GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – Tricia Dudley, Water Quality Specialist for the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD), updated the Board on certified letters recently sent to producers who are in violation of the district’s Nitrogen Management Program. These letters are part of CPNRD’s Groundwater Quality Management Program and are sent to producers and landowners in Phase II and Phase III management areas who fail to submit annual crop reports, provide required water and soil samples, or meet Nitrogen educational testing requirements.

Annual crop reports and water and soil sampling are required to help producers evaluate nitrogen management practices and assist the NRD in monitoring and protecting groundwater quality.

The Board approved a motion to file cease-and-desist orders to 37 producers for these violations. Once compliance is achieved, the Board may lift or modify the cease-and-desist order to ensure future compliance. Intentional violations of a cease-and-desist order are subject to civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per day.

The CPNRD Board of Directors met on Thursday, May 28, 2026, for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the CPNRD office, 215 N. Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island.

OTHER Agenda / Action Items

Static Groundwater Levels 
Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, reported that spring groundwater measurements showed a district-wide average decline of 0.80 feet from 2025 and 1.22 feet since 1982. Zakrzewski explained that 1982 was established as the baseline year for the NRD’s Groundwater Management Plan. The plan includes maximum acceptable groundwater declines and a margin of safety for each of the district’s 26 Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs).

Based on the 2026 readings, two GMAs have moved into Phase II management after reaching the 25% decline threshold including GMA 2 in Dawson County and GMA 18 in Merrick County. Phase II management includes restrictions on groundwater transfers and supplemental irrigation wells. Three areas that continue to experience groundwater declines and will be closely monitored include:

GMA 9B (Buffalo County): declined 0.16 feet from 2025 | -9.08 feet below 1982 baseline.
GMA 16 (Merrick County): declined 0.30 feet from 2025 | -5.49 feet below 1982 baseline.
GMA 20 (Nance, Merrick, Platte counties): declined 0.47 feet from 2025 | -6.03 feet below 1982 baseline.

CPNRD’s Groundwater Monitoring Network includes 386 irrigation observation wells, 65 of which are dedicated monitoring wells. These wells are measured each spring and fall as part of the district’s Groundwater Management Program. Since 2000, an average of 405 wells have been assessed annually. For the 2026 assessment, CPNRD staff measured 410 wells, equating to approximately one monitoring well for every 2,500 irrigated acres within the district.

Variance Appeals Requests
The Board of Directors approved recommendations from the Variance Appeals Committee on two appeals. The first appeal, submitted by Country Partners Cooperative of Odessa, was approved for a new commercial/industrial water well permit to provide water for a fertilizer operation. As a condition of approval, the applicant must install a district-approved flow meter and submit an annual report of water pumped to the Central Platte NRD. The applicant has provided the required groundwater offsets to support the new water use.

The second appeal, submitted by a Ravenna landowner, requested approval to transfer certified irrigated acres from the Platte Basin of Influence to the Loup Basin of Influence within the CPNRD. The Board denied the request because CPNRD rules prohibit transfers between basins of influence.

Cost-Share Programs
The Board approved the Programs Committee’s recommendations to implement new Chemigation Incentive and Reverse Osmosis System cost-share programs and to discontinue the NRD’s Phragmites and Soil Moisture Sensor programs effective July 1, 2026.

New Chemigation Incentive Program:
The purpose of the Chemigation Incentive Program is to encourage producers to utilize chemigation as a fertilizer application method. The program provides cost share of 50% of the actual cost, up to $3,500 per field with a lifetime maximum reimbursement of $7,000. Participation is limited to two fields, or a maximum of 320 acres per landowner. Eligible expenses include chemical injection pumps, interlocks, injection valves, mainline check valves, low-pressure drains, and discharge hoses. To qualify, landowners must also be enrolled in the Sensor-Based Nutrient Management Program.

Reverse Osmosis System Program:
CPNRD’s Reverse Osmosis System Program is designed to help improve drinking water quality by reducing nitrates in water from a household drinking faucet through the installation of a reverse osmosis system. The program provides cost share of 50% of the actual cost of a reverse osmosis system, up to a maximum of $750. Residents must provide a copy of a water nitrate test prior to approval. Cost share is limited to one system per home per lifetime.

The Board also approved six applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program and Central Platte NRD cost-share programs for sensor-based nitrogen management, streambank stabilization, cover crops, and well decommissioning totaling $11,720.60.

Conservation Tree Program Report  
Kelly Cole, Administrative Assistant, reported that 24,225 trees were sold through the NRD’s Conservation Tree Program this year, bringing the total number of trees sold to 3,974,837 since 1972. Cole also reported that 2.66 miles of fabric weed barrier were sold increasing the total to 636.63 miles sold since 1991.

The Board approved an increase to the Tree Program cost-share to encourage additional tree and weed barrier plantings. Effective July 1, the program will provide cost-share of 75% of actual costs, up to $5,000, for plantings of 200 or more trees.

Manager’s Report
Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, reported on the following:

Staff Changes – Vogt introduced Chase Heck, Prescribed Fire Planning Specialist, who recently graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and began his position this month. Heck’s position is shared between the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture and the Central Platte NRD. Vogt also reported that Courtney Olson, Office Assistant, has accepted another position and is no longer with the district. Staff interviewed candidates this week to fill the vacancy.

Primary Election –  CPNRD directors up for re-election had no opposition in the Primary Election.
Subdistrict       Director                                  
Subdistrict 1     Brian Keiser, Gothenburg   
Subdistrict 2    Tom Downey, Lexington     
Subdistrict 3    Luke Ourada, Elm Creek   
Subdistrict 4    Lon Bohn, Gibbon       
Subdistrict 5    Deb VanMatre, Gibbon     
Subdistrict 6    Jerry Milner, Grand Island 
Subdistrict 7    Ed Stoltenberg, Cairo           
Subdistrict 8    Kevin Werner, Grand Island
Subdistrict 9    Amy Kyes, Central City   
Subdistrict 10   Charles Maser, Grand Island   
At-Large           Keith Ostermeier, Grand Island 

Board Reference Materials – The Board received the 2025 UNMC Water, Climate, and Health Program Annual Report and a letter from Cozad Drainage District No. 4 for reference.

Perkins County Canal – General Manager Lyndon Vogt reported that Solicitor General John Sauer, the federal government’s lead attorney before the U.S. Supreme Court, recently recommended that the Court consider Nebraska’s case against Colorado regarding irrigation water deliveries, but not its claims related to the proposed Perkins County Canal. Sauer’s brief stated that Nebraska’s claim that Colorado is not delivering sufficient water between April 1 and Oct. 15 should be reviewed by a special master.

Platte River Recovery Implementation Program – Vogt reported that the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) continues to make progress toward its flow targets. Currently, 112,000 acre-feet of water per year is being returned to the Platte River through efforts to reduce shortages to target flows. Future target flow needs are 120,000 acre-feet annually, requiring an additional 8,000 acre-feet of water. Developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, target flows are used by the program to compare river flows and measure progress toward habitat and species recovery goals.

Building Committee 
The Building Committee reported the CPNRD’s new office and education center is 93% completed. Staff are expected to move to the new facility in late July.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Report  
Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, reported the 2027 Local Working Group Meeting with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Central Platte NRD meeting will be held June 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Central Platte NRD, 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island, NE 68803. The public is invited to attend to help provide advice on the priorities for USDA conservation programs.

2026–2027 Budget
The Eastern Projects and Western Projects committees completed their reviews of proposed program budgets and forwarded their recommendations to the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee started its initial review of all programs and expenditures for the 2026–2027 fiscal year budget.

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission (NRC)  
Doug Reeves, Middle Platte Basin Representative, provided a report on the NRC's quarterly meeting held in Kearney. During the meeting, Chief Water Officer Matt Manning of the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) provided updates on the One Red Program and its planned unveiling at Husker Harvest Days, the 14 recommendations included in the Governor’s Water Quality and Quantity Task Force Final Report, and the Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project in Wahoo.

Reeves also reported the Water Sustainability Fund received $5,273,000 for FY2026-27 with 6 large applications totaling $4,878,948 and 5 small applications totaling $877,018 submitted. The WSF has two categories of projects: small projects (requests of $250,000 or less) and large projects (requests of $250,000 or more). An additional 10% of the fund is reserved for projects requesting $250,000 or less, and another 10% is designated for projects separating storm and sewer water. 

Financial Report
The May financial report was approved.

Upcoming Events and Board Meetings   
June 18: Sealed bids for CPNRD office and property due by bid opening at 2:30 p.m.
June 25: Board meeting 2:00 p.m.
July 23: 2026/2027 FY Budget Hearing 1:45 p.m.  |  Board Meeting 2:00 p.m.
September 3: 2026/2027 Levy Hearing 1:45 p.m. | August Board meeting 2:00 p.m.