By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
At the August Board Meeting, the Directors unanimously voted to place the entire District into a Phase I water quality management area. As such, the additional monitoring will be undertaken to determine if further management is needed to address nitrates in the groundwater. Along with the collection of data and information, education efforts on nitrates and the water supply will be provided. “The action taken by the Board is not meant to alarm the residents of the District rather to call attention to nitrates in the groundwater in an effort to avoid further regulations” stated Rich Zochol, Water Committee Chairman.
Historically, water samples have been obtained from multiple locations throughout the District including irrigation, domestic and observation wells. Analysis of the samples indicates there are areas where nitrate levels are rising. While nitrate does occur naturally, elevated levels are often the result of fertilizer that has been applied to crop fields. The maximum concentration limit for drinking water is 10 milligrams per liter.
The UNWNRD will be developing a monitoring plan to help better understand nitrates throughout the District and will incorporate soil sampling, isotope analysis to determine the nitrogen source, and sampling thought the season to evaluate nitrate variability. As well, education on nitrate management options will also be developed and distributed. For more information, go to www.unwnrd.org.