Small and Large Water User Applications
6.1 Applications for New High-Capacity Uses
High-capacity uses shall be defined as groundwater users wishing to utilize a groundwater well pumping 50 GPM or more for commercial, industrial, recreational, or municipal uses. The Board of Directors will decide on a yearly basis if they will accept applications for New High Capacity uses outside of the New Irrigated Acres application. Applications will be accepted only for the areas not closed for new irrigated acre development by the Board of Directors. For large water user applications, a draft application will be made available to the Water Committee at least 30 days prior to the final application being submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. Final applications will be reviewed at each monthly board meeting to determine eligibility for approval. All applications will include a $1,000 non-refundable application fee payable to the District.
Applications will be split into two categories for consideration by the Board of Directors. Controls and requirements for each category are listed under their respective category below. Application forms for both categories will be available at the District office. To determine whether approval of an application would be in the public interest or detrimental to the public welfare, the Board shall consider the following: Whether the proposed use is a beneficial use of ground water; Any negative effect of the proposed withdrawal and/or use on ground water or surface water supplies needed to meet reasonable future demands for water within the state; The cumulative effects of the proposed withdrawal and/or use when considered in conjunction with all other ground water uses in the area of the proposed withdrawal and/or use; Whether the proposed withdrawal and/or use is consistent with the VIMP; and any other factors that the District deems relevant to protect the public interest and prevent detriment to the public welfare and the resources of the District. The District reserves the right to impose any additional conditions or controls on any application when making the decision to approve or deny the request. Failure to operate the user permit as it was represented in the original application may be cause for cancellation or modification after a hearing required by law unless a sufficient reason for non-use exists.
Modification: If an entity intends to expand or modify existing infrastructure and the new or expanded use will withdraw more than 300 Acre Feet on a yearly basis such entity must receive a large user permit from the District prior to commencement of the expansion or modification.
Small User Application and Permit: To be defined as an applicant that wishes to withdraw less than 300 Acre Feet on a yearly basis. Wells for Cities and Municipalities will be addressed under this category.
The following information will be required on the submitted application: The name and post office address of the applicant; Current phone number of the applicant; The legal description of the location of where the water well or wells are or will be located; The legal description of the land on which the ground water will be used; If an existing water well will be used, the Department’s water well registration number for the well; If a new or replacement water well will be constructed, the MNNRD’s water well construction permit number ; A detailed description of the nature of the proposed use; The maximum rate of withdrawal from the water well or wells; The range of maximum and average amounts of water proposed to be withdrawn on an annual basis; The amount of ground water to be consumptively used from the water pumped from the water well or wells, and a detailed explanation of how the amount of consumptive use was calculated; Any other information the applicant deems relevant to the District’s criteria for approval of the proposed withdrawal and/or use.
Exemptions from the requirements of a small user permit shall be geothermal wells that are utilizing an injection well to achieve a nonconsumptive pumping status. Geothermal wells pumping more than 50 GPM meeting these requirements may be permitted at any time by District Staff. High-Capacity Geothermal wells that are not utilizing an injection well will be classified as a consumptive use and subject to all requirements listed under a Small or Large user application.
Large User Application and Permit: To be defined as an applicant that wishes to withdraw more than 300 Acre Feet on a yearly basis.
The application will include all the required information listed on the small user application in addition to the following information: Application will also include a Hydrological evaluation completed by a licensed third party at the cost of the applicant. Applicants will provide the name and contact of the third party and the estimated cost to aid in the production of the final report. The hydrological evaluation will include a detailed inventory of all groundwater wells and surface water appropriations within 3 miles of the proposed location; a detailed delineation of the underlying aquifer and its qualities the wells will be pumping from; yearly and 20-year impact studies of the groundwater withdrawal; a detailed contingency plan in the event of negative impact on the areas water resources; any test hole logs or any information on water availability exploration; any other pertinent information that the water committee may request after review of the initial submitted draft. Installation and maintenance of a MNNRD-approved flow meter on the well or wells that will be used for withdrawal and/or use; Submission of an annual report to the MNNRD, by March 1 of each year, containing the total volume of water pumped and total volume of ground water consumptively used in the preceding year; Compliance with all applicable statutes and Rules and Regulations, including any statutes or Rules and Regulations adopted after the MNNRD’s approval of the permit. In approving the application, the District may require the applicant to construct monitoring/observation wells for use by the District staff to evaluate water quality or quantity. The District will establish a baseline volume of usage, if after the first five years the usage is higher than it was represented on the application, an offset will be required.
New Irrigated Acres in the MNNRD
Each April, the Board of Directors has the opportunity to decide if they will accept new irrigated acre applications and other high-capacity water use applications in the upcoming year. Per District rules and regulations, the Board can vote to allow for the acceptance of UP TO anywhere between 0 - 3,000 new irrigated acres for the coming year. The Board reviews historical static water level data, irrigation water usage reports, monitoring well changes to irrigation pumping, seasonal draw downs and recharge, irrigation demand, drought status, stream flows, and other factors to see if the water resources of the District can sustainably handle more high-capacity water wells. Applications will go through a ranking and review process before they will be considered before the full board on or prior to the October Board Meeting. Applications must meet a minimum score to be eligible for approval. If approved, projects must be fully completed within one year of the approval date. If you are serious about an application, please contact a well driller and get a test hole(s) done to see about your lands water availability and hydrologic properties. Please see the rules document below for the remainder of the requirements.
The MNNRD Board of Directors voted at the April 13th, 2026 board meeting to accept applications for up to 3,000 new irrigated acres or high capacity uses for 2026. Applications will be accepted from August 3rd - 28th, 2026 at the MNNRD office in Valentine. Applications must come with a $1,000 non-refundable fee and must be received in the office no earlier than August 3rd and no later than 5:00 PM CST on August 28th.
Rules and Regulations are in the link below or available at the MNNRD Office. Call 402-376-3241 and ask for Kyle or stop into the MNNRD office for more information.