August 13, 2026
Public Hearing Announcement
The Nemaha Natural Resources District (NRD) will hold a public hearing on Thursday August 13th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the District office (62161 US Highway 136, Tecumseh, NE 68450) to receive written and oral testimony concerning the changes to the District’s Groundwater Quantity Management Area (GWQMA) Rules and Regulations (R&Rs).
The changes to the GWQMA R&Rs will apply geographically to include all lands and water bodies within the boundaries of the Nemaha NRD. Also, the proposed changes will apply stratigraphically to all groundwater located within the District. Upon NRD Board of Directors approval of the proposed changes to the GWQMA R&Rs, the following changes will be enacted:
Definitions – Additions, Deletions & Updates
Well Spacing – Any well requiring a well permit to pump greater than 50 gallons per minute shall be constructed at least 1,000 feet from any registered or known to the District domestic, livestock or “other” type well.
Aquifer Regions – The District has been divided up into seven distinct Aquifer Regions comprised of the following: Paleovalley Alluvial Aquifer West, East & South; Missouri River Alluvial Aquifer; Big Nemaha Alluvial Aquifer; Bedrock & Shallow Aquifers.
Irrigation Wells & Acre Limitations – Only one irrigation well will be permitted for the Paleovalley Alluvial West & East Aquifer Regions. Two irrigation wells will be permitted for the remaining five Aquifer Regions. A total of up to 300 acres will be allowed to be irrigated within the Paleovalley Alluvial West Aquifer Region. A total of up to 25% of the acres within the irrigation wells’ government survey section location will be allowed to be irrigated for the remaining six Aquifer Regions. The Missouri River Alluvial Aquifer Region will require a permit application, however, will not be subject to the District’s Well Permit Ranking System.
Transfers – The transfer of groundwater will be allowed for domestic, municipal and remediation purposes. Irrigation transfers will be allowed on new & existing wells up to the number of irrigated acres allowable within the respective Aquifer Region as stated above on contiguous land owned by the well owner.
Well Permit Ranking System – The well permit ranking system’s well density equations have been updated. Also, the minimum score required for well permit approval will vary depending upon the aquifer region underlying the well permit location.
These actions are a general description of the changes to the GWQMA Rules and Regulations. A complete copy of the document may be obtained from the District office or the District’s website: www.nemahanrd.org.
Those who are unable to appear at the public hearing or with lengthy testimony may wish to submit in writing. For testimony to be considered by the NRD Board of Directors for the purpose of this hearing, such written testimony must be submitted and received by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, at the District office. The NRD Board of Directors will consider all testimony provided and consider whether to adopt or rescind any of the proposed changes to the GWQMA Rules and Regulations at the regularly scheduled Board meeting to be held on Thursday August 13th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
The Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Committee meetings, if necessary, begin at 6:00 p.m. An agenda is being kept current at the office, 62161 Hwy 136, Tecumseh, NE 68450.