Category News

Diana Wendt was presented a bronze eagle statue by Jim Eschliman Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) President. The Eagle statue represents the years of loyal support and dedication to the NARD Board. The NARD is the trade association for the Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts. Diana served on the NARD board for a total 15 of her 27 years serving on the Lower Niobrara NRD board

Lincoln, NE – June 11, 2020 – Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District announced today that it will receive $61,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the “Lower Niobrara Observation Well Network” project. The Trust Board announced funding for the project at its meeting on June 11, 2020 in Lincoln. The project is one of the 118 projects receiving $20,000,000 in grant awards from the Nebraska Environmental Trust this year. Of these, 73 were new applications and 45 are carry-over projects.

The Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District, Board of Directors, voted to allow up to 1000 approved new irrigated acres in the District at their June 4th meeting. The Lower Niobrara NRD will be accepting applications starting July 1st and ending August 31st. All applicants must presently be in full compliance with all Rules and Regulations of the Lower Niobrara NRD. Applications must include a nonrefundable fee, an aerial photo of the property to be irrigated, location of all existing wells, location of proposed new well, a test hole log within 330 feet of the new well location, and must be submitted by the landowner. Each application will be ranked for soil, well and ground water criteria according to the Rules and Regulations of the Lower Niobrara NRD. All applicants will be notified by October 31st of their application approval or denial. The maximum allowed approved acres per person or entity is 160 acres and will also follow the Rules and Regulations of the Lower Niobrara NRD.
The Lower Niobrara NRD Board also voted to extend application period for new irrigated acres that would complete pivot circles and eliminate unproductive field wedges or windshield wiper type pivot systems. However, the proposed acres cannot be greater than 25% of the current irrigated acres in the field. Applications for these acres must include a non refundable fee, aerial photo, and must be submitted by the landowner.
In accordance with our integrated Management Plan, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources can also allow new surface water irrigation appropriations for up to 333 acres. The application form is on the website at www.lnnrd.org. Call with any questions 402.775.2343.Click for 2020 Application for New Irrigated Acres

BUTTE,  NE – The Lower Niobrara NRD in Boyd County, announced today that it was awarded funding through a 2019 NACD technical assistance (TA) grant, made possible through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to build and strengthen technical capacity nationwide.

Lower Niobrara NRD will use the TA grant funding to help pay salary for an NRD Technician. The duties include assisting the Boyd County NRCS office with all aspects of getting conservation practices on the ground and inspecting those practices to insure they have been completed properly. The Technician is also available to assist the District staff with summer work.

“Having this technician has been a win-win for the District as well as the NRCS office,” said Terry Julesgard, General Manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD, “the NRCS office has been able to maintain customer service in a timely manner even though one of the full-time staff has moved to another office.” 

NACD and NRCS established the Technical Assistance Grant Initiative in 2018 through a cooperative agreement to help conservation districts hire staff where additional technical capacity was needed to improve customer service and reduce workload pressure.

In 2018, NACD and NRCS awarded $9 million in funding to further enhance conservation district technical assistance across the nation. To date in 2019, NACD and NRCS have awarded grants totaling $9.9 million in 47 states and two territories, funding nearly 210 positions, including 10  tribe-related positions.   

“Building and strengthening technical capacity on a grassroots level is crucial when it comes to local natural resources management,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Every acre and every district employee counts when it comes to the conservation puzzle, whether it’s a soil conservation technician, forester or program support specialist.”

“NACD is proud to help put more boots on the ground and offer support to bolster the important work conservation districts accomplish on America’s landscapes every day,” Palmer said.

Learn more about the technical assistance grants program on NACD’s website.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.

​The Lower Niobrara NRD would like to Congratulate Kevin, Nick and Rose Keller on being selected as the 2019 Nebraska Outstanding Soil Stewardship Conservation award winners from the Nebraska Association of Resources District Board. Being one of the Pioneers of no-till conservation practices and years of planting cover crops along with use of new techniques and technology they continue to improve their soil’s health every year. Keller’s were presented their award at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney during the annual Nebraska Association of Resources District Annual Conference. The Keller’s was nominated for this award by the Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District.

The Lower Niobrara NRD would like to congratulate the Niobrara High School Purple Loosestrife Program on being selected as the 2019 Nebraska Outstanding Community Conservation award winners from the Nebraska Association of Resources District Board. In 2005, Sharla Hanzlik changed the community’s one day community service event to a year-long comprehensive conservation program passed from one 10th grade class to the next. Working with the community and other organizations they are working together to help control Purple Loosestrife from taking over their waterways, wetland and wildlife habitats. Sharla and some of the Purple Loosestrife Sophomore kids were presented their award at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney during the annual Nebraska Association of Resources District Annual Conference. The Niobrara High School Purple Loosestrife Program was nominated for this award by the Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District.

The Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District will be drilling test holes in Northern Holt County area the first week of September . The drilling is Phase 2 of a 3 year project to expand the Lower Niobrara NRD’s monitoring well network.