The certification process verifies the number of acres being irrigated by wells and/or surface water throughout the NRD and corrects any errors in existing records. The main purpose of the acre certification is to protect future water use for existing irrigators.
Each year, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) evaluates all river basins in the state to determine if they are “fully appropriated.” When a basin is declared fully-appropriated, NRDs are required to impose a stay on new water wells and expansions of water use, such as new irrigated acres. Twice within the past few years portions of the Upper Loup NRD have been declared fully appropriated and the declarations reversed. This means that new rules have been put into place in regards to the expansion of new irrigated acres.
The intent is to make certification as simple and painless as possible for landowners. Most of the work is done by the NRD. Once the producer has their application for expansion of irrigated acres approved they will receive a mailing. In the mailing is a checklist and necessary forms to complete the certification process. The certification process consists of ensuring that the well watering the certified acres is a legal well. A legal well is one that is registered correctly with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This information can be reviewed by either visiting the DNR website or contacting them at 402-471-2363. One must also visit with their County Assessor’s office. There you’ll match the acres you are certifying with your property tax records. Once that is complete, the Assessor will provide you a signed land sheet required by the NRD. To finish the process you will need to send to the Upper Loup the completed acre certification form and the Assessor land sheet. The District also encourages landowners to include any FSA aerial photos with the irrigated acres marked if they have them.
Any acres currently enrolled in a government conservation program are NOT being certified. When the conservation program contract expires and the landowner plans to irrigate they must first apply for those acres by filing out an expansion of irrigated acres application and once those acres are approved will go through the same process as listed above.
For more information or help with the Upper Loup NRD’s irrigated acre certification process contact our office.

Expansion of Irrigated Acres Permit

Certification of Irrigated Acres Form