Fall Tree Care

Fall is an important time of year for your trees – especially when the weather has been dry like the last couple of years. Most of  the Lower Elkhorn NRD has been in some stage of a drought for the last two years, and it is taking its toll on the health of trees. To help them survive the winter, take some time now to water your young trees, fruit trees, and even large trees.

Slow water the trees by slowing running a hose at the base of the tree for several hours on large trees and less on smaller ones. Trees will benefit from watering on more than one side. Trees should be watered heavily now, and if we don’t see significant rain, again in mid-late October before a freeze. If the cold weather is delayed, watering in November (before the ground freezes) will also be needed. On newly planted trees, or on sandy ground, a watering may need to be added in between the previously mentioned waterings. If the winter is dry, plan on watering as soon as the frost is out of the ground.

By removing the stress of the drought this fall, the trees will be much better equipped to handle whatever else Mother Nature might throw at us. This should ensure winter survival and hardy trees next spring.

Do you have questions about trees? Contact Todd Steward, Natural Resources Technician

Want more information? Check out this article from UNL: Efficient and Effective Tree Watering

Husker Harvest Days includes Free Trees and Water Testing

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Questions about trees, erosion, flood control or water quality? Stop in to visit Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts during Husker Harvest Days Sept. 12-14.

“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 Dr. Orval Gigstad, 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, U.S. Forest Service’s Bessey Nursery, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, The Nature Conservancy, 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 three individuals to induct into the NRD Hall of Fame during a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, 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 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.

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.

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board of Directors Approves JEO Consulting Group As Consultant for North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan

At the August 24th Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors Meeting, Directors approved JEO Consulting Group (JEO) as the consultant for the North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan/Environmental Document (Watershed Plan). This project is about identifying and evaluating opportunities to reduce flood risk within the watershed, notably within the communities of Pierce and Osmond. However, the study area also includes the communities of Plainview, Foster, McLean, Magnet and Wausa.

While Osmond has interest in flood reduction of their own, the Pierce levee may need improvements to meet FEMA accreditation. Five proposals for the project were submitted and reviewed by the Evaluation and Selection Committee on Wednesday, August 23rd. Though all the candidates submitted strong proposals, JEO stood out to the selection committee because of their emphasis on community engagement as well as their familiarity and experience in the communities of Pierce and Osmond.

“We had good proposals from five highly reputable firms. They all really did put their best foot forward,” said interim General Manager, Brian Bruckner. “The stakeholder engagement was a high priority and the JEO proposal really articulated well what their intention and commitment would be. That was a deciding factor for the steering committee.”

Directors have a key focus on stakeholder and community engagement for this Watershed Plan project. “One thing that we’re looking at is buy-in from community members,” said Director Chad Korth. “JEO had the most contact meetings set up with community peers, and that’s what we’re looking for. The more community buy-in, the better.”

A stakeholder advisory team will be created to assist the LENRD staff, Board, and JEO with decisions regarding this project. A series of stakeholder meetings and open houses are planned throughout the duration of the project schedule.  The first open house is planned for early this fall. More detailed information will be coming soon and community involvement in the areas within the watershed plan boundaries is strongly encouraged.

Not only has JEO worked with multiple NRDs with similar Watershed & Flood Prevention Operations Plans, but they have also worked on flood risk studies for Pierce and Osmond.

Approval of Conservation Cost-Share Programs Cost Docket Changes

Directors approved updates to the average cost dockets for the Agroforestry, Cover Crop and Conservation Cost-share Programs. Projects Manager, Curt Becker, provided Directors with information about the changes that will be implemented. Cost-share program cost docket changes are made annually to ensure the rates are kept current.

LENRD Quantity Management Sub Area – 2” Allocation

Directors also voted unanimously to approve an additional two acre-inches of groundwater, only for irrigation wells in the LENRD Quantity Management Sub Areas, to be utilized for germination and establishment of a cover crop after September 15, 2023. The Board has the authority to grant an additional two-acre inches of groundwater to be used for beneficial purposes – specifically for germination and establishment of a cover crop – in any quantity management subarea after September 15th of each calendar year. This also grants District staff administrative authorization to approve use of the additional allocation prior to September 15th on a case-by-case basis.

Approval of a Work Contract for the Completion of Flow Meter Preventative Maintenance

Directors voted to approve a Work Contract with Derek and Austin Becker (Norfolk) to complete flow meter preventative maintenance inspections and services in Antelope and Madison Counties. For the past five years, the LENRD has had an agreement to contract out preventative maintenance on flow meters within the district. There are approximately 848 flow meters in this area and the cost is approximately $54 per meter. The price per meter is less than last year due to the location of the work and the distance between wells. The contractors will use their own vehicle and equipment to conduct the maintenance and will perform a physical exam of each meter.

Budget Subcommittee Report

Directors agreed in a 12-1 vote to approve an additional 1% increase in Restricted Funds Authority for the 2024 Fiscal Year. The biggest misconception is that the approval of the additional 1% increase in Restricted Funds Authority means the Board is approving increasing the political subdivision’s actual property tax request by 1%. However, by approving the additional 1%, the Board is only increasing their authority to generate additional restricted funds, not actually increasing the property tax request. The primary component of restricted funds is property taxes, but other types of receipts include motor vehicle pro-rate, in-lieu of taxes, transfers of surplus fees, prior year capital improvements that were not spent, and nameplate capacity tax.

Approving the 1% increase does not mean that the funds will be spent but it will grant the Board authority to use them if needed. Restricted Funds have not been used by the LENRD in at least the last 15 years. The funds are typically used in an emergency. Prior to designating how the funds should be used, a Special Board Meeting will be held to determine the use - which  must be approved by a majority vote.

Directors also approved District staff to advertise and present the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and Long Range Plan at a public hearing on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lower Elkhorn NRD Board Room (1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68767).

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of the Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

Willow Creek Lake on Alert for Blue-Green Algae

As of Friday, September 29, 2023, Willow Creek is still on health alert for blue-green algae. Beach sampling has ended for 2023 and will resume in May 2024.

The State of Nebraska has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County. Samples taken on August 14th at the Willow Creek SRA were above the health alert threshold of 8 parts-per-billion (ppb) of total microcystin (a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae).

When a health alert is issued, signs are posted to advise the public to use caution, and designated swimming beaches are closed during the alert. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to use caution and avoid exposure to the water, particularly avoiding any activity that could lead to swallowing the water. Do not let pets get in the water or drink from the lake. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities.

To stay up to date on current health alerts, please visit the Department of Environment and Energy Beach Watch webpage: https://deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/

LENRD Board Votes on Path Forward for Battle Creek Watershed Plan

Norfolk, Neb. – The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors voted to move forward and sign a contract with Houston Engineering to incorporate the Battle Creek Hydraulic Analysis Alternative into the Battle Creek Watershed & Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Plan at their meeting on Thursday, July 27th.

At the July 13th Committee of the Whole meeting, Directors were given a presentation from Mike Sotak, Houston Engineering, that included a variety of flood mitigation options for Battle Creek. The options included: dam with detention, dam with diversion channel, dam with levee, a detention north of town, and a levee only. Due to the smaller environmental footprint, lower cost, and eligibility to meet the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant funding requirements, Directors chose the single dam and levee option to bring forward for consideration at the July 27th Board meeting.

The vote to sign the contract with Houston Engineering for the levee and single dam option allows the almost 90% completed WFPO plan to move forward towards completion. The total cost of the single dam and levee option is approximately $50 million and will require less of an out-of-pocket expense for the LENRD taxpayers. Houston Engineering and JEO will now work together to complete the remainder of the Battle Creek WFPO plan.  

“This vote is a positive step forward for the Battle Creek WFPO project. The single dam/levee option will allow us to have a better finished product and is the most cost-effective alternative,” said Brian Bruckner, LENRD interim General Manager.

Directors also approved a payment of $8,894.55 to Houston Engineering for their professional services related to the presentation of information at the July 13th meeting of the LENRD Committee of the Whole.

In other action, LENRD staff were directed to begin advertising a request for proposals for the development of a North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan and Environmental Document for the WFPO program. The target of this project is to leverage assistance to the towns of Pierce and Osmond. While Osmond has interest in a levee of their own, the Pierce levee needs to be brought up to the necessary requirements for certification. Chairman Roger Gustafson chose five Directors to participate on an Evaluation and Selection Committee to select a candidate for the project: Jay Reikofski, Scott Clausen, Chad Korth, Jerry Allemann, and Melissa Temple. Proposals for the project will be accepted until Monday, August 21st at 4:30 p.m.

Directors awarded the Willow Creek Reservoir Outlet Channel Repair Project to Cech Excavating LLC for a total of $84,950.00. There were three contractors that submitted bids for the project. LENRD staff were estimating that the total cost of the project would be approximately $150,000.  The contractor has a completion date of March 15, 2024 and plans to begin work this month.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of the Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, August 24th, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

Bids Requested for Watershed Plan/Environmental Document

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District is requesting proposals from qualified firms to develop a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) approved Watershed Plan and Environmental Document for the North Fork Elkhorn River. 

The purpose of this request is to develop a watershed plan and environmental document through the NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program. 

Proposals for this project will be accepted at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68701 until Monday, August 21st, 2023 at 4:30 P.M. 

The full request for proposals and the project scope can be obtained by contacting the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68701 or by phone at (402)371-7313.

Working together to adopt a conservation mindset

Norfolk, NE - Last year, we saw the driest year on record for Norfolk. The National Weather Service’s Karl Stefan Memorial Airport station recorded a total of 13.72” of precipitation for the year – a deviation of 13.74” from normal. While we’ve recently been fortunate to have received some precipitation, the area is still well below average. Much of northeast Nebraska is still designated as D4 (Exceptional) or D3 (Extreme) on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“We’re in a drought, and it’s important that we’re all conserving the groundwater we share. It’s an important issue for all of us since we cannot survive without access to a reliable and safe source of drinking water,” said Brian Bruckner, Interim General Manager for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even though about 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is available for human use. And despite the water supply challenges faced by many communities across the U.S., each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water each day at home.

You may wonder how this affects you, or what you can do to make a difference. “It’s about being responsible with our resources and being accountable to our neighbors by assuring them that we’re doing all that we can to share this resource with everyone around us,” said Bruckner. “Conservation of the resource not only benefits the aquifer but limiting use helps to extend the life of the expensive infrastructure by reducing wear and tear on critical components.”

We can all improve our use of water by being more mindful of our actions such as: checking for leaks, installing water-saving appliances, and managing our sprinklers more efficiently.  According to EPA, bathrooms are the largest use of water in the home – using more than 50% of all indoor water. Instead of a bath, opt to take a quick shower instead. Having a low-flow shower head will also help ensure more efficient water usage as these use a third less water than regular shower heads. Another area for water conservation inside the home is the kitchen. If your home is equipped with a dishwasher, most are proven to be a more efficient means of cleaning dishes as opposed to washing them in the sink.

Not only are there ways to reduce water use inside, but outdoors as well. According to the EPA website and information booklet, Water Saving Tips For Your Home, residential outdoor water use across the U.S. accounts for nearly 8 billion gallons of water each day – mainly for landscape irrigation. To allow your lawn to absorb moisture better, Ready.gov encourages watering early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. It is also important to avoid overwatering your lawn. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week. You can check to see if the soil is moist by using a soil probe, spade, or large screwdriver. If the soil is moist, then the lawn doesn’t need more water. Not only that but it’s also beneficial to keep your grass longer. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth and a more drought resistant lawn. 

If you own a private well, one of the most important things you can do is to be proactive in the maintenance of your well. If you’ve had issues with your well in the past, or you’re concerned about the well’s performance, it could become problematic during dry conditions. It’s also a good idea to know the location of your well (using GPS coordinates), the total depth, static water level, and age of your well. This information will help well owners answer important questions when a well is not functioning properly. All new wells are required to be registered with the State of Nebraska at: https://dnr.nebraska.gov/groundwater, and if you have an older well that is unregistered, it would be wise to get it properly registered.

The LENRD has the responsibility to develop, manage, utilize and conserve groundwater and surface water wisely. “It’s important to adopt the mindset that the current dry cycle could be part of a multi-year weather pattern,” said Bruckner. “There’s value in preparing ourselves for what’s ahead and conserving our groundwater to help resolve present and future water quantity issues, protecting all groundwater users.”

If you want to learn more about how you can help preserve our groundwater, check out these great resources!:

https://www.epa.gov/watersense

https://www.ready.gov/drought

Fertigation's Sunset Seminars will explore capabilities and impacts of image-based nitrogen management

Lincoln, Neb. —UNL’s Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is joining forces with innovative farmers, Nebraska Natural Resource Districts, and Sentinel Fertigation to host events, called Sunset Seminars, at trial field sites across Nebraska.

The informal but informative events held in the evening will give growers and agronomists a chance to see how image-based nitrogen management works and how it can influence nitrogen management outcomes, all while enjoying refreshments and mingling with the UNL researchers, Sentinel team and other attendees.  

Seminars are being hosted by growers working with the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, who have trialed Sentinel Fertigation’s N-Time™ software this growing season and have experienced its impact on their farm. The seminars will be near the fields where N-Time™ is being implemented.

This trial opportunity was made possible for the farmers by an On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials Grant (CIG) from the USDA-NRCS. The CIG grant helps growers across Nebraska to gain hands-on experience with cutting edge technologies on their operation. Eligible producers receive compensation for recognition of their time and commitment, and to mitigate risk in implementing these trials.

“We are excited to be partnering with companies like Sentinel Fertigation to help producers get hands-on experience with new technologies,” said Laura Thompson, Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Director. “Growers participating in on-farm trials are getting unbiased, robust data on how these technologies performs in their operation and will be able to quantify the profitability compared to their current management.”

N-Time™ is Sentinel’s flagship software system that analyzes field imagery to detect early signs of crop nitrogen stress and provide growers with timely fertilizer application recommendations.

N-Time™ was developed through research and proven through trials. The data collected from those on-farm pilots will be presented during the seminars by representatives from UNL, providing growers with data quantifying N-Time's impacts on Nitrogen Use Efficiency while maintaining or improving yield. Data on the effects of other nitrogen management technologies will also be discussed at certain locations.

“If a farmer is wondering how to enhance their nitrogen management practices and is curious about technologies that can help them achieve their goals, this event is for them,” said Jackson Stansell, Sentinel’s Founder & CEO. “This is a tremendous opportunity to see how N-Time ™ is working on a real field, with a real farmer, in real time. All events will discuss data comparing N-Time™ recommendations with grower practices.”

In addition to UNL’s presentation, the Sentinel Team will demonstrate exactly how N-Time™ functions and how it can be implemented with advanced fertigation systems.

After the demo, host growers will have the opportunity to talk about their experiences and answer questions about using image-based fertigation technology.

Light snacks and beverages will be provided during the seminars, which will last for about an hour and a half followed by an unstructured Q&A and mingling.

Here’s a full schedule of the Sunset Seminars:

Monday, July 31 – Beaver Creek, NE

Thursday, Aug. 3 – Wood River, NE (Hosted by Central Platte NRD)

Tuesday, Aug. 8 – Bellwood, NE (Hosted by Lower Platte North NRD)

Wednesday, Aug. 9 – Stapleton, NE

Thursday, Aug. 10 – Lexington, NE (Hosted by Central Platte NRD)

Monday, Aug. 14 – Pierce, NE

Tuesday, Aug. 15 – Gibbon, NE

Interested in attending a Sunset Seminar in your area? Signup at https://www.sentinelfertigation.com/sunset-seminars.

For more information about the CIG grant, or if you are interested in participating in a study, visit https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/precision-nitrogen-management.

Lower Elkhorn NRD Concludes Review of Decorum Complaint

On May 30, 2023, Lower Elkhorn NRD Board Chairman, Roger Gustafson, concluded his review of a Code of Decorum complaint lodged by NRD Board Member, Melissa Temple on April 24th of this year. The complaint centered around allegations of possible disparaging comments that were privately made by fellow NRD Board Member, Scott Clausen, against Director Temple. After carefully reviewing all information available concerning the incident, Chairman Gustafson, after consultation with the NRD Executive Board, found no violation of the Code of Decorum. Chairman Gustafson noted that the Lower Elkhorn NRD Board of Directors is committed to collegial and civil debate and expressed his hope and belief that the NRD Board could now move forward to manage the natural resources of the district.

LENRD Board Votes to Increase Irrigation Allocations to Protect Drought Stricken Acres

Last year, in a proactive measure and in response to the acute drought that took a commanding grip in Northeast Nebraska, the LENRD (Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District) implemented restrictions on wells pumping over 50 gallons per minute, until the drought decreases in intensity.

Initially, the Board had voted to limit municipal water supply wells to 250 gallons per day per capita for any city or town in a D3 or D4 designation, while irrigation wells (that do not already have an allocation) would be limited to 15 inches per acre for each certified irrigated acre for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.

After hearing from their constituents on the severity of the current situation for many producers with sandy soils, the board discussed the possibility of adjusting the inches previously allocated. At their June meeting, the Board voted to increase the 15 inches per acre limit to 20 inches per acre, for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.

Brian Bruckner, Interim General Manager of the LENRD, said, “The decision from the board to impose allocations for this year was to protect the health and welfare of the public during the drought, but also to minimize negative impacts to groundwater supplies. Given the current state of the drought, the board felt it was necessary to increase the inch allocations for any well not already in a designated sub area or not already limited with any other restrictions.”

The state remains in varying degrees of drought, but things have intensified in the northeast. Bruckner added, “Hopefully we can catch some rain in the coming weeks that will provide sufficient improvement and maybe bring some areas out of allocation altogether.”

If drought conditions are downgraded to a D2 designation for a period of 14 consecutive days, the drought-imposed restriction would be lifted for those wells and locations within that D2 designation area. So far, almost 1,400 wells have been removed from the drought-imposed restriction. Even though the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows an increase of D3 and D4 designations throughout the district, irrigation wells already removed from the allocation restrictions will not be reimposed. A map showing the 2023 groundwater allocations can be found on our website at www.lenrd.org

In other action the Board also heard from Janel Kaufman, Senior Civil Engineer with Houston Engineering, who provided a 90% update on the Maple Creek Watershed Plan. The two projects that could result from the completion of the plan are improvements to the Clarkson levee and a small dike or levee system for Nickerson. This project is still in the planning stage of a multi-step process.

Jeremy Milander, UNL Extension Educator, also provided a report on the success of the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) Demonstration Sites.  The BGMA received funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) to demonstrate and research best management agricultural practices to reduce nitrogen leaching into the groundwater.

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 www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, July 27th, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

Innovative Nitrogen Dashboard to Improve Fertilizer Efficiency, Water Quality

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) and 17 of Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are pleased to announce the development of a nitrogen dashboard in partnership with Longitude 103, a leading provider of agricultural technology solutions.

Producer Connect, a web and mobile application suite, allows producers to access their crop reporting data and includes a fertilizer recommendation based on yield goals. This collaborative effort aims to empower agriculture producers to optimize inputs, which will enhance agricultural profitability, water quality and irrigation efficiency.

In the last 10 years, Nebraska has made gains in nitrogen management through split-fertilizer application and irrigation efficiency, but there are opportunities for improvement. Nebraska’s agriculture economy depends on groundwater and fertilizer; however, the overuse of fertilizer can come at a cost by contaminating groundwater, which most Nebraskans depend on for drinking water.

“With the growing concern of increased nitrate in groundwater, it is essential for NRDs and ag producers to work together to address the problem,” said Dr. Orval Gigstad, NARD president. “By developing a tool that is mutually beneficial for both ag producers and our natural resources it’s a win-win situation. We applaud the Nebraska Corn Board for helping lead the way.”

The partnership between the Nebraska Corn Board and the Natural Resources Districts exemplifies the commitment of key stakeholders to foster a thriving agricultural industry while protecting our water quality and quantity. The Nebraska Corn Board has generously contributed funds to assist with the development of Producer Connect, recognizing the potential it holds in transforming the landscape of modern farming.

“We are proud to support this innovative initiative to provide agriculture producers with more tools for nitrogen management,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, Nebraska Corn Board executive director. “By empowering producers with their own data, we can improve fertilizer efficiency, maximize profits and protect our valuable water resources.”

The involvement of a majority of Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts underscores the collective determination to promote responsible farming practices throughout the state. The NRDs along with the NARD Foundation have made financial contributions and are actively applying for grants to help develop and maintain the Producer Connect software for years to come.

Producer Connect will be free to producers and offer a wide range of features designed to simplify nitrogen and water management. Ag producers will have a password-protected log in and only be able to see their own data. A few of the potential features include:

• Producer-specific data: Ag producers will have access to their reported data, which includes previous crops grown, actual yield, fertilizer applied, water usage, crops to be grown, expected yield, soil and water test results, and legume or manure credits.

• Protected data: All data will be held by the local NRD, and individual producer data will not be shared. Aggregate data may be used by the NRD for educational activities, certified applicator training and producer meetings.

• Customizable recommendations: The dashboard will provide a personalized nitrogen recommendation based on yield goals. The nitrogen efficiency of bushels per pound of applied fertilizer will be displayed and compared to the average of producers within the area. An economic analysis could show cost savings using the calculated nitrogen application versus a typical fertilizer application.

• Irrigation efficiency: The dashboard will also include the ability to track water-use data.

• Historical data analysis: By analyzing past nitrogen usage and crop performance, the dashboard will enable producers to identify trends in water use, fertilizer application and crop yield.

• Environmental impact assessment: The platform will assist farmers in quantifying the impact of their nitrogen usage, aiding in compliance with regulations and demonstrating commitment to sustainable practices.

• Information exchange: The dashboard will allow for communication between the producer and the local NRD. Producers will also be able to view current research results to improve profitability.

Producer Connect is currently in its initial stages of development and is expected to launch in January 2024. The initial roll out will be in Phase 2 and Phase 3 Groundwater Quality Management Areas and areas that have irrigation allocations.

“This partnership between the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska’s NRDs showcases the power of collaboration and a shared vision in driving sustainable change to improve producer profitability and nitrogen-use efficiency while protecting Nebraska’s water resources.” Gigstad said. “It exemplifies why Nebraska leads the nation in irrigated acres and water management.”

The Nebraska Corn Board is funded through a producer checkoff investment of ½-cent-per-bushel checkoff on all corn marketed in the state and is managed by nine farmer directors. The mission of the Nebraska Corn Board is to increase the value and sustainability of Nebraska corn through promotion, market development, and research.

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.

Bids requested for channel repair

Bids are now being requested for furnishing all labor, equipment materials and incidentals necessary to complete repair of the outlet channel of Willow Creek Dam. The Project site is 1.5 miles West and 1.25 mile South of Pierce, Nebraska. The construction will involve excavation and earth fill necessary to reshape the outlet channel embankment, salvaging topsoil, seeding and mulching the topsoil, installation of filter fabric and installing riprap on top of the installed filter fibric. There will be incidental work along with the prescribed pay items of work. The planned work is shown on drawings attached to this project manual. Other related items shall be furnished and installed by the Contractor.

Proposals will be opened at 1:00 P.M. on July 11, 2023 . Project work shall be completed by March 15, 2024.

Specifications and plans for the work can be examined and obtained from the Lower Elkhorn NRD at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Lower Elkhorn NRD is seeking a general manager

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is seeking a General Manager (GM) for their 15-county district.  Under the direction of the LENRD Board of Directors, the GM will provide direct and indirect supervision to all employees of the district.  Work involves developing operational policies and procedures, long and short-range plans that are consistent with the district policy of wisely governing the use, and conservation of, the district’s soil, water, wildlife, trees, and other natural resources.

The GM is responsible for preparation of the annual budget; the acquisition of alternative funding sources such as grants, trusts; and negotiates and approves various project/program contracts.  The GM should also possess the ability to analyze administrative and technical problems and/or situations and to present appropriate facts and/or recommendations in written and/or oral form; and interpret and/or apply policies and regulations, using considerable independent judgement with work being reviewed by the LENRD Board of Directors.

The GM also serves as the Public Relations Officer for the district with the ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships with Federal, State, and City officials, co-workers, board members, community organizations, and/or members of a diverse population.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Natural Resources Management, Agricultural Economics, Soil Science, Water Resources and/or Agricultural Engineering, with post graduate work in water resources, geography, ecology and/or environmental law, plus a minimum of ten (10) years work experience in the area of natural resources, agriculture business, education and/or resource planning and work experience with various Federal, State, and Local government agencies is desired.

An excellent benefits package including health and dental insurance, retirement program, vacation/sick leave, and paid holidays is provided. This position is open until filled.

Send your cover letter and resume to:  Roger Gustafson, Chairman of the Board, 351  12 Road, Emerson, NE  68733 or email: rlgustafson@hotmail.com or lenrd@lenrd.org

Chemigation permits due June 1st each year

Farmers planning to chemigate during the 2023 growing season must renew chemigation permits by June 1 to meet state deadline requirements, according to Josh Schnitzler, Water Resources Coordinator for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).

Chemigation is the application of any chemical, fertilizer or pesticide through an irrigation system. To legally chemigate in Nebraska, an operator must be certified to apply chemicals and obtain a chemigation permit from their local Natural Resources District (NRD).

"Farmers holding chemigation permits, even if they are uncertain whether they will chemigate later this year, should consider renewing their permits by June 1," Schnitzler said.  Schnitzler is encouraging area producers to reapply by the state-required deadline to avoid the increased cost and possible delays of an inspection.

An irrigation system that has not been renewed prior to the June 1 deadline cannot apply chemicals through the system until a new permit is obtained.  Chemigation renewal permits cost $20.  New chemigation permits cost $50, and the applicant cannot use the system until it passes a mandatory inspection.  All permits must be submitted to the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk.

By renewing a permit by June 1, a producer may proceed with chemigation. An inspection does not have to be performed prior to chemigation for a renewal application, Schnitzler said.  However, a random chemigation inspection may be necessary later in the season as part of the LENRD's routine summer inspections as required by state law.

Applicants must have the signature of a certified applicator on their application form.  Schnitzler stated, “In order to be certified, a person must complete a chemigation safety course and pass an exam once every four years.”

If chemigating is necessary, on short notice, emergency permits can be obtained at a cost of $250. Please allow 2 working days for emergency permits.

Approximately 2,103 chemigation permits were approved by the LENRD in 2022.  For more information on renewing or obtaining chemigation permits, call the LENRD office in Norfolk at 402-371-7313 or visit http://www.lenrd.org/chemigation

Spring groundwater levels show declines as the drought lingers on

2022 was the driest year on record for a large portion of the Lower Elkhorn NRD, and increased demand for groundwater use from all sectors took an expected toll on groundwater inventories.  In a proactive measure and in response to the acute drought that took a commanding grip in northeast Nebraska, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) implemented restrictions on wells, pumping over 50 gallons per minute, until the drought decreases its intensity.

The LENRD has been conducting annual monitoring of groundwater inventories across its 15-county district since 1976.  How does the LENRD monitor our groundwater supplies?  There are 240 “observation wells” the district uses to measure the depth to groundwater from the surface of the land.  These wells are measured in the spring, before the pumping season begins, to see how much the water levels have recovered from last year’s irrigation season and again in the fall after pumping has ceased to evaluate the amount of in-season decline.  LENRD Assistant General Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “While drought conditions are beginning to show signs of decreasing their hold in portions of the area, many of the wells our staff measured this spring are showing declines; though still at manageable levels as long as the drought doesn’t extend itself into subsequent pumping season.”

According to the report from the UNL School of Natural Resources’ Conservation & Survey Division, about three-fourths of the state’s 4,787 observation wells experienced a decline in groundwater levels from spring 2021 to spring 2022, and it will be interesting to see next year’s report which will include comparison data from spring 2022 to spring of 2023.  It is worth noting that most of the data included within these annual reports is collected by Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, which includes the Lower Elkhorn NRD.

In 2022, Norfolk and Wayne recorded their driest years on record; records that were first recorded in 1854 for the National Weather Service’s Karl Stefan Airport station.  In April of 2022, most of the LENRD was in a severe (D2) drought.  As the summer continued, much of the district transitioned into an extreme (D3) and an exceptional (D4) drought.  As a result, the LENRD board approved the recommendations presented by the district’s Ad-Hoc Drought Response Committee, to limit municipal water supply wells to 250 gallons per day per capita for any city or town in a D3 or D4 designation, while irrigation wells (that do not already have an allocation) will be limited to 15 inches per acre for each certified irrigated acre, for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.   Bruckner said, “The decision from the board to impose allocations for this year was to protect the health and welfare of the public during the drought, but also to minimize negative impacts to groundwater supplies.  Given the tendency of drought conditions to extend into multiple calendar years, the district felt compelled to take proactive measures in the event the acute condition decided to linger into 2023, or worse yet, into 2024 and beyond.”

Drought conditions have eased in some areas since the beginning of the year, but 98% of the state remains in varying degrees of drought.  Bruckner added, “We would like to see more rain in the coming weeks, and hopefully this precipitation will provide sufficient improvement to bring some areas out of allocation.  However, if the drought lingers on, producers will need to be prepared for the pumping limits this summer and possibly next year as well.”

Currently, the entire district, except the NW 1/3 of Pierce County are still in the D3 or D4 drought as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is updated on a weekly basis.  If drought conditions are downgraded to a D2 designation for a period of 14 consecutive days, the drought-imposed restriction would be lifted for those wells and locations within that D2 designated area.

Position open for Communications Specialist

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has an immediate opening for a Communications Specialist. This position involves the independent preparation and distribution of informational materials to educate the public about the LENRD’s projects, programs, goals, and policies.

Work involves preparing a variety of written informational materials including newsletter articles and press releases, fact sheets, posters, brochures, and display ads; coordinating audio and visual information; website development, and social media marketing. Consulting with individuals from government agencies, community organizations, and citizen advisory groups is also important.

The successful candidate should possess strong writing, organizational, and teamwork skills; have a working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites and Microsoft Office, and the ability to handle multiple tasks. 

This position comes with an excellent benefits package. Review of resumes will begin April 24, 2023 – open until filled.  Send to: Lower Elkhorn NRD, Attn: Mike Sousek, 1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68701.

Nitrogen Certification Class, (Rescheduled from Jan. 19th)

The Makeup date for the Jan. 19th Nitrogen Certification Class will be on Thursday, February 2nd at 10am at the LENRD office.

Groundwater allocations approved for 2023

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) drew a crowd for their October board meeting to hear discussions about possible groundwater use restrictions for next year.  Because the district continues to be in a D3 & D4 drought, as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor, the board must make decisions by November 1st about any limited use of water for the following year, according to the LENRD’s drought management plan.

The board approved the recommendations presented at their October meeting, by the Ad-Hoc Drought Response Committee, to limit the amount of groundwater use in 2023.  The decision will limit municipal water supply wells to 250 gallons per day per capita for any city or town in a D3 or D4 designation, while irrigation wells (that do not already have an allocation) will be limited to 15 inches per acre for each certified irrigated acre, for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.  Municipalities will also be required to adopt a plan for water conservation practices and water use restrictions and provide a copy to the LENRD by March 1st, 2023.

Chad Korth, LENRD director from Meadow Grove, said, “We wanted everybody involved in our discussions, not just agriculture.  That’s why the municipalities are included, we’re all in this together.  The idea is to preserve this water for the next generation.”

Mike Sousek, LENRD general manager, said, “The decision from the board to impose allocations for next year is in response to the responsibility to protect the health and welfare of the public during a drought, but it’s also the first step in the plan to minimize negative impacts to groundwater supplies.  If it doesn’t rain, we have to be prepared, not only for next year, but for the year or two following.  We are being proactive.  We have to prepare for the worst and help producers plan for a possible shortage of water in year 2 or 3 of the drought.”  Sousek added, “Of course, if drought conditions are downgraded to a D2 designation for 14 consecutive days, all restrictions will be lifted.”

The district also made the decision to forego the consideration of requests for new uses of groundwater for irrigation.  Sousek said, “This will allow for the completion of previously approved projects and to monitor and assess impacts to groundwater supplies for all users.”

In other action, the board directed staff to contact producers whose irrigation wells have exceeded the annual allocation for groundwater uses for 2022, as outlined in the LENRD’s conditions for approval policy for new irrigation wells.  Violators could receive a penalty that would reduce their allocation for the next 2 years.  Public hearings will be held with the board on each individual case.

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 committee meeting will be Thursday, November 10th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:00 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

FFA State Land Judging competition challenges youth near Gering

Students and instructors from 29 high schools met near Gering to compete in State Land Judging Oct. 19. The North Platte Natural Resources District (NRD) partnered with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to host the annual competition.

With towering bluffs rising to the north, students judged in a dryland corn field southwest of Wildcat Hills Recreation Area.

“We are honored to host the State Land Judging contest,” said Scott Schaneman, North Platte NRD general manager. “Our region’s unique bluffs have a rich geological history and it’s a great opportunity for our youth to learn about the value of soil resources in western Nebraska. We are thankful for the many volunteers and partnering agencies who helped make this contest a tremendous success.”

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Teams consist of four students from the same FFA chapter, and a few individuals who qualified separate from a team. Each participant learns how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship.

During the competition, students judge four soil pits using an evaluation card to make assessments on: soil depth, surface texture, permeability, slope, thickness of surface and erosion. Each evaluation card is scored and added together to determine overall scores for individuals and the team. In order to compete in the state contest, teams advance from one of the seven regional competitions hosted across the state in October.

2022 State Land Judging Individual Champions:

1. Ashlynn Millikan, Norfolk

2. Colton Miller, Lyons-Decatur

3. Aiden Cuba, Twin River

4. Clay Maloloey, Holdrege

5. Jameson Doyle, Hampton

2022 State Land Judging Team Champions:

1. Norfolk (Ashlynn Millikan, Cole Ransen, Mercer Thierry and Eatherton Madison)

2. Hampton (Jameson Doyle, Brooke Lubke, Edward VanLandingham and Korbin Stump)

3. Southwest (Mitchel Stritt, Hunter Blume, Treven Critchfield and Nathan Rippe)

4. Bayard (Nolan Dueker, Taylor Petersen, Cambree Schmaltz and Riley Hopkins)

5. Lewiston (Jaqueline Mullins, Taven Borcher, Leah Christen and Jazmine Thomsen)

These top five Nebraska teams will advance to the national competition hosted in Oklahoma City May 2-4, 2023. For more information on Nebraska Land Judging, visit www.nrdnet.org.

Best Management Practices are key, especially in dry times

As dry conditions continue, it not only affects this year’s crop, but could impact next year’s as well, leaving aquifers deeply impacted.  At their September board meeting, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) voted to formally declare a drought across their 15-county district.

Mike Sousek, general manager for the LENRD, said, “It’s important that we’re all conserving the groundwater we share.  If this situation continues, our board will have some tough decisions to make by Nov. 1st.”  If the district remains in a D3 or D4 drought designation, November 1st is the deadline for the board to make any decisions concerning water use restrictions for next year.

Many cities and towns across the district have water-saving measures in place, encouraging residents to limit their water use on their scheduled days.  The LENRD reminds citizens to work together to conserve water.  Sousek said, “We can help each other by using less water and being mindful of our day-to-day usage.” 

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are important when managing any conservation plan, especially in dry times.  The district has cost-share funding available for BMPs and encourages producers to stop by their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office or the LENRD office in Norfolk, to look over their options and apply for the best program to fit their needs. 

Water can be efficiently applied at different rates throughout the field, using Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI).  Over-applying water to the soil could cause nutrient runoff or leaching beyond the root zone of the plant.  Using VRI and other management tools can help prevent over-watering and could potentially improve water quality. 

Soil moisture sensors are another tool that can be cost-shared with the LENRD.  The sensors can help determine when and where the water is needed, saving the producers time and money.  Telemetry programs are also available to connect with the sensors, giving producers quality information at their fingertips. 

Water flow meters are another management tool that the district uses to measure the pumping on wells with annual allocations.  Allocations in some areas have been put in place to protect current water users while allowing for the expansion of new uses.  Meters first became a requirement within the LENRD in July of 2007, when the installation of a flow meter became a requirement for any new high capacity well.  After the drought of 2012, it became evident that we needed to be even more proactive in the management of our groundwater since numerous in-season groundwater shortages were reported across the district.  This led to the delineation of several Quantity Management Subareas which triggered the requirement to install a flow meter on existing irrigation wells within the delineated areas and attached annual groundwater allocations to some of those wells.  In 2017, five years after the drought, the board also made the decision to have a sign-up period for new groundwater irrigated acres, along with a meter requirement for all high-capacity wells located within the 15-county district.  Sousek said, “While the flow meter serves as the measurement device for our regulatory mechanisms, they also provide valuable information to well owners and farm operators regarding the amount of irrigation water applied to their agricultural lands, and for assessing annual water use for industry, livestock, and municipal needs as well.”

By periodically checking your irrigation meter, you can see how fast you’re using the resource and the amount being used.  Meters allow you to keep track of your allocation (if you have one), to check your pivot’s efficiency, and to detect any well or pump problems before they become severe.  Everything in agriculture is constantly measured and calculated.  Measuring and managing the water with flow meters is another important part of a producer’s management plan. 

Sousek added, “Keeping track of your water meter during the growing season can help determine how close you are getting to the annual allocation.  You can also improve your irrigation efficiency by keeping track of how much water was applied the previous week and comparing that number to the crop water use data.  If you applied more water than the crop used the previous week, you may not be making room to store potential rainfall or water may be leaching below the root zone.” 

Water savings can also be found with healthy soils.  Soils with more organic matter can hold more moisture but building up the soil profile takes time.  The LENRD encourages producers to take advantage of cost-share money available for planting cover crops and continue to develop healthy soils for enhanced water infiltration, water holding capacity, and nutrient management.  Watering less often, saving time and money is the key.  Good ground cover also prevents further wind erosion, keeping the soil in place.  Healthy soils can also assist in protecting the quality of the water. 

With the LENRD’s Conservation Cost-Share Program, there are many options for producers who are looking to conserve water, but also to protect the quality of their water at the same time.  Sousek said, “Stop by or give us a call.  We can work together to find the program that is right for you and your operation.” 

The next Committee meeting for the LENRD board is Thursday, October 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the LENRD office in Norfolk and on Facebook Live.