GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – The Outdoor Learning Area at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds will soon receive a monitoring well from the Nebraska Well Drillers Association. The Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team and Central Platte NRD developed and maintain the Outdoor Learning Area located east of the Raising Nebraska Building.

Tom Downey, of Downey Drilling, will be demonstrating his new state-of-the-art, Versa-V-140X drill rig capability, as well as explaining the practices and procedures for the construction of a water well and the use of drilling mud.

On October 3, 2023, the public is invited to see the rig in action during Downey’s well-driller training session and to attend the ribbon-cutting dedication at 3:00 p.m. No RSVP necessary.

The Central Platte NRD plans to install a monitoring system on the well to allow the public to find out groundwater levels year-round. The well will also be sampled as part of the NRD’s Groundwater Management Plan and for water quality education.

Call the Central Platte NRD with questions at (308) 385-6282 or visit the events page at cpnrd.org.

Nebraska Well Drillers Association working with Downey Drilling & Baroid
Presents: Monitoring Water Well Drilling Demonstration
Outdoor Learning Area - Nebraska State Fair Grounds, Grand Island, Nebraska
October 3, 2023 

SCHEDULE

• 8:30-8:45 a.m.: Safety moment and instructions presented by Bill Rhoads of Baroid in the “Raising Nebraska” Building near the Outdoor Learning Area drill site.
• 8:45 a.m. to Noon: Tom Downey, Downey Drilling, will demonstrate his state-of-the-art new well drilling rig capability, as well as explain the practices and procedures for construction of a water well and use of drilling mud.
• Noon - 2:45 p.m.: Well-drilling continues   (Lunch will be served at the site for the well drilling crew and members receiving CEU credits)
• 3:00 p.m.: Ribbon-Cutting Dedication Ceremony
  • Lee Orton, Executive Director, Nebraska Well Drillers Association
  • Mick Reynolds, Chairman, Central Platte Natural Resources District
  • Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team Members
  • Cindy Johnson, President, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce

*Media, guests, and the public are welcome throughout the day.

*Hard-hats will be worn by drilling crew and drilling members receiving CEU credits for maintaining their licenses…the public will be at a safe distance and are not required to wear hard-hats.