Date:         3/1/2011

NEWS RELEASE

UENRD Board Discusses Irrigated Groundwater Right Transfers

The Upper Elkhorn NRD held its regular Board of Directors meeting February 22.  One of the items on the agenda was the possibility of irrigated ground water right transfers for the 2011 growing season.  After a great deal of discussion, the UENRD Board of Directors voted to allow the transfer of irrigated acres on a case by case basis for the 2011 growing season.  The reason for the case by case basis is due to the fact the UENRD has yet to certify the irrigated acres within the district.  This will not be an easy process, landowners will need to first certify the acres they wish to transfer with the UENRD which will be subject to various criteria and a transfer fee.   

Acres to be certified in the Lower Niobrara River Basin Designation must have documentation that they were historically irrigated between 2003 and October 16, 2007; and, acres to be certified in the Lower Platte River Basin Designation must have documentation that they were historically irrigated between 2004 and December 16, 2008 to receive 100% certification.  Acres not irrigated during the before indicated time frames will be considered historically irrigated acres and receive a 95% certification.  Documentation required to certify groundwater irrigated acres may consist of county tax records, USDA-FSA form 578 and an aerial photo outlining the irrigated acres.  Once the acres have been certified, the transfer agreement will need to be filled out at the NRD along with the Lienholders Consent Form.  All transfers will be approved by the UENRD Board of Directors at their regular board meeting.  Upon the approval of the transfer, documents must be filed with the County Assessors/Clerks/Deeds office and the irrigation well information must be updated with the Department of Natural Resources.  For further information on the UENRD Groundwater Management Plan Rules and Regulations please visit our website at www.uenrd.org.