Watersheds receive funding to improve water quality

Acting State Conservationist John Wilson announced today that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the National Water Quality Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to improve water quality in three impaired watersheds located in eastern Nebraska. Interested participants have until Nov. 19, 2021, to apply.

The selected watersheds are:

• Bazile Creek – located in Antelope, Pierce, and Knox counties

• Big Sandy – located in Thayer and Fillmore Counties

• Turkey Creek – located in Saline County

Wilson said, “USDA is committed to working hand-in-hand with farmers, ranchers, and landowners to address water quality issues and provide the tools necessary to ensure clean, safe water for communities and wildlife. This latest investment is yet another example of how voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs are benefitting both producers and our natural resources.” 

The targeted watersheds were identified with help from state agencies, partners, and the USDA State Technical Committee. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy is working with the local Natural Resources Districts in these watersheds through the Nonpoint Source Water Quality Grants-Section 319 Program.

Wilson said, “Including these watersheds in the National Water Quality Initiative will strengthen the overall effort to improve water quality in impaired streams in Nebraska. Through this initiative, eligible producers in these watersheds will invest in voluntary conservation practices to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities.”

NRCS will provide funding and expertise to farmers and ranchers interested in installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips, terraces, no-till, and other erosion control practices to improve water quality. NRCS staff will work with individual landowners to develop a conservation plan to apply practices that work best for their farming operation in each watershed.

Individuals interested in applying for conservation funds may do so at any time, but applications need to be submitted by Nov. 19 to be considered for this year’s funding.

Additional information about the National Water Quality Initiative, and detailed maps of the sign-up areas, are available at www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.

MAP of the sign-up area

Funding available from USDA to protect groundwater

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has funding available to assist landowners in source water protection priority areas to install conservation practices. Interested landowners have until Nov. 19, 2021, to apply.

John Wilson, acting state conservationist for NRCS in Nebraska said, “Since nearly all Nebraskans get their drinking water from groundwater, it’s important we work together to help protect this resource from contamination.”

Agricultural land located in the source water protection priority areas (see map) may be eligible to receive financial assistance.

Nebraska NRCS is now accepting applications for source water protection funding. Approved applicants can receive funding to install conservation practices used to address water quality that include:

• Nutrient management

• Irrigation water management

• Cover crops

• Conversion of flood to pivot or subsurface drip irrigation systems.

NRCS field office staff can determine if applicants are eligible for source water protection priority area financial assistance.

 Applications are accepted anytime, but to be considered for funding in 2022, applications must be received by Nov. 19, 2021. Visit your local NRCS field office to learn more.

Nebraska Source Water Protection - Priority Area MAP

Wisner-Pilger High School takes first place at the Northeast Area FFA Land Judging Contest

The Northeast Area FFA Land Judging Contest was held Tuesday, October 5th near Howells.  532 students from 27 high schools registered that morning at the Howells Ballroom before traveling to the testing site.  The contest was held on ground owned by John Doerneman, four miles east of Howells.

A team from Wisner-Pilger High School finished first with the top score of 1251 points.  Team members are:  Sydney Porter, Spencer Batenhorst, Taylor Scholting, and Beau Ruskamp.

A team from Howells-Dodge High School placed second with a score of 1191.  Third place went to Allen with a score of 1152.  Teams from West Point, Pender, Oakland-Craig, and Stanton also brought home top honors.  The top 7 teams will participate at the State competition in the Holdrege area on October 20th.

The top individual award went to Sydney Porter of Wisner-Pilger with a total score of 326.  Levi Belina of Howells-Dodge was second with a score of 325, Spencer Batenhorst of Wisner-Pilger was came in third with 321 points.  Ellee Hall of North Bend and Taylor Scholting of Wisner-Pilger came in fourth and fifth.

The site provided good diversity in soils and landscape positions for the students.  The contest helps the students make informed decisions regarding soil utilization in the future.  Scoring was completed the following day at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) office in Norfolk.

The high schools participating were:  Allen, Bancroft-Rosalie, Battle Creek, Blair, Clarkson, Elkhorn Valley-Tilden, Emerson-Hubbard, Howells-Dodge, Leigh, Logan View, Lutheran High Northeast, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Madison, Newman Grove, Norfolk, North Bend, Oakland-Craig, Osmond, Pender, Pierce, Randolph, Scribner-Snyder, Stanton, Tekamah-Herman, Wayne, West Point-Beemer, and Wisner-Pilger.

The LENRD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Howells-Dodge High School, and the Nebraska FFA Land Judging Committee organized and sponsored the contest.

Public hearing to certify irrigated acres is October 28th

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) will conduct public hearings and certify irrigated acres on October 28, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. These hearings will be held at the LENRD office located at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk.  The attached list of individuals are those who have fields in the Certification Hearing.  If questions arise, please contact Mike Murphy at 402-371-7313.

Fields to be Certified

Public Hearing Policy

Contested Hearing Form

Sign-up begins October 1st for new irrigated acres

One of the primary responsibilities of Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) is to manage groundwater to protect both its quality and quantity for all Nebraskans.  To achieve its management goals, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) continues to invest resources to study the geology, storage capacity, quality, and connection of groundwater to surface water.

At their September meeting, the LENRD Board of Directors approved a sign-up period for Standard Variances, for new irrigated acres, between October 1st, 2021, and October 31st, 2021.

Some discussion was held about postponing the signup until the completion of the LENRD’s Hydrogeologic Groundwater Model in 2022.  When the model is completed, it will allow the board and staff to complete simulations that will help illustrate the changes in groundwater and surface water systems. In the end, the board decided to move ahead with this year’s sign-up.

The LENRD board approved up to 295.00-acre feet of new stream water depletions for new groundwater irrigation development in the Hydrologically Connected Area in the LENRD, and up to 2,500 acres of new groundwater irrigation development in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area.

LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “A minimum soil score of 85 must be met in the soil conservation category for any standard variance application to be considered for approval, regardless of the total score.  Geographic portions of the district that are eligible to be considered for standard variances will remain the same as the 2020 classification map.”

Applications and a map of the eligible locations are available at the LENRD office in Norfolk and on the district’s website.  Excluded from consideration for this sign-up period will be any parcel of land located in any Quantity Management Subarea or Phase 3 Area.

Also at the meeting, the board engaged in further discussion on the proposed Phase 2 groundwater management area in parts of Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge counties.  The board is seeking more information from vadose zone and isotope sampling in that area and have postponed their decision until a later date.

The board also accepted the scope of work and Flow Meter Maintenance Agreement from Derek and Austin Becker which outlines the requirements for the completion of flow meter preventative maintenance services within the LENRD.

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, October 28th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.  Stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.

Map for 2021 Sign-up

Standard Variance Form

Open House held to gather input from stakeholders for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan

An open house was held September 15, 2021, at the Howells Ballroom for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment.  The improvement project area spans across parts of Stanton, Platte, Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge counties in northeast Nebraska.

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the plan with the goal of identifying palatable options for providing flood damage reduction to the watershed.  The open house was hosted by the LENRD to provide landowners and other stakeholders with information about the plan, but most importantly, it was a time to gather input from the public and receive their ideas to help protect the watershed.

The event drew a large crowd with LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, welcoming nearly 250 attendees to the open house followed by a brief overview of the effort.  Sousek reminded the audience that the LENRD has not taken any steps towards the initiation of any project in the watershed and that the planning effort needs to be driven by the stakeholders.  He said, “We are not promoting or pushing any specific project, especially if it’s unaccepted by the landowners.  This plan is yours to develop.  We want to hear your thoughts and work with you to put your ideas into action to protect the watershed.”

A presentation on the project was given by several team members from FYRA Engineering, who is the hired consultant preparing the plan.  Time was provided after the conclusion of the formal presentation for general question and answers from the audience, which was proceeded by breakout sessions which allowed attendees to visit stations around the ballroom to discuss specific project and planning process questions. An important component of this planning effort is to obtain feedback from landowners and stakeholders in the watershed.  While many in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to engage in oral conversations with LENRD and FYRA representatives, written comments carry equal weight and comment cards were available for attendees who opted to leave written comments.

LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, said, “We are requesting your ideas and want to work with you to formulate this plan.  Dams are not the only option.  We can work together to get other flood reduction and conservation practices on the land, including buffer strips, detention cells, wetland enhancement, and levee and channel improvements.”

The LENRD is requesting that any landowner who is interested in supporting a project of any type on their property reach out to LENRD Project Manager, Curt Becker, at 402.371.7313 or cbecker@lenrd.org

A recording of the presentation and the group question and answer session is provided on the project website along with example project locations: https://fyra.mysocialpinpoint.com/maple-creek

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USDA-NRCS provides federal funding to local project sponsors so they may work together to develop solutions for watershed issues such as erosion, floodwater, and sediment damage, water quality and habitat improvements, and others.  This funding has been provided to the LENRD to create a watershed plan for the Maple Creek watershed.  The Plan-EA is scheduled to be finalized in late-2022 by FYRA Engineering.

Board meeting postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District will NOT hold their monthly board meeting tonight in Norfolk. It has been moved to Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30 p.m. The Public Meeting Notice was not published, therefore, the Board of Directors cannot meet tonight. We're sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

Hall of Fame and Conservation Award Winners recognized for success

Natural resources stakeholders and experts will be in Kearney for the annual Nebraska Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) Conference at the Younes Conference Center Sept. 26-28.

The conference brings together NRD employees, directors and others integrally involved in conservation, technology and policymaking. The event kicks off with the Ron Bishop Memorial Golf Outing and trap shoot on Sunday, Sept. 26, to raise money for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Topics include an overview and discussion of successful natural resources programs, new technologies and research for future programs. Panelists at the forum will also provide insight on water quality, groundwater management, and flood mitigation.

Recognizing citizens for their conservation efforts, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts also will present awards during the noon luncheon Monday, Sept. 27. Due to the pandemic, both 2020 and 2021 awardees will be recognized. Winners include:

• 2020 Tree Planter of the Year: Terry Hoit – Red Cloud, Nebraska

• 2021 Tree Planter of the Year: Diamond Bar Ranch – Stapleton, Nebraska

• 2020 Grassland Conservation Award: Star Cattle Company – North Platte, Nebraska

• 2021 Grassland Conservation Award: Chris Larsen – Lexington, Nebraska

• 2020 Community Conservation Award: City of Norfolk – Norfolk, Nebraska

• 2021 Community Conservation Award: Curt Arens – Crofton, Nebraska

• 2020 Soil Stewardship Conservation Award: Dan & Melinda Stelling – Pierce, Nebraska

• 2021 Soil Stewardship Conservation Award: Jeff & Jolene Steffen – Fordyce, Nebraska

• 2020 Director of the Year: Terry Martin, Upper Republican NRD – Benkelman, Nebraska

• 2021 Director of the Year: Ed Kyes, Central Platte NRD – Central City, Nebraska

• 2020 Educator of the Year: Boyd Bowder, St. Paul High School

• 2021 Educator of the Year: Sharla Hanzlik, Niobrara High School

Monday evening includes a silent auction for the NARD Foundation, which support youth programs involved in natural resources and agriculture, followed by a dinner banquet.

During the banquet, four NRD Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized including: W. Eugene Haarberg, Imperial, Nebraska (2020 Board Member); Leon “Butch” Koehlmoos, Ord, Nebraska (2020 NRD Employee); Doug Bereuter, Alamo, California (2020 NRD Supporter); and Ted Hughes, Neligh, Nebraska (2021 Board Member). The Omaha World-Herald will also present the Agriculture Master Conservationist Award to Russ and Kay Edeal of Loomis, Nebraska.

More than 300 natural resources stakeholders are expected to attend the conference. Online registration and a detailed agenda are available on the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts’ website.

The annual NRD Conference is presented by Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts with a range of local and national sponsors.

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at www.nrdnet.org.

Wonderful World of Water is held at Gilman Park in Pierce

The 32nd annual Wonderful World of Water Festival was held September 15 at Gilman Park in Pierce.  Thirteen teams of ninth and tenth grade students from 7 schools across Northeast Nebraska descended upon the park for a day of outdoor hands-on activities and a chance to compete for championship honors. 

The day began with registration at Gilman Park followed by the teams competing in a track of hands-on activities focusing on water quality and other natural resources related issues.  The teams were then quizzed regarding those sessions to accumulate points for the competition.  Following the educational sessions, the teams were given one last chance to extend their point totals by participating in the Dripial Pursuit Trivia Game.  Then while the final totals were being calculated each team was given the opportunity to participate in the Wonderful World of Water special project.

The special project was Water Rockets, which is, a program taught through the Jr. Academy of Sciences.  Each school was invited to build water rockets and demonstrate their knowledge of mass, velocity and engineering.  The rockets were judged on distance and creativity.  Several rockets were launched Wednesday with Pierce High School Team 1 first for Farthest Distance Traveled; Madison High School Team 2 recognized for Shortest Distance Traveled; and, Wausa High School Team 2 with the Most Creative Design.    

Following the presentation of the special projects, the winners of the 2021 Northeast Nebraska Wonderful World of Water were announced.  The winner of Track 1 was Pierce High School Team 1 consisting of Brayden Kuper, Kaden Froehlich, Zach Meier, Emma Risinger and Madelyn Hanson.  The winning team from Track 2 was Pierce High School Team 2 consisting of Caleb Newman, Travis Emory, Amber Shefl, Maggie Painter and Peyton Wieting.  Both First Place teams were awarded Wonderful World of Water T-shirts.   

Schools participating in this year’s event included; Niobrara High School, Pierce High School, Elgin High School, Wausa High School, Allen Consolidated, Norfolk Catholic High School and Madison High School. 

The Wonderful World of Water program would not be possible without our many natural resources professionals from across the area who volunteer their time each year to share their expertise; and, work with students who might be interested in a career related to natural resources.  They come from a variety of agencies including:  The Natural Resources Conservation Service; UNL Cooperative Extension; Game and Parks; Northern Prairies Land Trust; Papio-Missouri River NRD; and, Lower Elkhorn NRD.  The Wonderful World of Water was sponsored this year by:  the Upper Elkhorn NRD; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Lower Niobrara NRD; and, Lewis and Clark NRD.  

Pierce High - Team 1: Brayden Kuper, Kaden Froehlich, Zach Meier, Emma Risinger, and Madelyn Hanson.

Pierce High - Team 2: Caleb Newman, Travis Emory, Amber Shefl, Maggie Painter, and Peyton Wieting.

WWW 2021

Students joined in hands-on activities, learning more about how to conserve and protect our natural resources. In the photo at left, Groundwater Management Area Specialist, Connor Baldwin, teaches the students about Groundwater contamination and prevention.

Husker Harvest Days includes free trees and water testing

Questions about trees, erosion, flood control or water quality? Stop in to visit with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts during Husker Harvest Days Sept. 14-16.

“This is a great opportunity for producers to meet with conservation agencies all in one place and learn more about cost-share programs that can benefit their operation and Nebraska’s natural resources,” said Jim Eschliman, president of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD).

Located in the Natural Resources Hub (39E), Nebraska’s NRDs are stationed with various organizations that offer conservation assistance, cost-share opportunities and producer programs. Attendees can visit with the Nebraska Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Farm Service Agency, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture and Central Platte NRD’s Native Prairie and Pollination Awareness Program.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Water Well Standards Program will also be on site to provide free water testing and screen for nitrates in minutes. Private well owners should bring a cup-size sample of water in a clean container.

In addition, the Natural Resources Districts will announce four individuals to induct into the NRD Hall of Fame during a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, on the Hospitality Tent Stage (SE Quadrant, #33). These Hall of Fame inductees have made significant contributions to protect our state’s natural resources through the NRDs. Hall of Fame categories include: 

• Natural Resources District Board Member

• Natural Resources District Employee

• Natural Resources District Supporter

During the three-day event, Husker Harvest attendees also will receive a free Colorado Blue Spruce tree seedling from the NRD Conservation Tree Program. All 23 Nebraska NRDs administer tree planting programs to provide trees and shrubs for local landowners. Each district varies, but possible services include: planting, weed barrier installation or weed control, and drip irrigation. Free prairie grass seed will also be available as part of the Native Prairie and Pollinator Awareness Project.

For more information on the Conservation Tree Program and other conservation resources, visit www.nrdnet.org.

LENRD manages a conservative budget while protecting the future of northeast Nebraska

Do you know who to turn to when you’re ready to update your windbreak?  Who do you call when the quantity of your groundwater is limited?  When your soil is unhealthy and you’re looking for ways to improve your land’s profitability, who can you trust to help?  Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) were created almost 50 years ago to conserve, develop, and manage our natural resources.

Each of the 23 NRDs manage a conservative budget with 12 main areas of responsibility to protect our future.  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) covers all or parts of 15-counties in northeast Nebraska, with its headquarters office located in Norfolk.

LENRD General Manger, Mike Sousek, said, “Our board and staff work diligently to leverage local tax dollars as efficiently as possible.  By bringing in grants and other funding for our projects, we continue to save taxpayers millions of dollars all while managing and improving the quality of the resources we use every day.”

The LENRD’s total operating budget for fiscal year 2022 is estimated at $11.5 million, with only $4.3 million in revenue from the property tax levy.

Sousek continued, “We’re using less than ½ of our taxing authority.  That means the citizens of this district receive almost a 70% return on their investment.  We’re working hard to keep the levy low, year after year, for our local taxpayers.”  Sousek added, “We’re here to protect you and your resources, but keeping your taxes low is another part of our job.”

The operating budget was approved by the LENRD Board of Directors at their September 9th meeting with a tax request of $4,382,016.  The estimated levy, based on the property tax request, is 2.3236 cents per $100 of valuation, which is a decrease of 5% from the fiscal year 2021 levy of 2.4367 cents per $100 of valuation.  For example, if a person owns a $300,000 house, the taxes owed to the LENRD would have been $73.10 in 2021 and will be approximately $69.70 in 2022.

Some of the major expenditures for FY 2022 are:  Levee and Flood Protection Projects - which include the City of West Point’s Flood Control Levee, the City of Randolph’s Flood Risk Management Project, the City of Pender’s Flood Control Project, and the Elkhorn River Jetty Project near Scribner - $1,620,500;  the North Fork River Restoration Project - $1,032,000; Water Resources Programs - $514,700; Project Construction, including flood related repairs and the Willow Creek Artesian Pressure Mitigation Project - $847,500; and Conservation Cost-Share programs, including the Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project and Willow Creek Best Management Practices - $425,000.

The LENRD is also moving ahead with the Watershed Flood Prevention and Operations (WFPO) funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the Maple Creek Watershed Plan to evaluate potential flood prevention, watershed protection, and agricultural water management projects.  Four communities are located within the watershed:  Leigh, Clarkson, Howells, and Nickerson.

The LENRD received a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) to expand groundwater monitoring in Pierce County.  Maintaining a safe drinking water source is one of the most important priorities of the LENRD.  The Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) also received a grant from NET for year 3 of their demonstration sites for the groundwater nitrate reduction project.  This project is a vital step forward in stabilizing, and eventually reducing, nitrate levels within the BGMA.

Through a grant from the Nebraska Association of Conservation Districts, the LENRD was able to hire a Conservation Planner to operate out of the Pierce NRCS office and assist in working with landowners to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs). The LENRD also has received a Section 319 grant from the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to provide supplemental cost share for select BMPs within the Willow Creek Watershed.

Sousek added, “We’re proud to give the funds back to the local taxpayers through our projects and programs.  We’re working responsibly within our budget as we continue to meet the challenges of protecting our natural resources for the future.”

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, September 23rd at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

Vickie DeJong retires from the Lower Elkhorn NRD after 42 years of service

Vickie (Meyer) DeJong, of Pierce, NE, will retire this week from the job she started over 42+ years ago.  DeJong has worked in Norfolk at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) since 1979.

After graduating from business school, DeJong returned to the Norfolk area.  She worked 4 years at Andrews Van Lines, and in May of 1979, she landed a job at the LENRD and jumped in with both feet.  She began her career as the receptionist/fiscal secretary for the district.  In 2018 she was promoted to administrative supervisor.

She started working in the main office on south Hwy 81 with a total of 5 employees.  Since then, the district office has moved three times, finally settling in their current location on Square Turn Boulevard.  There are now 14 employees in the Norfolk office.

When asked about her tenure here at the LENRD, DeJong shared, “It’s gone by very quickly.  I have seen a lot of things change over the years, especially in the world of technology.  I taught myself along the way.  I could write a book about that!  I have grown right along with the NRDs – the districts will celebrate their 50th Anniversary next year!”

She added, “If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t!  But seriously, I have enjoyed my time here and my co-workers are like family to me.  My proudest moments over the years are the planting of over 4 million trees across our 15-county district, the development of our 2 rural water systems, and the construction of the Willow Creek project to protect Pierce and downstream landowners from flooding.  I hope future generations continue to work hard at conserving and protecting our natural resources.”

LENRD General Manger, Mike Sousek, said, “Vickie will truly be missed.  She has dedicated her life to this job and has kept everything running like a well-oiled machine for 42+ years.  Thank you, Vickie, for your service.  We sincerely hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!”

The LENRD will host an Open House in her honor this Friday, September 10th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend.

DeJong resides in Pierce with her husband, Lyndon.  They have two children, Jeff and wife Ariel of Omaha, and Kellie and husband Jeromy of Rapid City.

Vickie DeJong retires after 42+ years of dedicated service!

Public Open House Sept. 15th for the Maple Creek Watershed Plan

Your watershed could experience over $10 million in flood damages in the next 5 years.  FYRA Engineering will facilitate a Public Open House regarding the Maple Creek Watershed Improvement Project Work Plan - Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA).  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the work plan.  Join us for the open house to talk about possible solutions at the Howells Ballroom, 515 North Street in Howells, on Wednesday, September 15th beginning with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Personnel from the project team will be available to answer questions and receive comments.  The Maple Creek Watershed Improvement Project is located in Stanton, Platte, Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge Counties in Nebraska.

USDA-NRCS provides federal funding to local project sponsors so that they may work together to develop solutions for watershed issues such as erosion, floodwater and sediment damage, water quality and habitat improvements, and others.  This funding has been provided to the LENRD to create a watershed plan for the Maple Creek watershed.  The Plan-EA is scheduled to be finalized in late-2022 by FYRA Engineering.

Please visit the project website to learn more:  https://fyra.mysocialpinpoint.com/maple-creek.  Written comments or requests should be submitted to Curt Becker, LENRD Projects Manager at cbecker@lenrd.org or contact the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk for more information.

Register today for the Rangeland Tour!

Board members reaffirm their commitment to locally led conservation

At their August board meeting, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) board of directors approved a resolution reaffirming their commitment to the management of our natural resources for the future and the importance of local control.

Recent water quality data indicates elevated concentrations of nitrate in portions of the LENRD, reaching levels that could pose health threats to humans and the environment.  It’s during these times when the LENRD board members are put in tough situations.  Mike Sousek, LENRD general manager, said, “This resolution simply reaffirms to the public that we care about the quality or our water and the health of our communities.”

The board also discussed the Scrap Tire Partnership Program with the Loess Hills RC&D and the Papio-Missouri River NRD.  The board instructed the staff to submit a letter of commitment for the program through the Nebraska Environmental Trust.  If awarded, the grant could provide funding for collections for 3 consecutive years.

Staff presented changes to the conservation cost-share docket and the board approved the updates for fiscal year 2022.  Changes to the Community Forestry Program and the Forestry Incentive for Public Facilities Program were also presented.  These updates will simplify the administration of the programs as well as create more flexibility for the participants.

An update was given on the Willow Creek Artesian Pressure Mitigation Project.  The production wells will be installed this fall.  This is the first step in the process of reducing the artesian pressures near the dam.  The board approved the bid with Dietz Well for $95,510 to complete the project.

A presentation was given by JEO and Long Spring Consulting Group’s on the LENRD’s hydrogeologic groundwater model along with the graphic user interface (GUI) which will be the cloud-based tool used by district staff to evaluate proposed uses of groundwater.  Phase 2B of the project is nearing completion and project partners are reviewing the model calibrations.  This phase of the project was facilitated by a grant from the NeDNR Water Sustainability Fund which paid for 60% of the project.  When completed, the groundwater model will allow the district to complete simulations that will help to illustrate the changes to groundwater and surface water systems.  The model also will benefit the district by allowing for the ability to utilize a sophisticated hydrogeologic grid constructed on tight gridlines and integrates the aerial electromagnetic flight data, which is a first of its kind in the United States.  The board reviewed the proposed contract for the GUI web-based program with Long Spring and voted to accept the terms of the agreement.

The board approved a proposal with Hollman Media to improve and update the district’s database.  This will help to improve the system and make it more user-friendly for the staff and the producers.  It will also be a more secure solution for the district’s records.

The board also approved an additional 1% increase in restricted funds authority for fiscal year 2022 and set the budget hearing Thursday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the LENRD office in Norfolk.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, September 23rd at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

Thanks to our summer interns!

The Lower Elkhorn NRD board and staff would like to take this opportunity to thank our interns for the dedication they showed this summer.  They jumped in with both feet and learned as much as possible while keeping everything moving forward out in the field.

Jerin TeKolste (left) was raised outside a small town called Roca, located just south of Lincoln.  He always enjoyed helping out on the family acreage and his grandparent’s farm.  He graduated in 2020 with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics from UNL and will be returning for a graduate degree in Agricultural Economics this fall.  Jerin said, “Some standout moments from my summer with the LENRD would have to be working on the water resources team to focus on groundwater quality in northeast Nebraska.  I’m very thankful for the opportunity the LENRD has given me and cannot thank everyone at the district enough for being overly friendly and inclusive.”

Colton Krusemark (right) grew up on a small acreage near Ponca.  He is currently a senior at Wayne State College and will graduate in 2022 with a degree in Conservation Biology.  He plans to use his degree in helping educate people about our natural resources.  Colton said, “I have appreciated the experience in talking with producers about our water issues, and educating myself on these issues as well.  I am thankful for the LENRD staff for helping the interns as much as possible.”

Thanks Jerin and Colton for all your hard work!  Good luck in your future endeavors!

LENRD has an opening for a Grant Coordinator

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has an opening for a Grant Coordinator.  Candidate should possess social, organizational and teamwork skills;  have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to handle multiple tasks.  Excellent benefit package.  Review of resumes to begin August 25, 2021.  Send to:  LENRD, 1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE  68701.

Job Description

LENRD discusses a resolution to reaffirm their commitment to locally led conservation

One of the responsibilities of the NRDs is the development, management, utilization, and conservation of groundwater.  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) monitors the quality and quantity of our groundwater annually.  This monitoring program has provided evidence that nitrate concentrations are continuing to increase in some areas.  Most recently, the data indicates elevated concentrations of nitrate in portions of Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge Counties, reaching levels that could pose health threats to humans and the environment.  It’s during these times when the LENRD board members are put in tough situations, dealing with resources that are shared among all citizens.

At their monthly committee meeting, the LENRD board of directors discussed a proposed resolution that would reaffirm their commitment to water quality management.

Mike Sousek, LENRD General Manager, said, “This resolution reaffirms the board’s commitment to the management of our natural resources and the importance of local control.  We are accountable for carrying out the responsibilities given to us by the Legislature.”

State Senator Tim Gragert of Creighton, representing District 40, addressed the board about the resolution and his personal commitment to the protection of our natural resources.  Senator Gragert said, “Water is the most important resource we have on this planet, it’s even more important than oil.  This resolution is an acknowledgement to the citizens of this district that you’re committed to protecting our natural resources.  We are fortunate to have this unique NRD system in Nebraska and I support local control 100%.”

He continued, “By increasing healthy soils, we can increase the quality of our water.  Soil health is a win, win, win - a win for producers, a win for consumers, and a win for the environment.”  He added, “We have a nitrate problem.  We are past the point of being proactive, we are now in the reactive mode.”

Senator Gragert presented his own resolution at the meeting.  He said, “I support your resolution and I hope it gets passed.  I want to work with you guys, but I will take this resolution to the Legislature myself, if I have to.”

A high concentration of nitrate in drinking water is being linked to adverse health risks, such as:  colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, stomach and kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and Parkinson’s Disease.

Birth defects in Nebraska are on the rise, and within the LENRD evidence indicates that these health implications are increasing at a faster rate than the rest of the state.  Health researchers are also gaining additional insight on the potential link between nitrate contamination in drinking water and Nebraska’s high rate of pediatric cancer.  A study out of the University of Nebraska Medical Center has found that counties with groundwater nitrate concentrations between 2.1 and 5 mg/L have higher incidence of pediatric brain cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma.

The LENRD has evidence of multiple townships within its boundaries with average concentrations of nitrate over 10 ppm.

Sousek said, “As the growing body of science on the potential risks expand, the discovery of areas with elevated concentrations of nitrate becomes even more concerning.  The long-term implications demand our attention.”

He continued, “This resolution simply states that we’re here to protect our natural resources and we’re up for the challenges ahead.  We care about local control, we care about water quality, we care about human health.”

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, August 26th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

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Elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater could pose health risks; water quality resolution tabled by LENRD board

Nebraska’s farmers are growing more with less water and fewer chemicals than ever before.  And yet, we still struggle with the quality of our water in some areas.

Nitrate levels in Nebraska’s groundwater are on the rise, especially in portions of northeast Nebraska.  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has analyzed the nitrate data gathered from their Groundwater Quality Sampling Program and have found some troubling trends across their 15-county district.

LENRD General Manger, Mike Sousek, said, “An evaluation of water quality data collected over the past 40 years reveals that nitrate concentrations are continuing to increase in some areas.  Most recently, the data indicates elevated concentrations of nitrate in portions of Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge Counties, reaching levels that could pose health risks to humans and threaten the environment.”

During their July meeting, the board discussed the proposed water quality resolution.  This resolution would serve as a statement of commitment from the board to follow when encountering tough issues, such as high nitrate levels in the groundwater.

The agriculture industry depends on clean water, healthy soil, and pure air to supply a growing world with food, feed, and fuel.  Farmers meet daily challenges as they work to protect our resources for future generations.

Sousek said, “We want to work together to make a positive impact on the health of our soils and the quality of our groundwater.  This resolution compliments our 12 responsibilities and shows that this board is supporting local control and supporting the protection of our natural resources as the NRDs have for the past 49 years.”

The board voted to table the resolution until next month.  The discussion will continue at the August 12th committee meeting and the August 26th board meeting.  Visit www.nitrateinwater.org to learn more about high nitrate levels in our groundwater and what you can do to help.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, August 26th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.