FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT: MARCIA LEE, INFORMATION/EDUCATION SPECIALIST OR
                   LYNDON VOGT, GENERAL MANAGER   (308) 385-6282
DATE:  FEBRUARY 12, 2016

NEWS RELEASE
Public Hearing on New Groundwater Exchange Program
to be held February 25th

(GRAND ISLAND, NE) The proposed Rules and Regulations for the new Groundwater Exchange Program were approved by the Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) board of directors on Thursday.  The Groundwater Exchange will allow producers to temporarily sell or buy water for one growing season.  The public hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at the CPNRD office. 

If approved, CPNRD would be breaking new ground by launching the debut of the Groundwater Exchange pilot program for the 2016 irrigation season, with the pre-approval process starting the first week of March.  More information is available at: www.market4water.com.

The board voted to develop a Groundwater Exchange Program at their September 2015 meeting.  The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and a consultant helped CPNRD develop a groundwater algorithm that will select the best matches based on information that each seller and buyer enters - such as the price, the location of water and depletion to the river. The program will then generate a report of all the matched exchanges for the CPNRD. 

The proposed Groundwater Exchange Rules and Regulations will be included in CPNRD’s Rules & Regulations for Groundwater Use in Fully and Over Appropriated Areas.  The proposed rules describe where the temporary exchanges will be allowed, including limitations on water uses in the over-appropriated area of the District; pre-approval process, open bid process, exchange notification, etc.  The proposed Rules & Regulations are available at: www.cpnrd.org or by calling (308) 385-6282.  

OTHER ACTION/AGENDA ITEMS:

-NRCS Report- James Huntwork, USDA-NRCS district liaison, will report to the board.

-Appeal- The board will consider a request from Dawson County to appeal certified irrigated acres regarding the Rules and Regulations for Groundwater Use in Fully and Over-Appropriated Areas.

-Crop Reporting Form- Sandy Noecker, data compliance officer, will give an update on the online crop reporting form for the Groundwater Quality Management Program.

-Legislative Session- Mark Czaplewski, biologist, will report on bills relating to natural resources in this session.

-Clean Community System- Marcia Lee, information/education specialist, will give an update on the Grand Island Area Clean Community System.

-March Board Meeting- The board will consider moving the March board meeting to Thursday, March 31, 2016.

-Other- As may develop prior to the board meeting.

#####

  Marcia Lee
  Information/Education Specialist

  Central Platte Natural Resources District
  215 Kaufman Ave  Grand Island NE 68803
  Tel: (308) 385-6282  www.cpnrd.org

Protecting Lives • Protecting Property • Protecting the Future