Saturday, November 22, 2008

By SANDRA HANSEN
Ag Editor

Irrigators could face tighter limits on future groundwater pumping in the North Platte Valley.

Following a lengthy discussion during its Thursday evening meeting, the North Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors tabled a decision on setting a water allocation to replace the current 14 inches that will expire this year.

Board member Arden Wohlers said he believes it is time to make a significant adjustment to the allocation.

"It's been 14 inches for the past three years. It's time to cut back. People have had time to change their farming practices. Some water tables have gone up, but most water tables continue to drop. I think this shows we're not doing much. We need to move back, even if it's a modest amount."

John Maser, board chairman, said some reduction should be made, because there is a public perception that the NPNRD is ignoring the situation.

"I think it would come across better to the public that the NRD is doing something to reduce the declines in the water tables," he said.

A motion by Pete Lapaseotes to continue the 14-inch allocation for two years was soundly defeated. Lapaseotes said the two years would give the board and NPNRD producers more time to assess data being collected on the water tables in the district. He said some improvement had been made over the past five years, according to reports from the NPNRD hydrogeologist. He also proposed a 13-inch per year allocation for four to five years as a possible alternative.

Instead the board members agreed to table the allocation decision until the next board meeting. This will give them and NPNRD personnel time to complete a study on the status of the water tables in the district.

Following the meeting, Lapaseotes said that whatever the board does, it has to be realistic.

"Six inches (one proposed reduction) is not an option," Lapaseotes said. "We need more research. Even a two- or three-year allocation would give us time to get more information. But I agree, we have to do something."

The next regular NPNRD board meeting will be held Sept. 11.