, 3) Background, 4) Public Participation, 5) Maps and Description of the IMP area, 6) Goals, Objectives & Action Items, 7) Controls, 8) Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, 9) Incentive Programs, 10) Funding Options, 11) Review Process and Modifications , 12) Information Considered in Development of this Plan, 13) Glossary of Terms.
Chapter 7 of the V-IMP outlines the controls for groundwater management and for surface water management that are consistent to meet the goals and objectives of the V- IMP. The control for Groundwater is to Limit the Expansion of Irrigated Acres. The surface water controls are divided into to four areas based upon the river basin in which they are located. Surface Water Control Area 1, Niobrara River basin, is limited to the stream depletion from any new surface water irrigation use to no more than that of newly approved groundwater irrigation depletions in this basin in the same year. Surface Water Control Area 2, Loup River basin, is limited to the stream depletion from any new surface water irrigation use to up to the same amount of newly approved groundwater irrigation depletions in this basin in the same year. Surface Water Control Area 3, Elkhorn River basin, is limited to the stream depletion from any new surface water irrigation use to no more than that of newly approved groundwater irrigation depletions in this basin in the same year. Surface Water Control Area 4, White River basin, is limited to the stream depletion from any new surface water irrigation use to no more than that of newly approved groundwater irrigation depletions in this basin in the same year. The moratorium since July 14, 2004, on new surface water appropriations, in the portion of the White River basin also within the MNNRD, is no longer in effect as of the date the V-IMP is in effect.
Any interested person may appear at the hearing and present written or oral testimony concerning the proposed V-IMP and proposed controls. Individuals with disabilities may request auxiliary aids and service necessary for participation by contacting the MNNRD or the NeDNR by September 4, 2020. Testimony or other evidence relevant to the purposes of the hearing may also be submitted in writing to the Middle Niobrara NRD, 303 East HWY 20, Valentine, NE 69201or the Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 64676, Lincoln NE 68509-4676.
The full text of the proposed V-IMP and proposed controls may be obtained via the MNNRD’s website, at the MNNRD office, 303 East HWY 20, Valentine, NE or telephone (402) 376-3241 or the NeDNR’s website at: https://dnr.nebraska.gov or telephone (402) 471-2363. Following the public hearing the MNNRD and the NeDNR will make a joint decision within 60 days of whether to implement the proposed V-IMP with or without modifications and whether to adopt and implement the controls as proposed in the V-IMP.