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.

Wonderful World of Water program held in Pierce

The 33rd annual Wonderful World of Water Festival was held September 21 at Gilman Park in Pierce.  Fourteen 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 Allen High School first for Farthest Distance Traveled; Wausa High School recognized for Shortest Distance Traveled; and, Pierce High School Team 2 with the Most Creative Design.   

Following the presentation of the special projects, the winners of the 2022 Northeast Nebraska Wonderful World of Water were announced.  The winner of Track 1 was Pierce High School Team 1 consisting of Skylar Scholting, Elijah Streff, Aubrey Hanson, Natalie Kosch and Taydym Koch.  The winning team from Track 2 was Pope John High School Team 2 consisting of Quinn Hoefer, Harlie Tyler, Tessa Barlow, Camy Kittelson, Reese Stuhr, Jovie Vaisvllas, Haley Parks and Stephanie Gutierrez.  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 High School, Norfolk Catholic High School and Pope John 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 Nebraska Extension; Nebraska Game and Parks; Papio-Missouri River NRD; Upper Elkhorn NRD, Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Niobrara 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.

The winner of Track 1 was Pierce High School Team 1 consisting of Skylar Scholting, Elijah Streff, Aubrey Hanson, Natalie Kosch and Taydym Koch.

The winning team from Track 2 was Pope John High School Team 2 consisting of Quinn Hoefer, Harlie Tyler, Tessa Barlow, Camy Kittelson, Reese Stuhr, Jovie Vaisvllas, Haley Parks and Stephanie Gutierrez.

Water conservation is urgently needed as the drought intensifies

The impacts of the drought are becoming even more serious for the citizens of northeast Nebraska as the dry conditions continue to escalate.  The attached map shows the comparison across the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) over the last few weeks, with most of the district moving from an extreme drought to an exceptional drought (D4) designation.

During the drought of 2012, many private well owners found themselves lowering their pumps to provide water in their homes for their families.  Not only did domestic wells suffer, but there were also irrigation and livestock wells that failed to function properly during the drought.

LENRD general manager, Mike Sousek, said, “Imagine coming home after work to find you have no water in your home.  Or you turn on your pivot to water your crops and there’s no pressure, or your livestock well runs dry.  These are the times we are in, and we must come together, collectively, to protect the resource that we all share.”

An exceptional drought is a critical situation, and water conservation is at utmost importance.  The average person uses 80-100 gallons of water each day.  Sousek said, “We can all use at least 20 percent less water by being more mindful of our actions, checking for leaks, installing water-saving appliances, and managing our sprinklers more efficiently.”  Cities and towns across the district have water conservation measures in place, encouraging residents to limit their water use on their scheduled days.

Farmers are also bound to certain power restrictions limiting their usage during scheduled times throughout the irrigation season.  Economics also play a large role in limiting water usage.  Sousek added, “Even with restrictions in place, we can all work harder, as individuals, to do our part in protecting the resource.  We can’t wait for the cities to tell us when to conserve or wait until our well fails and we can’t pump water for our crops, we need to save water today and prepare for what happens next, if conditions don’t improve.”

To keep groundwater levels stable and protect supplies long-term, the LENRD has allocations in place for any irrigation wells installed after 2017.  Sousek said, “We would like to remind landowners, with newer wells, to plan accordingly with their irrigation scheduling and to be aware of the current 9-acre inch allocations.  All water users need to be cognizant of the amount of water being used and be accountable to our neighbors by assuring them that we’re doing all we can to share the resource with everyone around us, especially during a drought.”

There are also allocations in the Groundwater Quantity Management Subareas across the district.  In those areas, an additional 2-acre inches are available, after September 15th, for producers who are planting a cover crop.  Sousek said, “If someone abuses this allocation, it’s not only hurting the producer, but it’s hurting all groundwater users who share the resource and could affect future management decisions by the board.”

The drought is being closely monitored by the district, with possible drought mitigation actions being considered.   These actions will be determined by the board of directors and the district’s Drought Mitigation Response Team.  Any actions the district puts into place for the 2023 growing season must be decided by Nov. 1st.

Sousek added, “It’s important to adopt the mindset that the current dry cycle could be part of a multi-year weather pattern.  There’s value in preparing ourselves for what’s ahead and conserving our groundwater to help resolve present and future water quantity issues, to protect all groundwater users.”

The next LENRD board of directors meeting will be Thursday, September 22 at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.

The Unrelenting Summer of 2022

By:  Brian Bruckner, LENRD Assistant Manager

Drought is an insidious, slow-onset natural hazard that produces a complex web of impacts that ripple through many sectors of the economy, and unfortunately, we are witnessing many of the negative impacts right in our own backyard.  The unrelenting heat and lack of precipitation are withering crops and pastures, causing heat stress for livestock and humans alike, and causing many communities to enforce watering restrictions to force conservation of groundwater. The spike in demand from all groundwater users is also taking its toll, with many well owners reporting a decline in the performance of their well, causing many to lower their pumps deeper into the well casing if they have the option.  A seasonal decline in static water levels is typical with the onset of irrigation season, but conditions this summer tend to parallel those created during the acute drought that occurred in 2012.  Many observation wells in the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) suffered record declines in depths to groundwater after that event, and many are curious to compare impacts to groundwater supplies once monitoring data has been collected following the 2022 pumping season.

In 2018, the LENRD added a provision into its groundwater management plan that provides guidance towards steering a meaningful response to drought impacts, with a graduated menu of options dependent upon the severity of the drought.  This provision utilizes the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the weekly maps that are created to illustrate the current drought designation, as the basis for providing information or activities that could be implemented to protect groundwater supplies.  A refined map is released on Thursday of each week and the most recent version shows that approximately 45 percent of the LENRD is currently situated in an extreme drought, or D3 designation.  As illustrated by the week-to-week comparison maps, the extreme drought area grew, though at a slower rate than the week prior.

A weather front brought rain showers to portions of the area earlier in the week, but amounts were not significant and geographic coverage spotty and therefore the drought stress continues.  Year-to-date precipitation for Norfolk, NE is currently at 10.72”, and is the lowest amount of annual accumulated precipitation ever recorded for this location, with records dating back to 1894.  By comparison, the annual accumulated precipitation for this station was 11.80” for the same date in 2012, another year that presented numerous drought related challenges for the region.

The topic has been at the forefront of discussions between the LENRD Board of Directors and staff, given the district’s responsibility to manage groundwater supplies.  All high-capacity wells are equipped with flow meters to measure the total flow and annual amount pumped, and some irrigation wells in the district are annually limited on the total amount that can be pumped for irrigation purposes.  Limits on these wells have been imposed for one specific reason; that being the need to protect existing groundwater uses while continuing to allow for new and/or expanded uses in some portions of the LENRD.  Some well owners are approaching the annual cap that is in place for their well, and many utilize sophisticated tools to help them manage their irrigation scheduling.  But given the lack of timely rainfall in many portions of the district the demand for supplemental irrigation is likely to continue until the crop reaches maturity. 

In preparation for the future, a group comprised of board members has been designated by the Chairman of the LENRD Board of Directors to serve on the Ad Hoc Drought Response Committee.  This committee will be tasked with closely monitoring pertinent pieces of information related to the drought and groundwater supplies.  Though the future is unpredictable, the current pattern of deficit precipitation is likely to continue, and the ad hoc committee will be working on options that could be enacted by the board of directors if the negative conditions continue.  Even if precipitation patterns return to normal, groundwater recharge may lag in some areas and an enhanced frequency of groundwater monitoring is ready to be implemented to provide scientific information as the basis for groundwater management decisions.

Most Nebraskans understand that drought it not uncommon to our region and given the dry and windy conditions we experienced earlier this year, most of us saw this coming.  While we hope the future holds a wetter pattern, we also recognize that the drought could very well extend into the next year, and maybe even beyond.  Some researchers are describing the dry conditions in western U.S. as the driest in 1,200 years.  Though our current situation isn’t comparable to that in the west, the time for proactive measures is upon us to ensure that the long-term viability of the groundwater resource can be protected for the future.

Public Open House slated for August 18th for Battle Creek Watershed Plan

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a public open house to provide an update on the Battle Creek Watershed Flood Risk Reduction Plan. The meeting will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Battle Creek Community Clubhouse, 804 South 2nd Street in Battle Creek. All are welcome to attend and provide comments or questions to the project team. The meeting will be an open house event, with a short presentation at 5:00.  Attendees are welcome to drop-in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

This public meeting will provide an update on the planning process and review the proposed flood mitigation alternative within the Battle Creek Watershed, which spans more than 57,000 acres in Madison and Boone counties. During the public meeting, attendees will be able to learn more from project personnel, as well as ask questions and provide feedback.

Since beginning the planning process in 2020, the team has developed hydrologic and hydraulic models to show existing flooding conditions, reviewed various flood risk reduction alternatives, and have started drafting the watershed plan and environmental assessment. Current planning efforts are being led by JEO Consulting Group and will be completed by spring 2023.

The Battle Creek watershed has a long history of flooding, dating back to the 1940s, causing extensive damages and disrupting the economy of the region. Major flooding events throughout the 2000s, including Nebraska’s historical flooding event in 2019, has resulted in extensive damage worth millions of dollars. Following the catastrophic March 2019 flooding, the LENRD applied for Watershed Flood Prevention & Operations (WFPO) program funding from the NRCS, with a focus on mitigating flooding impacts within and near the City of Battle Creek.

As part of the WFPO program, the LENRD will work with the NRCS to develop the Battle Creek Watershed Work Plan – Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA). The Plan-EA will be used to help document existing problems, evaluate alternative, and identify a preferred alternative for future federal funding. 

The Plan-EA is being prepared to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities pertaining to federal financial assistance received through the NRCS’s WFPO Program. Part of this project includes an evaluation of environmental resources and impact considerations, and all information gathered during the public meeting will help guide the planning process. 

For more information, please contact Curt Becker, Projects Manager for the LENRD, at 402-371-7313 or cbecker@lenrd.org

Assistance available for Nebraska farmers and ranchers impacted by wildfire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to assist agricultural producers whose land was impacted by recent wildfires. Landowners have until August 19 to apply.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding is available to help producers plan and implement conservation practices on farms and ranches impacted by natural disasters. EQIP funding is available to assist in this wildfire recovery effort by planting cover crops on impacted cropland and to defer grazing on rangeland.

“Numerous fires have impacted farmers and ranchers across Nebraska leaving ground vulnerable to erosion,” said Rob Lawson, state conservationist for NRCS. “We can assist landowners with installing conservation practices to help prevent any further damage to their agricultural land and aid in the recovery of rangeland productivity and soil health.”

Lawson encourages landowners whose agricultural operations were impacted by wildfire to visit their local NRCS field office.

“NRCS can help with recovery efforts,” Lawson said. “Our staff works one-on-one with landowners to assess the damage and develop approaches that lead to an effective recovery of the land.”

The application signup for this wildfire assistance is happening now and will run through August 19, 2022. Applications will be assessed, and even though some lands may be eligible for assistance, it is not guaranteed that all acres will receive financial assistance due to limited funding.

Interested landowners and operators should contact their local NRCS office in the USDA Service Center for applications and more information.