Water Quality
Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA)
The Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) is a multi-agency partnership focused on mitigating excessive groundwater nitrates in portions of Antelope, Knox, and Pierce Counties.
Groundwater Management - Phase Areas
The Lower Elkhorn NRD established a Groundwater Management Area to improve and protect groundwater quality in the District.
Nitrates
70% of Nebraskans rely on groundwater for their drinking water. The elevated levels of nitrate in our groundwater are spurring increased awareness and concern for the health of our citizens.
Water Quantity
Flowmeters
Flow meters are a beneficial tool to help manage water use. The Lower Elkhorn NRD requires flow meters on all high capacity irrigation wells.
Quantity Management Subareas
Flood Control
Flood control and sediment management projects allow the NRDs to reduce the threat of property damage, and loss of life, during floodwater runoff events.
Drought
Groundwater Monitoring
Groundwater Static Water Levels
Nitrate Levels
Surface Water
Surface water is a vital resource in the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District. Surface water supplies agricultural and industrial users; provides habitat for fish and wildlife; and each year gives thousands of recreational users the opportunity to study nature, fish, hunt, swim, and enjoy other water sports.
The Elkhorn River is the predominant surface water feature in the Lower Elkhorn NRD. Major tributaries of the Elkhorn River include the North Fork of the Elkhorn River on the western side of the District, the Logan Creek on the eastern side of the District, and the Maple Creek system in the southern portion of the District. There are numerous man-made reservoirs, the largest of which are:
- Willow Creek Recreation Area near Pierce
- Maskenthine Lake near Stanton
- Maple Creek Recreation Area near Leigh
The District cooperates with local, state and federal agencies to study and manage the surface water resources of the Elkhorn and Lower Platte River basins.
The District annually contributes funding to maintain the US Geological Survey’s stream gage on the North Fork near Hadar. Click here to view stream gage data.
The District works with Northeast Community College, Wayne State College, the University of Nebraska, the US Geological Survey, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to understand the streams, rivers and lakes in the District, as well as to prepare and administrate management plans.
Integrated Management Plan
Being proactive in the conjunctive management of groundwater and surface water is what led the LENRD Board of Directors to implement a voluntary Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for the protection of the water resources. In early 2012, the LENRD Board took action to initiate development of a joint voluntary IMP with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR), to provide a needed framework for wise, long-term management of finite water resources.
About the Integrated Management Plan
Being proactive in the conjunctive management of groundwater and surface water is what led the LENRD Board of Directors to implement a voluntary Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for the protection of the resources. The citizens of the LENRD depend on abundant water resources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses, all of which contribute to the economy of the District. Water resources are also important for wildlife habitat and recreational uses such as fishing, hunting, boating, and swimming.
In early 2012, the LENRD Board took action to initiate development of a joint voluntary IMP with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR), to provide a needed framework for wise, long-term management of finite water resources.
In 2013, the NDNR and the seven NRDs that make up the Lower Platte River Basin, formed the Lower Platte River Basin Coalition. The Coalition’s mission is to coordinate efforts to protect the long-term balance of the Basin’s water uses and water supplies. A primary action of the Coalition was to voluntarily develop a Lower Platte Basin Water Management Plan, which was adopted by all parties as of January 10, 2018.
The LENRD continued to move forward with their individual plan and developed a Stakeholder Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from: Agriculture, Industry, Public Water Supply, Domestic well owners, Environmental, as well as County and City officials. This Committee met in 2014 and 2015 to help prioritize goals and action items of the IMP. The district continued to work with the NDNR to develop a working draft over the next several years.
The NDNR and the LENRD jointly held a public meeting to discuss and answer public questions on the IMP on August 9, 2018. A public hearing was then held on August 23, 2018, where public testimony on the final version of the Plan was recorded. After reviewing the testimony, the LENRD board voted to approve the IMP at their September 27, 2018, Board meeting.
The purpose of this voluntary IMP is to achieve and sustain a long-term balance between water uses and water supplies. Protection of existing users is also a major factor since there is still available water in the Basin, and the District is continuing to add new users on an annual basis. This will be achieved through coordinated management of hydrologically connected groundwater and surface water resources. The voluntary IMP is considered a proactive approach to protecting available water supplies to better ensure that the resource will be available for future generations and also makes the District eligible to apply for grant funding through the NDNR Water Sustainability Fund.