Applications for board vacancy due November 15th

Due to a vacancy on the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board of Directors, the Board is now taking applications to fill the remainder of a four year term (2015-2018) for Subdistrict 2. Applicants must be registered voters and reside within the bounds of the subdistrict shown below.  A more detailed map is available at the Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 East Benjamin Ave., Suite 101, Norfolk, NE.

Interested persons should contact the Lower Elkhorn NRD at 402-371-7313 or email: msousek@lenrd.org

A resume’ should be submitted to the Lower Elkhorn NRD by November 15, 2016.

Subdistrict 2 Map

Flow meter maintenance proposals due November 10th

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is asking for proposals for flow meter maintenance.  The proposals are due November 10th.

Flow Meter Maintenance - Request for Proposals

Winkelbauer resigns from LENRD board

At their October board meeting, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Luke Winkelbauer.  Winkelbauer farms in the Norfolk area and represented Subdistrict 2 on the board.

Winkelbauer is the fourth board member to step down this year.  Former board members Cory Beller, Chris Carlson, and Tim Tighe resigned after moving out of their respective subdistricts.  Winkelbauer did so because of the time commitment.

In his resignation letter, Winkelbauer said, “At this time, I am unable to fulfill the time commitment needed to fully engage and participate with the discussions and decisions required, as well as being able to attend the meetings and events."  Winkelbauer said that he hopes to someday return to the board when he has the time available.

LENRD general manager, Mike Sousek, said, “Luke is an extremely hard worker and his time commitment is currently involved with his family operation.”  Sousek thanked him for his time on the board.

In other items of business, the board voted 7-6 to reject signing a contract with JEO Consulting Group in the amount of $23,000 to conduct an economic study on the Willow Creek State Recreation Area, near Pierce.

The reservoir has had problems with algae blooms in 7 out of the last 10 years.  It could take as much as $500,000 to do the necessary work to address the issue.

While the economic study could have helped determine if that work would be worthwhile, some of the board members felt the $23,000 price tag of the study was too high.

"A few months ago, we were looking into some possible projects at Willow Creek," Sousek said. "Those projects came with a very large price tag, so the discussion at that time was that maybe we need to look and see what the economic value of the lake actually is.  We'll keep plugging away and we'll try to find more creative ways to find a solution or address the issues that we're currently having at the Willow Creek reservoir."

Tim Tighe resigns from LENRD board

Long-time board member, Tim Tighe of Humphrey, recently submitted his letter of resignation to the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).  The LENRD board members accepted his request, with regret, at last night’s meeting.  Tighe has moved outside of his subdistrict boundaries, and can no longer serve the people of that area.  He has served the district for 25 years and was, currently, the longest serving member of the board.

Tighe said, “I have enjoyed my time on the board, interacting with the staff and public, for the past twenty-five years.  The NRD has made good decisions, weighing the competing interest for water in the state as well as flooding, soil conservation, and other issues.  Until you serve on the board of an NRD, you don’t realize all the things the NRDs actually do.”

LENRD general manager, Mike Sousek, said, “Tim always had a positive outlook and was a great thinker.  He looked at things from a lot of different angles before making a decision.  We want to thank Tim for his years of public service and for providing great leadership on our board for the past 25 years.  You will be missed!”

With the general election less than seven weeks away, the board does not plan to fill the seat on the board at this time.  David Kathol of Norfolk and Eugene Hemmer of Humphrey are both running for Tighe’s seat in the November election.

Two funding sources available to assist producers with flow meter costs

All irrigation wells in the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) will need a district approved flow meter installed by January 1, 2018.  The LENRD has secured two grants to assist landowners with the expense of this requirement.

1)  RCPP:  The LENRD received one of 6 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grants in Nebraska to fund producers’ irrigation water management projects.  The RCPP is administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The RCPP grant, under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), includes incentive payments for the installation of irrigation flow meters, irrigation water management, and nutrient management.  The RCPP grant is for producers who want to utilize more technology in their Irrigation Water Management (IWM).  In addition, the LENRD will offer incentive payments of $250 per flow meter to producers who are approved for the EQIP/RCPP funding.

Landowners must apply at their local NRCS office prior to October 21, 2016, and be approved for EQIP/RCPP funding prior to purchase and installation of the flow meter.

2)  WSF:  The LENRD has also received a grant from Nebraska’s Water Sustainability Fund (WSF), administered by the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, to assist landowners with the purchase of flow meters.

With the WSF grant, the LENRD will pay producers $500 per flow meter.  All producers who have installed flow meters on or after November 25th, 2015, or producers who have yet to install their flow meters, can now apply for the $500 incentive payments until the funds run out.  Application for the flow meter cost-share can be completed by visiting your local NRCS office or the LENRD office in Norfolk.

LENRD water resources manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “These incentives are available for producers on a first-come, first-served basis.  There is enough grant money to cost-share on 3,000 of the estimated 4,500 meters left to install.  Therefore, it’s very important that producers apply at their local NRCS office or the LENRD office as soon as possible.”

A public hearing to certify irrigated acres will be held September 8

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) will conduct a public hearing to certify irrigated acres on September 8, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. The hearing will be held at the Lifelong Learning Center, located on the campus of Northeast Community College - 601 East Benjamin Avenue in Norfolk.  The attached list of individuals are those who have fields in this certification hearing.  If you have any questions about this hearing or the certification process, contact Mike Murphy at the LENRD.

Acres to be certified

Public Hearing Policy

LENRD approves a lower tax levy for fiscal year 2017 budget

The 2017 fiscal year budget for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) was approved by the board of directors at their August 25th meeting.

The tax request for 2017 is $4,390,132.  The budget of all expenditures shows a 10.5% decrease of over $1 million from last year, due to the grant funding secured by the district.

The estimated levy based on the property tax request is 2.401 cents per $100 of valuation, a decrease of 0.2% from the fiscal year 2016 levy of 2.406 cents per $100 of valuation.  For example, if a person owns a $100,000 house, the taxes owed to the LENRD would have been $24.06 in 2016, and will be approximately $24.01 in 2017.

The funds received by the LENRD are returned to the citizens of the district, through projects, programs, and studies across all or parts of 15-counties in northeast Nebraska.  Some of these conservation benefits include:  water quality and quantity programs such as groundwater management, flood control, and nitrate management; as well as erosion control, cost-share to landowners who apply for conservation practices, recreation areas and trails, urban recreation and community forestry programs, and many other benefits that protect our natural resources.

LENRD general manager, Mike Sousek, said, “We are working together to create a budget that not only addresses our 12 responsibilities, but that also focuses on improving the quality of life for the citizens across our district.  We are doing more with less, by focusing on efficiencies and streamlining processes to protect our natural resources for the benefit of everyone.”

The LENRD will hold its Fiscal Year 2017 budget hearing August 25th

The LENRD will hold its Fiscal Year 2017 budget hearing during its regular board of directors meeting this month.  The hearing is set for Thursday, August 25th beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Below are the draft copies of the budget documents.  The regular board meetings and hearings are always open to the public.

Budget Draft

Budget Summary

Supporting Documents

Willow Creek SRA is on health alert due to toxic algae

The Willow Creek State Recreation Area, southwest of Pierce, NE is on a health alert due to the levels of toxic algae found in the water.  Signs advising people are posted, and the swimming beach is CLOSED.

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) assistant general manager, Ken Berney, says “Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but people are advised to avoid activities that could involve accidental ingesting of water, and to avoid full immersion in the water.  It is also important to keep your pets out of the water.”  Public areas for camping, picnics and other outdoor activities remain open.

To find out more about toxic algae, visit the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality website, the information is updated weekly:  http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/Beaches2016.xsp

The LENRD is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the toxic algae at Willow Creek.  We will post more information on this study as we receive it.

LENRD appoints new board member to subdistrict 2

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors interviewed two candidates at their July meeting to fill their vacant seat.  Mark Hall and Garry Murren, both of Norfolk, spoke to the board and shared their reasons for applying and their interests in protecting our natural resources.  Hall was selected by a vote of 7 to 6 over Murren, a long-time friend of his family.

Hall is ready for the challenges ahead.  He commented, “Providing good quality water and preserving it for the future is very important.  I’m excited to learn more from the board members and staff as well as the public I’ll be representing.  The NRD has a wide range of responsibilities and I look forward to discovering more about the various programs offered.”  Hall is a farm manager and was previously a computer technician.

The seat was previously held by Chris Carlson of Norfolk, since 2005.  Carlson recently moved outside of the district and was no longer able to represent Subdistrict 2.

In other action, the board approved a flow meter installation and maintenance inspection policy, and discussed phase requirements for the groundwater management area.

The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25^th at 7:30 p.m.  A budget hearing will be held at the start of the meeting to set the fiscal year 2017 budget.

Cost-share on flow meters available until June 30, 2017

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) received a grant from Nebraska’s Water Sustainability Fund (WSF) and has cost-share available for producers who have yet to install flow meters on their irrigation wells.  All irrigation wells in the LENRD will need a district approved flow meter installed by January 1, 2018.

To assist landowners with the expense of this requirement, the LENRD will provide financial support of $500 per flow meter.  It is important to note that landowners must first apply and be approved for reimbursement, prior to purchase and installation of the meter.  Application for the flow meter cost-share can be completed by visiting your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office and filling out the appropriate application forms.  These requests are then forwarded to the LENRD for processing.

In addition, the LENRD will offer incentive payments of $250 per flow meter to producers who are approved for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funding.  The EQIP program is administered by NRCS and offers a host of incentives for irrigation water management.

LENRD water resources manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “The deadline to have flow meters installed on all irrigation wells is January 1, 2018.  These incentives are available for producers who get signed up for the cost-share by June 30, 2017.  The maximum payment that a producer can receive is $5,000 per year for irrigation practices.”

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Commission approved nearly $11.5 million in projects through the WSF, with $900,000 being awarded to the LENRD for water and soil conservation.  The LENRD will provide a match of $600,000.  This will allow the district to have $1.5 million available for cost-share assistance on irrigation flow meters.

Helicopter to make low-level flights to collect groundwater data

Northeast Nebraska residents should not be alarmed if they see a low-flying helicopter in their area over the coming weeks.  Flights will begin this week and continue until early August over portions of the following counties:  Madison, Platte, Pierce, Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Wayne, and Cuming Counties.  Visit http://enwra.org/2016aem.html to see detailed locations of planned flights.

The helicopter will fly lines spaced approximately 3 miles apart over most of the area.  Scientific equipment is towed about 100 feet below the helicopter in a ‘spider web’ array and is designed to map geologic structures beneath the earth.

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD), along with the members of the Eastern Nebraska Water Resource Assessment (ENWRA) and the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGWMA), have planned the flights with grant assistance from the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

According to Brian Bruckner, LENRD water resources manager, the geologic information available from the flights will improve the district’s understanding of the available groundwater resource and potential groundwater/surface water connections in an area of the state made more complex by the presence of glacial deposits.  He said, “Understanding these isolated aquifers will help us to protect the resource and make better management decisions in the future.”

Aqua-Geo Frameworks, LLC will oversee the flights, process the data, and produce a final report to the LENRD.  The technology they use allows for fast data acquisition, upwards of 50 miles per hour, with exploration depth hundreds of feet below the land surface.

This scientific program is designed to study the area’s water resources and is part of an ongoing program to identify physical occurrences such as changes in geologic materials and sediment types.  If you would like to learn more about the planned flights, visit the ENWRA website at www.enwra.org under the “2016 AEM flights tab”.

AEM Flight Map - 2016

Groundwater levels continue to recover from drought of 2012

Each year, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) collects static water levels from the irrigation wells in their observation well network.  Conducted every year since the mid 1970’s, the measurement of these wells provides a wealth of important data utilized by the LENRD to manage groundwater in northeast Nebraska.  LENRD Water Resources Technician, Josh Schnitzler, said, “When we collect the water elevation data each spring, it allows us to determine the amount of recovery in the aquifer system from the previous year’s irrigation season.”

The spring 2016 groundwater level report shows that 84% of the wells measured rose from last year.  In fact, 5% of the wells recorded their highest ever spring reading.  One percent of the wells (2 of 234) recorded their lowest ever spring reading.

The LENRD’s data shows that from 1975 to the present, groundwater elevation levels have generally remained fairly constant throughout the district.  However, there have been several periods (typically following periods of drought) where groundwater levels have developed downward linear trends.  Fortunately, those drought periods eased and we returned to more normal, or above normal, periods of precipitation.  Groundwater elevations responded positively and supplies have improved.

LENRD Water Resources Manager, Brian Bruckner, explains, “Yet while all of this information is important and valuable, it can sometimes be misleading.  While it does offer us data to verify the amount of groundwater in storage it doesn’t necessarily mean that all groundwater users will have sufficient amounts of groundwater if and when the demand peaks.”  Depending upon the location, the amount of recovery is somewhat delayed due to the physical properties that exist within the aquifer.

Schnitzler added, “When looking at the data that has been collected over the past four decades, the in-season demands that cause the water levels to drop substantially is what we are most concerned about.  The geology of our district is very challenging.”

LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “The groundwater resources that lie beneath our State are vast, but also vulnerable.  Even small changes in groundwater levels can have profound impacts.  Our water levels tend to bounce back in the spring, but that doesn’t give us the full picture.  There are in-season trends that need to be addressed, especially after the drought of 2012.”

The LENRD currently has an observation well network of 240 wells across 15-counties in Northeast Nebraska.  The wells were measured this spring and the report can be found below.  Reports from previous years can be found on the water resources page.

Spring 2016 - water level map

Spring 2016 report

LENRD seeks public input on water quality issues for basin-wide plan

Over the last year, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has been establishing the Lower Elkhorn River Basin Water Quality Management Plan (Plan).  The Plan covers the lower portion of the Elkhorn River Basin, which is the watershed that created the boundary for the LENRD.  The basin is located in northeast Nebraska and covers over 2.5 million acres including all of Cuming, Pierce, Stanton, and Wayne Counties and portions of Antelope, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Knox, Madison, Platte, and Thurston Counties.  The basin includes 50 communities and has a population of 90,000.

The Plan is focusing on issues with nonpoint source pollution and will provide a single coordinated strategy to identify water quality threats and needs, prioritize watershed areas for development of enhanced planning and restoration projects, and identify practices and activities appropriate to address the known water quality deficiencies.   LENRD Project Coordinator, Kristie Olmer, said, “Examples include impaired waters, such as Willow Creek Reservoir near Pierce, and maintaining high quality resources such as Skyview Lake in Norfolk and Maskenthine Lake near Stanton.”  She added, “Another primary concern is nitrates in groundwater, especially wellhead protection areas for public drinking water suppliers.”

The LENRD is now actively seeking public input on water quality concerns and issues from anyone living or working within the basin. As portions of the Plan become complete they will be placed on the website for public review.  A draft of the Plan will be made available for review in August, and will also be presented to the public at an Open House.  Please contact Kristie Olmer at 402-371-7313 or kolmer@lenrd.org to provide comments or input. The project is funded by the LENRD and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Project Summary

Chapter 1 - Draft

Chapter 2 - Draft

LENRD has a vacant seat on Board of Directors

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has a vacant seat on their Board of Directors.  Chris Carlson of Norfolk announced his resignation at the June 23rd board meeting.  Carlson is moving outside of the district boundaries and will no longer be able to represent the people of Subdistrict #2.

Carlson, who has served on the board since 2005, encouraged the board and staff to continue their mission of conservation and water management.  He said, “Don’t be afraid to speak up and say what’s on your mind.  The board is better for it, and we can learn the most from people we may disagree with.”  He complimented the board for their leadership and added, “I believe we have one of the best NRDs in the state.”  Over the years, Carlson has been very passionate about the conservation practices and cost-share programs available for producers, including cover crops.  He continued, “There is so much more to discover in the world of conservation.”  The board accepted his resignation and will advertise the vacancy in July.

The LENRD board also voted to replace the generator at Maskenthine Lake.  This was one of the last items on the list of equipment to be replaced following the June 16, 2014 tornado.  The Stanton tornado, one of four tornadoes that struck down in northeast Nebraska that day, ripped through the north edge of the recreation area, destroying the LENRD’s tree distribution center and tree nursery, the maintenance building, the superintendent’s residence, vehicles and equipment.  LENRD Assistant General Manager, Ken Berney, said, “After two years, we have now replaced most of what was destroyed that day.”

The next board of directors meeting will be held on Thursday, July 28th at the LENRD office in Norfolk.  Visit the district’s website for the latest news, agendas, and updates.

Applications for the vacant seat are due to the LENRD by July 21, 2016

Map of Subdistrict 2

Flow meter installation training to be held June 27th

Individuals who would like to install flow meters in the Lower Elkhorn NRD, need to be trained and certified by the district.  The next training will be held on Monday, June 27th, 2016 in the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.  Additional training sessions will be scheduled on an as needed basis.  Contact Curt Becker if you have any questions about the the flow meter installation process at cbecker@lenrd.org or 402-371-7313.

Training Schedule for the 27th

Windbreak workshop in Tekamah June 23rd

The Nebraska Forest Service along with the University of Nebraska Extension, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD), and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District will be hosting a windbreak workshop in Tekamah at the First National Bank Northeast on Thursday, June 23, 2016.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the workshop starting at 9:00 a.m.  The workshop will be divided into two parts an indoor discussion in the morning followed by an outdoor site visit in the afternoon.

Morning discussion will include renovating old and deteriorating windbreaks, planting a new windbreak, tree planting programs, cost-share availability, insect and disease issues, and root maker trees.  After the morning session, a Subway lunch will be provided by the NRDs before heading out to do a site visit at a potential windbreak renovation. 

“If you’re thinking of doing a windbreak renovation or a tree planting project, this workshop is a great fit,” states Pam Bergstrom, LENRD Forester.  “This will be a good mixture of some indoor discussion with background on what windbreak renovation and establishments are and how they work.  The afternoon session will take us out to a site to get an idea of what the process is like from start to finish.”

Workshop Poster

For more information, please contact:

Steve Karloff, Nebraska Forest Service:  402.472.3645 – skarloff1@unl.edu

John Wilson, Nebraska Extension Educator:  402.374.2929 – jwilson3@unl.edu

Project Coordinator needed for the Bazile Groundwater Management Project

The cooperating agencies of the Bazile Groundwater Management Project are seeking a Project Coordinator to work independently with agricultural producers, homeowners, businesses, community leaders and youth to educate and encourage the implementation of best management practices within the project area of Northeast Nebraska.   The position requires a B.S. degree or equivalent in natural resources, agriculture or related scientific field.  Starting annual salary will range from $38,000 to $42,000 plus benefits.  For more information please visit the Upper Elkhorn NRD website at:  www.uenrd.org and go to the Bazile Management Project tab or contact the office at 402-336-3867.    Send cover letter, resume and three references to Upper Elkhorn NRD 301 N. Harrison, O’Neill NE 68763.  Closing date for the applications is June 27 2016. The Upper Elkhorn NRD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Soil health field day set for June 21 in Winside

Improving soil health through continuous no-till cropping systems is the focus of a field day on Tuesday, June 21, in Winside.  The event is hosted by No-till on the Plains. Producers, crop consultants, media and public are invited to attend.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. at the farm, of Scott Heinemann 3 miles east and 3 miles south of Winside, 1/8 of a mile east of the intersection of 571 Ave and 849 road. Morning presentations include a rainfall simulator demonstration with Dan Gillespie, No-till Specialist with the Madison County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a discussion of soils and soil communities in a soil pit with Dr. Ray Ward, President of Ward Laboratories of Kearney, and information on no-till planting equipment and system management will be presented by Paul Jasa, Extension Engineer with the Nebraska Extension in Lincoln.  Lunch will be provided at the Winside Auditorium, 424 Main St. in Winside. Afternoon presentations will feature Keith Berns, owner at Green Cover Seed in Bladen, who will discuss the soil carbon economics in the soil. Scott Heinemann, continuous no-till producer from Winside, will share tips for getting started with no-till and cover crops in northeast Nebraska. Dan Stelling will share his experience integrating livestock into the no-till system on his farms.

If you’re a member of No-till on the Plains, registration is $15 per person.  Registration is $30 per person for non-members.  Pre-register at notill.org by June 17.  Send your receipt to the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District office in Norfolk for reimbursement of your registration fee.  Limited space is available for walk-ins, with meals not guaranteed.

No-till farming systems offer several advantages to producers willing to implement the system. Fewer trips across fields without tillage passes will reduce fuel costs. Increasing crops in rotations breaks weed and insect pest cycles. Increased crop residue and root systems will increase soil organic matter and microbiological activity, thereby increasing the productiveness and fertility of the soil. Implemented in a site-specific systems approach, no-till will, over time, outperform conventional tillage.

This high-quality education event is funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and University of Nebraska Extension. Sponsorship is provided by Green Cover Seed, Arrow Seed and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

To meet its mission, No-till on the Plains hosts field events, provides a networking opportunity for producers and the annual Winter Conference for producers to gain valuable no-till information.  Visit notill.org or call 785-210-4549 for more information. Pre-registration online is encouraged.

AGENDA

A public hearing to certify irrigated acres will be held on June 9

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) office in the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.  This is one of several hearings as the LENRD continues to certify irrigated acres across the district.  The parcels to be certified can be found below, or you are invited to view the maps at the LENRD office; 601 East Benjamin Avenue, Suite 101, in Norfolk.

Fields to be certified

Public Hearing Policy