GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska –  The Central Platte Natural Resources District (NRD) Board of Directors approved the low bid from Agri Affiliates at its monthly meeting on Thursday to facilitate the sale of a 157-acre dryland cropland tract known as the Schroeder property. Proposals were also received from Marshall Land and Adam Marshall.

The Board also approved a proposal from Downey Drilling in the amount of $3,975 to remove the irrigation pump and properly decommission the well on the property. As part of the project, Downey Drilling will remove the concrete pad, close monitoring wells, and restore the site by cleaning and smoothing the area.

The property, located six miles southeast of Cozad, was purchased by the NRD in 2018 to pursue Platte River credit opportunities. These efforts included groundwater recharge through the retirement of irrigated acres, potential transfers from the South Side Irrigation District canal, and direct discharge to the Platte River from an adjacent site. In 2022, the Board evaluated management options to maximize hydrologic benefits, and the tenant was notified that the acres would transition to dryland. This action allowed the NRD to retire irrigation on the property and secure 107 acre-feet of credit back to the Platte River.

AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

Violation Report on Irrigated Acres
Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, reported that in 2025, 21 producers irrigated land that was not certified or approved for irrigation through a transfer, totaling 164.5 acres. The largest single violation involved 52.62 acres. Zakrzewski noted that aerial imagery was collected over a four-to five-week period.

Violation letters will be mailed in January, requiring producers to contact the Central Platte Natural Resources District within 30 days of receipt. Producers who do not respond and come into compliance will be subject to Cease and Desist orders issued by the Board of Directors.

Voting Delegates
The Board elected Deb VanMatre as voting delegate and Jay Richeson as alternate to represent the Central Platte NRD at the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Legislative Conference, to be held in January in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Manager’s Report  
Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, reported on the following:
- Incumbent Deadline: February 15, 2026, is the incumbent deadline for directors to file for the primary ballot. Directors up for election are Brian Keiser, Tom Downey, Luke Ourada, Lon Bohn, Deb VanMatre, Jerry Milner, Ed Stoltenberg, Kevin Werner, Amy Kyes, Charles Maser and Keith Ostermeier. The non-incumbent deadline is March 2, 2026.

- WaterSmart Grants: Equipment has been installed for the following projects funded by Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart Grants:

· Thirty-Mile Irrigation District Canal Efficiency Project: Updated checks and 6 Rubicon gates for irrigation efficiency.

· Southside Irrigation District & Cozad Ditch Company Flow Measurement and Canal Efficiency Project:  
The project includes the installation of nine Rubicon gates on the Cozad Ditch and one on the Southside Canal. Automated turnout gates and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system will be used to improve flow measurement and control.

· Flowmeter, Telemetry, and Data Management System Project:  The NRD is currently seeking producers who would like telemetry-enabled irrigation flow meters installed to autonomously measure, report, and analyze daily groundwater pumping data at 100 wells throughout the CPNRD. The installation and equipment is free. Producers interested in receiving a flow meter may contact Brandi Flyr, Hydrologist | 308-395-7294 | flyr [at] cpnrd.org

-NRCS Staff Update: State Conservationist Rob Lawson will serve as Acting Associate Deputy Chief for Management and Strategy for a four-month detail effective January 4, 2026. During this time, James Huntwork of Grand Island will serve as Nebraska’s State Conservationist. Jerry Kovarik, District Conservationist for Alma and the Lower Republican NRD, will serve as Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in the Central Area.

-District Attorney: BWJ Law Group will be joining Woods Aitken LLP. District Attorney Don Blankenau will continue to serve as legal counsel for the Central Platte Natural Resources District.

Assistant Manager’s Report
Assistant Manager Jesse Mintken reported that the Elm–Turkey Creek Watershed Plan feasibility study is nearly complete. The public comment period has closed and comments have been addressed. The CPNRD Board will consider adoption of the plan at its January meeting. Adoption does not commit the District to future phases but allows the NRD to pursue funding. Following adoption, the Board may consider advancing to the Design Phase, depending on NRCS funding availability. Projects of this size typically take several years to complete based on funding, planning, and partnerships.

The Elm and Turkey Creeks watershed planning area includes more than 106,000 acres in Dawson and Buffalo counties and the southern limits of the City of Kearney. Planning began in October 2020 at the request of communities, residents, and property owners impacted by the 2019 flooding. The study evaluated existing flood conditions, reviewed flood-risk-reduction alternatives, and developed a flood risk reduction plan.

NRCS Report
Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, reported on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) agreements in the Central Platte including the Ogallala Aquifer and Platte River Recovery Project and the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project. Applicants who wish to be considered for FY26 funds have until January 15, 2026, to complete an application.

These are competitive programs, so applications will be funded by using a ranking system. This project provides financial incentives to producers who utilize key conservation practices in the Central Platte and Twin Platte boundaries. Farmers can adopt practices that help reduce water consumption and improve soil

health, by converting irrigated land to non-irrigated land. Surface and groundwater quality and quantity concerns will also be addressed with the implementation of improved irrigation system and management technologies to increase irrigation efficiencies, reducing impacts to the Platte River and the local groundwater supply.

Water Task Force
Tom Downey, representing the Nitrate Legacy and Drinking Water group, reported that the four committees of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force have met and submitted draft reports. These committees are focused on water quality, water supply, drinking water access, and funding options. The Task Force will review a final report at its next meeting on March 25, 2026.

Financial Report
The November financial report was approved. The December financial report will be considered at the January board meeting.

Cost-Share Programs
Four applications for brush management and well decommissioning through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program and Central Platte NRD cost-share programs were approved for $16,000.

Upcoming Board Meetings   
January 22, February 26, March 26

Service Recognition Awards 
The following service awards were presented prior to the Board meeting:

• 45 years: Dean Krull, UNL/CPNRD Demonstration Projects Coordinator
• 25 years: Shelly Lippincott, Office Assistant, NRCS Kearney Field Office
• 20 years: Jay Richeson, Director - Subdistrict 1
• 20 years: Dwayne Margritz, Director - Subdistrict 2
• 20 years: Marvion Reichert, Director - Subdistrict 3
• 15 years: Jerry Milner, Director – Subdistrict 6
• 10 years: Deb VanMatre, Director and Chairman of the Board – Subdistrict 5