(GRAND ISLAND, NE)-  On Thursday, the Central Platte Natural Resources District’s (CPNRD) board of directors approved issuing 82 Cease and Desist Orders to irrigators for failure to submit crop report forms. Over 150 landowners will be notified next week of the violations. The annual report forms are due March 31, 2017, as part of the District’s Groundwater Quality Management Program. Irrigated acres under a cease and desist order cannot be irrigated until they have come into compliance with the Program.

Potential penalties for violation are: possibility of a fine not less than $1,000 up to $5,000 per violation and/or a loss of irrigated acres, ineligibility for any NRD cost share money, and restriction from transferring any irrigated acres. Violators may request a hearing in front of the Board within ten (10) days of receiving the certified Cease and Desist notification. If reports are not received by March 31, 2018, the Board will consider turning the non-compliance over to the District’s attorney for District Court action at the April 2018 Board Meeting.

OTHER ACTION/AGENDA ITEMS

-Board Officer Nominating Committee  The Board elected Alicia Haussler, Bob Schanou and Jerry Wiese to serve as the board officer nominating committee to make recommendations for secretary and treasurer. Board officers may serve two, two-year terms. Barry Obermiller, Grand Island, has served two full terms and is not eligible for re-election as secretary. Charles Maser, Grand Island, has served one full term and is eligible for re-election as treasurer.

-Audit Report  The board approved the 2016/2017 audit report as presented by Allison Petr, Lutz Accounting,.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service  Joe Krolikowski, district liaison, reported that FY 2017 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) initial allocation to Central Platte NRD will total just over $1.5 million.  NRCS will begin ranking the applications and offer contracts to the highest ranked applicants in January.

-Nebraska Natural Resources Commission  Mick Reynolds, Middle Platte Basin representative, reported that applications were approved for 61 projects over $250,000 and 6 projects under $250,000. The CPNRD received funding for two small grants for Modeling Nitrate Transport in the Vadose Zone and a Drought Management Plan & Local Drought Monitors.

-Cost Share The board approved seven applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and CPNRD cost share programs in the amount of $7,446.00. Practices funded were tree planting and well decommissioning.

-2018 Election  Dianne Miller, administrative director, reported that candidates may start filing for the board on December 1st. The incumbent deadline to file is February 15, 2018 and the non-incumbent deadline is March 1, 2018.

-Upcoming Events The board will meet on December 21, January 25, and February 22. Water Programs Update: February 7 from 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Hotel Grand Conference Center in Grand Island.

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Marcia Lee

Information/Education Specialist

Central Platte Natural Resources District

215 Kaufman Ave  Grand Island NE 68803

(308) 385-6282  www.cpnrd.org