Little Blue NRD Looks For New Water Sources Without Fairbury

By Gordon HopkinsAfter the failure of a deal with the City of Fairbury to locate a new, lower-nitrate source of water, the Little Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) is examining a possible inter-local agreement with the Village of Alexandria and USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Rural Development and Nebraska Water Sustainability funding for the Little Blue Public Water Projects.In July of 2021, the city entered into an inter-local agreement with Little Blue NRD to cost share in a project to identify a new water source with lower nitrate content. There was considerable opposition to the project from the beginning. A group of more than 60 landowners calling themselves the Jefferson County Water Rights Coalition expressed great concern about the impact to nearby irrigation wells. After more than a year of planning and testing, the Fairbury City Council voted not to proceed with the water sourcing project.Scott Nelson, General manager for Little Blue NRD, told FJN, “The NRD is investigating forming a cooperative entity that would provide water for the Village of Alexandria and the Little Blue Public Water Project. Upon Fairbury deciding to not proceed with the LBVWS project, the NRD is looking at alternatives for a clean, reliable, economical source of water. Discussion with the Village of Alexandria has just begun and there is no definitive information to provide at this time.”At a recent meeting of the Little Blue NRD board, during an open public comment period, Craig Shumard of the Rural Water Advisory Board commented he did not wish to go back to purchasing water from Fairbury and would prefer to see the NRD locate its own source of water.Little Blue NRD currently has a 25-year water purchase agreement with Fairbury, which was signed in December of 2022, which was a renewal of an agreement set to expire that same month. Nelson said, “The only major change is that there is an exit clause for each party to terminate the agreement but either must provide a notice of 18-months prior to do so.”The Little Blue NRD board also considered the development of wells on property owned by Bill and Mary Glenn, the same location that was being looked at by the inter-local agreement with Fairbury. That proposal failed by roll call vote.

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