LLNRD Columbus Area Recharge Project

NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Water Sustainability Fund Application for Funding Section A. ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECT NAME: Columbus Area Recharge Project PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION Entity Name: Lower Loup Natural Resources District Contact Name: Russ Callan Address: 2620 Airport Drive, Ord, NE 68862 Phone: (308) 728-3221 Email: [email protected] Partners / Co-sponsors, if any: Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), City of Columbus, Christopher’s Cove Association (CCA). 1. Dollar amounts requested: (Grant) Grant amount requested. $ 1,224,000 Loan amount requested. $ N/A If Loan, how many years repayment period? N/A If Loan, supply a complete year-by-year repayment schedule. N/A 2. Permits Needed - Attach copy for each obtained (N/A = not applicable) Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (G&P) consultation on Threatened and Endangered Species and their Habitat N/A☐ Obtained: YES☐ NO☒ Page 1 G&P coordination is not anticipated unless a new or modification to an existing water right is deemed necessary. Surface Water Right N/A☐ Obtained: YES☐ NO☒ Preliminary analyses suggest that a surface water right may not be necessary for the project as conceived in the conceptual design; however, this will be finalized during consultation with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources during the final design. If required, a new or modified water right would be pursued. USACE (e.g., 404 Permit) N/A☐ Obtained: YES☐ NO☒ USACE coordination will be initiated at project inception. It is likely that a Section 404 permit(s) will be required for the water control structures and the associated ponded water in the Lost Creek channel. The cost associated with the effort to obtain the permit is included in the project total. Cultural Resources Evaluation N/A☐ Obtained: YES☐ NO☒ A cultural resources evaluation may be required to support the USACE permits. Other (provide explanation below) N/A☐ Obtained: YES☐ NO☒ An easement from Loup Power District will be required for the pump station near the canal, as well as any associated paperwork for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In addition, an easement from UPRR will be required for the supply line to Christopher’s Cove. The cost associated with the effort to obtain the permits is included in the project total. If more than an acre is disturbed during construction, an NPDES SWPP will be required. The Lost Creek portion of the project is located in a FEMA designated floodplain, so a floodplain development permit will be required. The cost associated with the effort to obtain the permits is included in the project total. Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Section 401 certification will be obtained, if applicable. 3. Are you applying for funding for a combined sewer over-flow project? YES☐ NO☒ If yes, do you have a Long Term Control Plan that is currently approved by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality? YES☐ NO☐ Page 2 If yes attach a copy to your application. Click here to enter text. If yes what is the population served by your project? Click here to enter text. If yes provide a demonstration of need. Click here to enter text. If yes and you were approved for funding in the most recent funding cycle, then resubmit the above information updated annually but you need not complete the remainder of the application. 4. If you are or are representing an NRD, do you have an Integrated Management Plan in place, or have you initiated one? N/A☐ YES☒ NO☐ The Lower Loup NRD Integrated Management Plan (approved by NeDNR May 9, 2016) is included in Attachment A. 5. Has this application previously been submitted for funding assistance from the Water Sustainability Fund and not been funded? YES☐ NO☒ If yes, have any changes been made to the application in comparison to the previously submitted application? N/A If yes, describe the changes that have been made since the last application. N/A No, I certify the application is a true and exact copy of the previously submitted and scored application. (Signature required) N/A 6. Complete the following if your project has or will commence prior to next July 1st. As of the date of submittal of this application, what is the Total Net Local Share of Expenses incurred for which you are asking cost share assistance from this fund? Reimbursement is not being sought as part of this application. Attach all substantiating documentation such as invoices, cancelled checks etc. along with an itemized statement for these expenses. N/A Estimate the Total Net Local Share of Expenses and a description of each you will incur between the date of submittal of this application and next July 1st for which you are asking cost share assistance from this fund. The project will not commence until funding is secured. Without funding, the project will not move forward. Page 3 Section B. DNR DIRECTOR’S FINDINGS Does your project include physical construction (defined as moving dirt, directing water, physically constructing something, or installing equipment)? YES☒ NO☐ 1(a). If yes (structural), submit a feasibility report (to comply with Title 261, CH 2) including engineering and technical data and the following information: Refer to the following attachments, which are discussed in detail in this section: • Attachment B: June 2016 Columbus Area Water Resources Assessment Report • Attachment C: May 3, 2017 Final Report Addendum • Attachment D: June 22, 2017 Alternative Analysis Summary A discussion of the plan of development (004.01 A); The community of Columbus has many demands placed on its water. Major water users in the vicinity of Columbus include the City, agricultural irrigation, and numerous industrial and commercial entities. The City distributes water for public potable supplies, as well as for three golf courses. In the vicinity of Columbus, many farms use groundwater to irrigate their crops. Large commercial and industrial water users that use groundwater for process water include the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) ethanol plant and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). The community also has numerous man-made lakes that were created from gravel mining operations. Several of these lakes have become central water features for residential neighborhoods. As such, the Columbus area has both the largest municipal and commercial water uses within the entire Loup River Basin. The Lower Loup Natural Resources District (Lower Loup NRD), in coordination with the City of Columbus, Nebraska (City), developed the Columbus Area Water Resources Assessment (CAWRA, or Study) with the goal of understanding the current water resources in the area and determining the feasibility of recharge projects to provide a sustainable water supply. The Study Area is shown in Figure 1. Page 4 Loup Power Canal O Loup Power Canal Lake 0 Feet 6,000 North Lake Babcock Lost Creek Flood Control Project Loup Power Tailrace Canal Loup River Christopher's Cove Lost Creek Lost Creek Siphon Loup River Platte River Platte River COLUMBUS AREA RECHARGE PROJECT STUDY AREA FIGURE 1 PATH: Z:\PROJECTS\LLNRD\256540_LLNRD_COLUMBUSWTRRESASSES\MAP_DOCS\FINAL\FINAL_MXD_20170725\CAWRA_FIGURE1.MXD - USER: ASORENSE - DATE: 7/28/2017 The scope of the Study included: 1. Compilation of available hydrologic and geologic data; 2. Inventory of floodplain and stormwater data; 3. Development of an overall water budget; 4. Description of hydrogeology and development of a three- dimensional (3D) subsurface model; 5. Identification and ranking of recharge projects; 6. Research of water management strategies to supplement and stabilize water in Christopher’s Cove; 7. Development of a local-scale groundwater model; 8. Identification of potential funding and technical resources. The results of the Study are providing the Lower Loup NRD and City with information needed to make critical decisions regarding the future sustainability of surface water and groundwater, given the likely increased demands resulting from continued municipal, commercial, and industrial growth. The hydrogeologic evaluation conducted for the Study indicates relatively steady state groundwater contours in the western and northern portion of the Study Area, with declining groundwater in the southeast portion of the Study Area. This declining groundwater trend began in approximately 2010. A groundwater model was developed and calibrated to assist in identifying the extent of the groundwater decline, as well as identifying potential water sources and recharge/water management projects to mitigate the decline and create a resilient and sustainable water supply for the community. Several potential recharge locations were evaluated to determine if they were viable options to create a sustainable water resource. Two recharge locations possess the hydrogeologic characteristics, spatial location, and the associated capacity to supplement water to the aquifer and mitigate declining groundwater levels. These locations were evaluated and determined to be viable options to create a sustainable water resource. The two selected recharge locations are: 1. The Lost Creek channel south of Christopher’s Cove; and 2. Christopher’s Cove (a nearby former sandpit with direct connection to the groundwater). Several water sources were evaluated for their potential to supply water to the selected recharge locations. The source water identified as the best alternative for groundwater recharge is the return water from ADM that is pumped for their production purposes, and is currently discharged into Loup Public Power District’s (LPD) Tailrace Canal. This source water, or an equivalent

Load more