Groundwater Rules and Regulations Updates

A full copy of the proposed Groundwater Rules and Regulations will be posted on our website by the middle of January.  Here is a summary of the changes to Upper Loup NRD’s current rules and regs which the public hearing will be on in February:

• Variance application fee increase to 50 dollars
• Addition of Rule 9 which covers “complaints” against landowners or operator’s within the District
• The requirement that all industrial and commercial well applications must provide a hydrological evaluation showing a 20 year potential impact of the withdrawal to water quality and quantity to both ground and surface water users in the District
• No high capacity wells will be allowed to be drilled within 300 feet from an existing active domestic well
• Flowmeters will be required on all high capacity wells in sub-district 5 by May 1 of 2017, in sub-district 4 by May 1, 2018 and sub-districts 1-3 by May 1 of 2020
• Transfer permit fee increase to
• The Board reserves the right to approve less than 2500 acres annually at the June Board meeting
• A minimum score of 15 points (out of 70) will be required on an irrigated acre ranking sheet before the application will be considered for approval
• Application period to apply for new groundwater irrigated acres shall be during the months of July, August and September
• A maximum of 260 irrigated acres per individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity or trust will be allowed per application period for expanded irrigated acres 
• Chemigation permit fee changes - renewal 30 dollars, new 60 dollars, special 60.00 dollars and emergency 250 dollars
• The Board reserves the right to establish a subarea, place a temporary moratorium on new acres in that area as well as begin hydrological studies in efforts to prevent any potential groundwater quantity problems