Voluntary Integrated Management Planning (V-IMP)

The District has also entered into an agreement with the Nebraska Department of Water Resources to prepare a Voluntary Integrated Management Plan.  This planning effort will look at the relationship between groundwater and surface water use in the District.  The same stakeholder group from the WQMP will be tasked with making recommendation on the efforts need for the V-IMP.  Both planning efforts will occur concurrently in an effort to promote efficiency and in recognition that solutions to these problems are often related. 
 

Sustainability in the Upper Big Blue NRD

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) seeks to ensure a balance between water supplies and uses through our science-based technical expertise, planning, and coordination of efforts with NRDs and stakeholders (you).  NeDNR’s actions are focused on protecting and preserving the water rights of existing users of surface water and groundwater.  Finding a balance between competing demands is a key to Nebraska‛s resource future.  Assessing impacts of alternative soil and water management options requires an understanding of complex issues and substantial amounts of reliable data.  NeDNR is committed to providing Nebraska‛s citizens and leaders with the data and analyses they need to make wise resource decisions for the benefit of all Nebraskans both now and in the future. 

Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP)

The District has entered into an agreement with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to prepare a Water Quality Management Plan for the Upper Big Blue River Basin.  The planning effort will involve public stakeholders to identify surface water and groundwater quality issues and how to solve them.  The plan will be completed by September of 2019.
 

Waterbody Impairments in the Upper Big Blue

NRDStreams and lakes across Nebraska are evaluated for water quality by the state.  When water quality is too poor to support the designated uses of the waterbody (e.g. recreation, drinking water supply, etc.) the water body is deemed as impaired.  E‐coli, aquatic habitat and Atrazine are the primary causes of impairments in surface waters of the Upper Big Blue NRD watershed.  Nitrate is the primary contaminant of concern for groundwater.
 

This partnered approach between three governmental agencies will be closely and enthusiastically viewed as a modern and equitable way of managing Nebraska’s most precious natural resource...water.   Yet there is another integral piece to this planning process:  the voice of the people.  The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is composed of officials from various agencies representing water governance.  The Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) is a geographical & vocational representation of groundwater and surface water irrigators, municipalities, ag business, public health & safety, and other concerned citizens of the District. 
 
These two groups will be meeting over the next two years to assist with the planning process and offer suggestions, opinions, and advice.

Click below for meeting dates and times of both committees. We invite public participation, so please feel free to join us at these meetings!

 

Please click on the file below to download or view the Project Fact Sheets & Press Release.