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Ground Water
Chemigation is the practice of applying fertilizer or agricultural chemicals to crops through an irrigation system. If the correct precautions are not taken, chemicals can flow back through the irrigation system and into the well, polluting the ground water or other water source.
In the mid-1980’s the Nebraska Legislature passed the Chemigation Act to protect our ground and surface water from possible contamination. The operator of a chemigation system is required to obtain a permit before chemigating. Permit holders are primarily liable for any damage resulting from chemigation and for maintenance expenses on their chemigation equipment.
Certification RequirementsBefore a chemigation permit can be granted the operator is required to attend a certification class and pass a written exam. This certification is good for four years and entitles the operator to apply for a chemigation permit. Applicator/certification classes are sponsored by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and are held in various locations during the winter and spring each year.
InspectionsUnder provisions of the Nebraska Chemigation Act, Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are responsible for inspecting each irrigation system through which any agricultural chemical will be applied to ensure that mandatory safety devices are installed and functioning. All operating permits are subject to periodic random inspections to ensure continued compliance. Any new system must be inspected before chemigation can begin.
For more information on the required chemigation equipment set-up, click here.
Chemigation Permit FeesDownload: UNWNRD Chemigation PermitRequires Acrobat Reader.New Permits: $30 per injection siteRenewal Permits: $10 per injection siteAll permits are good for one year, expiring on June 1. New permits approved at any time during the calendar year expire on June 1 of the following year.
As a courtesy to operators, renewal applications are mailed out from the UNWNRD office. However, it is the responsibility of each operator to contact the UNWNRD if he/she does not receive the necessary permits, to complete the required information and to return renewal permits by the deadline. Any permit not renewed by June 1 is subject to cancellation - the operator must then pay the new permit fee and have the system inspected to be eligible to chemigate again.
PenaltiesViolators of the Chemigation Program will be submitted to county attorneys. Penalties consist of Class I, II, III or IV misdemeanors or a civil fine.
For questions or comments on the Upper Niobrara White NRD’s Chemigation Program, please contact Sheri Daniels, Water Resources Manager at
daniels at unwnrd.org. 
Crop water use reports are provided weekly during the growing season. This is the report for the week of August 31, 2009. This will be the last report for the 2009 season.
CORNOver the past week, corn used 1.32 inches.
Expected use by corn for this week is 1.40 inches.
BEETSIn the past week, beets used __1.09__ inches.
Expected use by beets for this week is __1.18__ inches.
POTATOESOver the past week, potatoes used __1.02__inches.
Expected use by potatoes for this week is __.90__inches.
BEANSOver the past week, beans used 1.05 inches.
Expected use by beans for this week is __.83__inches.
ALFALFAAlfalfa’s expected use for this week is __1.60 inches.
Expected figures are predicted assuming a trend toward normal conditions. The reports are based on normal planting dates, which have been adjusted to local planting variances. Checking moisture levels throughout the soil profile is encouraged to determine total available water. For more information please contact Jason Moudry with the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District at 308.432.6190 or visit our website at www.unwnrd.org. We are committed to helping Nebraskans conserve and protect our ground water! For more information on the Crop Water Use Reports, please contact Jason Moudry at (308) 432-6190.
If you live outside of a city water supply how do you know your water is safe to drink?
What do we test for?
Who is eligible for testing?Residents in Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and most of Sioux counties who have a private domestic water supply. Testing is FREE and appointments may be made by calling Sheri Daniels at the UNWNRD office.
What if there is a problem?The UNWNRD has cost-share available on a first-come-first serve basis to defray a portion of the expense for either a treatment system or new domestic well if you drinking water tests over 10.0 ppm for nitrates or is positive for bacteria. In addition, our well decommissioning cost-share program is available to assist landowners with the cost of properly plugging unused water wells which pose a threat to ground water quality and are a safety hazard.
Ground Water Levels Monitoring Observation Well Locations
 Example 1:Converting Gallons toAcre-Inches AppliedIf you have a meter with a gallon totalizer remember to note the multiplier beneath the totalizer. For example a standard 8" meter dial face displays 890572 and the meter face reads Gallons x 100, so we add two zeros to the 6-digit dial face reading.
890572 x 100 = 89057,200 gallons
Present Meter Reading: 89,057,200 gallons
Subtract Previous Reading: 79,488,700 gallons
Total Gallons Used: 9,568,500 gallons
To convert gallons to acre-inches: Divide gallons used (9,568,500) by 27,154
9,568,500 divided by 27,154 equals 352.38 acre-inches
(9,568,500 / 27,154 = 352.38 acre-inches) To figure acre-inches used, divide acre-inches by acres in field (example: 125 acres) 352.38 acres divided by 125 acres = 2.82 acre inches applied. (325.38 / 125 = 2.82 acre-inches)
Example 2:Converting Acre-Feet to Acre-Inches AppliedIf you have a meter with an acre-feet totalizer remember to note the multiplier beneath the totalizer. For example a standard 8" meter dial face displays 974602 and the meter face reads Acre Feet x 0.001, so we place the decimal point three places to the left.
974602 x 0.001 = 974.602 acre-feet
Present Meter Reading: 974.602 acre-feet
Subtract Previous Reading: 968.176 acre-feet
Total Acre-Feet Used: 6.426 acre-feet
To convert acre-feet to acre-inches: Multiply acre-feet used (6.426) by 12
6.426 multiplied by 12 equals 77.112 acre-inches.
(6,426 x 12 = 77.112 acre-inches) To figure acre-inches used, divide acre-inches by acres in field (example: 64 acres) 77.112 acre inches divided by 64 acres = 1.20 acre-inches applied. (77.112 / 64 = 1.20 acre-inches)
Example 3:Converting Acre-Inches to Acre-Inches AppliedIf you have a meter with an acre-inches totalizer remember to note the multiplier beneath the totalizer. For example a standard 8" meter dial face displays 974602 and the meter face reads Acre Inches x 0.01, so we place the decimal point two places to the left.
974602 x 0.01 = 9746.02 acre-inches
Present Meter Reading: 9746.02 acre-inches
Subtract Previous Reading: 9681.76 acre-inches
Total Acre-Inches Used: 64.26 acre-inches
To convert acre-inches to acre-inches applied:
Divide acre-inches by acres in the field (example 30 acres) 64.26 / 30 = 2.142 acre-inches applied.
Water is without a doubt our most precious natural resource. Without it, life does not exist. The UNWNRD takes its responsibilities to improve our water quality and quantity very seriously. In 1998, the UNWNRD adopted its Five Year Water Programs Plan to direct this cause. The first phase involved public information meetings in all four county seats to describe just what this plan entails. These meetings provided interested citizens of the District with the opportunity to learn more about water issues in the area and the UNWNRD’s plans concerning those issues. Updated information on the status of our ground water resource is available at the UNWNRD office.
What is a Ground Water Management Area?Effective July 1, 1998, the entire Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District was designated a Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) for information and education purposes. This GWMA identifies where problem areas may exist with the quality of our ground water. It does not single out landowners for illegal chemigation or wasteful irrigation practices. Through detailed research and analysis and the collaborative efforts of several agencies, the UNWNRD is able to monitor the District's ground water quality. Specific areas in our District have been identified as high priority due to the higher risk they have for ground water contamination. This risk is due to a combination of factors including farming practices, the natural geology of the aquifer underlying those areas and the depth to ground water at those points. The establishment of the GWMA provides the UNWNRD with the information necessary to determine solutions to water quality and quantity problems in northwestern Nebraska. Through the cooperative efforts of citizens, local businesses, and government agencies we can protect our most precious natural resource.
To enact the GWMA, the UNWNRD devised some basic rules and regulations:
1) Ground Water Quality Study - The UNWNRD must analyze ground water for nitrate-nitrogen in all irrigation wells pumping greater than 50 gallons per minute. Each well will be sampled once every four years. The landowner or operator must allow the sample to be collected and analyzed by District staff using approved methods. Information from the analysis will give the operator knowledge of usable nitrogen already present in the ground water.
2) Well Permits - Any person intending to construct a water well on land he/she owns, leases, or controls within the District must apply for a permit through the UNWNRD before construction begins. Exemptions include test holes or dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety (90) days or less. Water wells designed and constructed to pump fifty (50) gallons per minute do not require a permit. Most wells for domestic or livestock watering purposes pump less than 50 gallons per minute, and therefore do not require permits. However, multiple wells individually pumping less than fifty gallons per minute but collectively pumping more than fifty gallons per minute are considered a single well if they are connected together or otherwise serve a single purpose. View 2 page Well Permit Application
For more information on well permitting or the Ground Water Management Area, contact Lynn Webster at (308) 432-6190.
During a public hearing on October 28, 2004, the UNWNRD Board of Directors voted to continue the District-wide stay (moratorium) on high capacity well drilling until our new Ground Water Management Plan is approved. This moratorium applies only to wells that pump 50 gallons per minute or more - most livestock and domestic wells pump far less than this and therefore are not restricted.
On October 5, 2004, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources determined that portions of the UNWNRD are Fully Appropriated. In this area, there is a stay on the issuance of NEW well permits, NEW surface water permits and NEW irrigated acres. In the areas that they determined not to be Fully Appropriated, the UNWNRD Board of Directors was required to reimpose our well-drilling moratorium to allow us to continue our water management progress. For more information on the definition and areas included in the fully appropriated area, click here or visit the DNR website at: http://www.dnr.state.ne.us/LB962/LB962Implementation.html. Click here to download the UNWNRD's Integrated Management Plan which became effective in June 2009. The Ground Water Management Area Rules and Regulations listed below describe the changes that were voted on by the UNWNRD Board at the October 28th hearing. These regulations affect the entire UNWNRD, which includes all of Box Butte, Dawes and Sheridan Counties, as well as most of Sioux County. Please note that Rule 2 part c relates to Crow Butte Resources.
DISTRICT-WIDEGROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREARULES AND REGULATIONSApproved by Board of Directors: July 1, 1998
Adopted Amendment by the Board of Directors: October 28, 2004
With the adoption of the ground water management area throughout the entire District, the following Rules and Regulation will be implemented.
DEFINITIONSAs used in these Rules and Regulations of the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District for administration of the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act:
Rule 1Water QualityA ground water analysis for nitrate-nitrogen content in all wells pumping greater than 50 gallons per minute for irrigation of crops must be accomplished once every four years. Landowner/Operator must allow the sample to be collected and analyzed by the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District using approved methods. Information from the analysis will give the operator knowledge of usable nitrogen already present in the ground water.
RULE 2Water Well PermitThe geographic area subject to this rule is the entire geographic area that coincides with the boundaries of the District. The stratigraphic area subject to these rules is from the land surface to the base of the underlying layers that contain the water bearing material. Any person intending to construct a water well on land he/she owns, leases or controls in any manner at any location within the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District ground water management area shall, before commencing construction, apply for a permit on forms provided by the District, with the following exemptions:
a) no permit shall be required for test holes or dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety (90) days or less;
b) no permit shall be required for water wells designated and constructed to pump fifty (50) gallons per minute (gpm) or less, but multiple wells individually pumping less than fifty (50) gallons per minute but collectively pumping more than fifty (50) gallons per minute (gpm) will be considered a single well for purposes of this rule if they are connected together or otherwise serve a single purpose; and
c) no permit shall be required in the portion of the Chadron aquifer that lays beneath the land area described as follows:
Township 31 North, Range 52 West:Section 11: S ½ NE ¼, N ½ SE ¼, SE ¼ SE ¼
Section 12: SW ¼, S ½ NW ¼, NW ¼ SE ¼,
S ½ SE ¼
Section 13: E ½, NW ¼, NE ¼ SW ¼
Section 24: E ½ NE ¼, NE ¼ SE ¼
Township 31 North, Range 51 West:Section 17: SW ¼ SW ¼
Section 18: SW ¼, S ½ NW ¼, NW ¼ NW ¼,
S ½ SE ¼, NW ¼ SE ¼
Section 19: All
Section 20: SW ¼, W ½ NW ¼
Section 29: W ½
Section 30: NE ¼, NE ¼ SE ¼, NE ¼ NW ¼
Any new water well to be constructed in the aquifer(s) that overlay or underlie the exempted portion of the Chadron aquifer described above is subject to this rule.
Such a permit shall be applied for before any water well is modified, for which a permit was not required under subsections a), b) or c) above, into a water well for which such a permit is otherwise required by this rule.
The applicant for such a permit shall pay a $50.00 filing fee to the District upon filing the application. Any person who fails to obtain a permit as required by this rule shall apply for a late permit on forms provided by the District, accompanied by a $250.00 filing fee.
A permit provided for by this rule, whether late or otherwise, shall be granted unless the District finds:
1) the location or operation of the proposed water well in question or other work would conflict with any regulations or controls adopted by the District;
2) the proposed use would not be a beneficial use
of water for domestic, agricultural, manufacturing,
or industrial purposes; or
3) in the case of a late permit only, that the applicant did not act in good faith in failing to obtain a timely permit.
If the District finds that the application for a permit is incomplete or defective, it shall return the application to the applicant for any necessary corrections. Corrections must be made within sixty (60) days or the application will be canceled. All permits shall be issued, with or without conditions attached, or denied not later than thirty (30) days after receipt by the District of a complete and properly prepared application.
A permit issued shall specify all regulations and controls adopted by the District relevant to the construction or utilization of the proposed water well. No refund of any application fees shall be made regardless of whether the permit is issued, canceled or denied. The District shall transmit one copy of each permit issued to the Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
The issuance of a permit by the District shall not vest in any person the right to violate any District rule, regulation or control, whether in effect on the date of issuance of the permit or adopted thereafter.
When any permit is approved, the applicant shall commence construction of the water well as soon as possible after the date of permit approval and shall complete such construction and equip the water well prior to the date specified in the conditions of approval, which date shall not be more than one (1) year after the date of approval, unless it is clearly demonstrated in the application that one year is an insufficient period time for such construction. If the applicant fails to complete the project under the terms of the permit, the District may cancel the permit.
Obtaining a permit pursuant to the above shall not relieve any person of his/her duty to register a well with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to Nebraska law.
Rule 3Stay on the Issuance of Water Well Construction PermitsCommencing on the effective date hereof and except as provided hereinafter, no person shall commence the construction or construct a new water well in the area specified in Rule 2 above. Provided however, that (i) test holes or dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety days or less, (ii) a single water well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less, and (iii) water wells defined by the District to be replacement wells, shall not be subject to the stay.
Water wells for which permits have been issued prior to the effective date of these rules and regulations may be constructed if the District has issued a valid permit and all conditions of the permit have been complied with.
Variances. The District may grant a variance from the stay on the issuance of water well construction permits if it determines that construction of new water well will provide an economic, environmental, social or public health and safety benefit that is equal to or greater than the benefit resulting from the rule or regulation from which the variance is sought. In addition a variance may be granted for contamination / remediation or monitoring / observation as defined below.
a) Contamination / Remediation. Shall mean a water well, constructed to State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services recovery well standards, for the purpose of withdrawal or treatment of contaminated water, or for the introduction or removal of air, water or chemicals. The variance request and Application for a Permit to Construct a Water Well shall include written approval of the state agency with supervisory responsibility for the planned project.
b) Monitoring / Observation. Shall mean a water well, constructed to the appropriate well standards, for the purpose of withdrawal of water or the observation of water levels, collection of water quality samples and providing hydrogeology information. The variance request and Application for a Permit to Construct a Water Well shall include the planned disposition of the monitoring / observation well after its intended use is completed.
All requests for a variance, except for Rule 3a) and 3b), shall be made on forms provided by the District and will be acted upon by the District. A variance for Rule 3a) and 3b) may be granted by the General Manager.
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR ENFORCEMENTTo assist in carrying out these Rules and Regulations, the District shall have the right to make any necessary inspections and other actions allowed under Section 2-3232, R.R.S. 1943, together with any other authorized actions at law or equity.
The District shall enforce the provisions of the Ground Water Management Area and all Rules and Regulations adopted by issuance of cease and desist orders, following ten day’s notice by certified mail to the person affected stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds for the action and following reasonable opportunity to be heard. Once a cease and desist order has been issued by the District and transmitted to the alleged violator either in person or by restricted, certified mail, the alleged violator shall be given seven (7) working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays) to comply with said order. If, after seven (7) working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays), the alleged violator does not respond or responds stating that he/she refuses to comply with said order, the order will be filed with the District Court for prosecution in the county in which the violation occurred. Violation of a cease and desist order is a Class IV misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of $100.00 - $500.00. Authorization for these Rules and Regulations is provided under the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act of 1975, as amended.
GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Contact Lynn Webster for assistance with high capacity water use issues or Click here - Road Construction Report
To check the accuracy of the flow meter on your irrigation system, you may want to contact the UNWNRD office to utilize our ultrasonic flow meter.
 This tool can be attached to your running system for comparison between its reading and that of your meter. Please contact the UNWNRD office to arrange a time for this quick and simple test.
Well PermitsAny person intending to construct a water well on land he/she owns, leases, or controls within the District must apply for a permit through the UNWNRD before construction begins. Exemptions include test holes or dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety (90) days or less. Water wells designed and constructed to pump fifty (50) gallons per minute do not require a permit. Most wells for domestic or livestock watering purposes pump less than 50 gallons per minute and therefore do not require permits. However, multiple wells individually pumping less than fifty gallons per minute but collectively pumping more than fifty gallons per minute are considered a single well if they are connected together or otherwise serve a single purpose.View 2 page Well Permit Application As of March 20, 2003, the UNWNRD is not issuing any permits for construction of NEW wells pumping over 50 gallons per minute. For more information, please see the Rules and Regulations for the Temporary Suspension in the Drilling of Certain New Wells.
Well RegistrationNebraska State Law requires that ALL irrigation wells be registered with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Domestic and stock wells drilled after September 9, 1993 need to registered as well.
Water well contractors are now responsible for filing the well registration for newly constructed wells within 60 days of well completion. Well owners are responsible for registering existing wells which have not been previously registered. Registration forms are available at DNR's offices or their website.
It is very important for well owners to register their wells for several reasons. New irrigation wells must be drilled at least 600 feet from any existing registered irrigation well under separate ownership. However, if a well is not registered - the owner does not have any legal rights to that well if a spacing dispute occurred. Also, if new ground water management regulations are designated for the UNWNRD, the water rights of unregistered wells would not be recognized. Failure to register a well is a Class IV misdemeanor.
It is also essential that you make sure your registration records are current, including the current well owner and well status. Corrections can be made by submitting a simple form to the NDNR, which is free of charge.
You can check on the status of your well registration at http://dnrdata.dnr.state.ne.us/wellssql/default.
The UNWNRD will also assist you upon request.
The UNWNRD's Wellhead Protection Program goals include:1. Development of WHPA management plans for public water suppliers within the Upper Niobrara White NRD (UNWNRD) and neighboring communities, which includes verification of contaminant source inventories.
2. Provide advanced, focused assistance to a limited number of communities within the UNWNRD and neighboring communities, concentrating on communities which have established WHPA’s and a commitment to ongoing management within the WHPA’s;
3. Provide technical assistance to communities by gathering, interpreting, and delivering technical information required for WHPA activities;
4. Coordinate and enhance assistance for protecting community drinking water supplies under various programs such as Nebraska’s NPS Management Program, Source Water Assessment and Protection, the Nebraska Environmental Partnership, and related efforts;
5. Implement possible Water Quality Management Area requirements within WHPA’s if source of contamination is due to agricultural practices; and
6. Assist in protection of water quality in WHPA’s through the use of current UNWNRD programs such as water well decommissioning, vadose zone and soil sampling, water sample analysis, GIS and GPS mapping, well registration updating, chemigation, monitoring well construction, etc.
The anticipated results of this project include:Modify or refine WHPA’s for 100% of communities and public water suppliers within the UNWNRD and neighboring communities;
Revision of contaminant source inventories for approximately 50% of public water suppliers;
Long term WHPA management plans for approximately six suppliers within the UNWNRD and neighboring communities;
Increased technical assistance/information dissemination to communities at all stages of WHPA development and implementation; and
Improved coordination of ongoing efforts involving protection of drinking water supplies.
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Click here for Northwest Nebraska Irrigation Tip Sheet 
