The Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District, Board of Directors, voted to allow up to 500 approved, new ground water irrigated acres in the District at their June 3rd meeting. The Lower Niobrara NRD will be accepting applications starting July 1st, 2022 and ending August 31st, 2022. An application will include a nonrefundable fee, an aerial photo of the property to be irrigated, location of all existing well, location of proposed new well, a test hole log within 330 fee of the new well location and must be submitted by the landowner. Each application will be ranked for soil, well and ground water criteria according to the Rules and Regulations of the Lower Niobrara NRD. All applicants will be notified by October 31st, 2022 of their application approval or denial for new ground water irrigated acres. The maximum allowed approved new ground water acres per person or entity is 160 acres and will also follow the Rules and Regulations of the Lower Niobrara NRD.
Contact the Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District in Butte at (402)775-2343 for an application or questions regarding the 2022 new irrigated acre program.
In accordance with LNNRD’s Integrated Management Plan, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) can also allow new surface water irrigation appropriations for up to 167 acres. All surface water questions and applications should be submitted to NDNR.