Little Blue River Basin Water Management Plan in Progress

Little Blue NRD and Tri-Basin NRD are working together on development of a basin-wide water plan for the Little Blue River basin.

The Little Blue Natural Resources District (LBNRD) and the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District are developing the Little Blue River Basin Water Management Plan. The Plan will provide a single coordinated strategy to identify water quality and quantity threats and needs, prioritize watersheds areas for development of enhanced planning and restoration projects, and identify practices and activities appropriate to address the known deficiencies in water quality and water quantity in the basin.

The Plan will recommend future monitoring protocols, research actions, and identify potential funding opportunities to assist with design, construction, and program expenses.

Water resources in the Basin exhibit growing challenges to both water quantity and water quality. The Basin drains 1,722,200 acres of land in south-central Nebraska. It spans parts of Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Jefferson, Kearney, Nuckolls, Thayer, and Webster counties. The Basin encompasses 40 incorporated cities and villages.

The demand for water is increasing through all water use sectors, including domestic water supplies, irrigation development, recreation and aquatic habitat needs. Use of water for human activities, exacerbated by periodic droughts, has reduced stream flows and groundwater levels in parts of the basin.

This comprehensive plan will enable management of the quality and quantity of both groundwater and surface water resources. The intent is to make recommendations on structural and non-structural projects and programs that will:
• Reduce pollutant loading to streams and aquifers;
• Help protect the quality of drinking water;
• Increase groundwater recharge and surface water storage;
• Establish conservation practices; and, 
• Educate property owners and encourage participate in plan implementation.

The planning process includes a steering committee of 25 individuals that will meet four times. Thus far, the committee has met twice and will meet two more times before a series of Open Houses occur in August and September 2015. The Open Houses will provide an opportunity for anyone to learn about the Plan's purpose and to provide input on recommended management actions.

Current project ideas include: restoration of area reservoirs to enhance recreation opportunities, locating future structures to promote groundwater recharge and flow augmentation, programs to promote implementation of practices to reduce the loading of nitrogen to groundwater aquifers, and methods to stabilize stream banks that promote aquatic habitat development.

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc. (EA), LakeTech, Inc., and FYRA Engineering, Inc. have teamed to provide engineering, environmental, and planning services for Plan development, which is scheduled to be written and ready for review by August 2015.

The project is being funded by both NRDs, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

For more information, visit LBNRD's website at www.littlebluenrd.org or contact LBNRD at 402-364-2145.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tri-Basin NRD
Nicole Salisbury
1723 Burlington
Holdrege, NE 68949

Phone: 308-995-6688
Email: nsalisbury [at] tribasinnrd.org
Date: February 6, 2015

Little Blue River Basin Water Management Plan in Progress
Little Blue NRD and Tri-Basin NRD are working together on development of a basin-wide water plan for the Little Blue River basin.