Jasper Fanning, URNRD manager, told the board last week it appears the district will need to collect the entire 10-cent levy and a $6.25 per-irrigated acre fee to pay for the district's share of the surface water buyouts this year.
     The levy and per-acre occupation fee represented key components of LB 701, the major water bill passed by the Legislature this year to address compact compliance issues with Kansas.
     The 10-cent levy will be applied to all property with the three-county NRD district.
     The per-acre fee will be assessed against certified irrigated acres.
     During discussion on the per-acre fee at last week's NRD meeting, Tom Terryberry stated he didn't feel the fee should be charged on acres enrolled in CREP, the conservation reserve enhancement program.
     CREP retired irrigated acres in areas near rivers and streams for a period of 10-15 years.
     Several patrons with ground enrolled in CREP noted they have no way to offset the per-acre fee. However, the levy is applied to everyone and they felt that was part of their responsibility as a property owner.
     The patrons pointed out they were doing their part in the compliance effort by enrolling in CREP and reducing consumptive use.
     Charging the per-acre fee would discourage participation in any such programs in the future, they noted.