Groundwater management area schedules community meetings

People who are concerned about water quality are encouraged to attend and absorb knowledge at one of two upcoming events.

The Bazile Groundwater Management Area has scheduled community discussions in Creighton and Osmond on Tuesday, Dec. 8, on the issue of nitrates in groundwater.

“The goal of the meetings is to receive input from area residents on awareness of the issue, action they are willing to take to address the issue and information they would like to learn more about,” said BGMA project coordinator Connor Baldwin.

The community meetings will be held from:

-1 to 3 p.m. at the Walter T. Larsen Senior Center, 705 Peabody Ave., in Creighton.

-6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Osmond City Auditorium, 403 State St.

“An outside facilitator will be present to encourage open conversation,” Baldwin said.

The events will be free and open to the public. Light snacks and refreshments also will be provided.

“There is no signup,” Baldwin said. “They can just show up. There also is no limit on the number of people.”

However, face masks and social distancing will be strongly encouraged due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Local health directives will be followed,” Baldwin said. “We hope you can safely join us to discuss your water quality concerns.”

The BGMA is made up of land located within four natural resources districts: the Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD and Upper Elkhorn NRD.

Within these four NRDs, the BGMA includes parts of Antelope, Knox and Pierce counties and the towns of Bazile Mills, Brunswick, Creighton, Foster, Orchard, Osmond, Plainview, Royal, Wausa and Winnetoon.

The BGMA was started by local producers and the NRDs to address rising nitrate levels in area communities and domestic wells.