Funding Opportunities for Public Entities

The Urban Conservation Assistance Program is an authorized program of the District to provide technical and financial assistance to units of government (cities, counties, villages, and schools) to help prevent or control erosion, flooding, and related resource concerns in urbanized areas.

Criteria for Eligible Projects

1. Each project must be sponsored by a city, village, county or school and located on publicly owned land;
2. Project must conform with the comprehensive plan for the municipality and provide primarily public benefits;
3. Eligible project components:
   1. Permanent grade stabilization structures.
   2. Channel stabilization measures (liners, gabions, weirs, etc.).
   3. Diversions and terraces.
   4. Permanent seeding, sodding, and mulching of critical areas ($100 per acre maximum).
   5. Design, construction, and construction inspection of eligible components.
4. An enclosed storm sewer is not an eligible practice.
5. Projects must conform to all local, state, and federal laws.
6. Project Sponsor's labor, equipment or materials are not eligible project costs (must be contracted).
7. First time applicants and low amounts of previous grants have priority over recent recipients.

District Responsibilities

1. Administer the Urban Conservation Assistance Program.
2. Review and prioritize all applications for assistance.
3. Reimburse sponsors up to 50% of the eligible local costs (i.e., excluding state and federal funds) of an approved and completed project up to a maximum of $25,000.
4. The District reserves the right to approve or reject plans, specifications, and/or implementation schedules, and entire project applications.

Sponsor Requirements

1. The sponsor shall complete application on Districts' Form 110A.
2. The sponsor shall submit preliminary plans with the application. The following items should be included:
   1. Project plan.
   2. Itemized estimated cost.
   3. Implementation schedule.
   4. Location map.
3. The sponsor shall execute the District's Special Project Operation and Maintenance Agreement, Form 110b, upon approval of funding and before starting work on the project.
4. The sponsor shall provide all necessary land rights at no cost to the NRD.
5. The sponsor shall obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits.
6. The sponsor shall administer all contracts for design, construction, and construction observation for the project.
7. The sponsor shall control all erosion on the site during and after construction.
8. The sponsor shall hold and save the District free from damages or claims due to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project.
9. The approved application becomes an agreement with the District which includes these guidelines.

Requesting Reimbursement

1. Upon completion of the project, the Sponsor may request reimbursement from the District by providing a final report including:
   1. Letter summarizing the work completed.
   2. Listing of all project expenditures.
   3. Copies of all receipts that have been paid.
2. The use of participant's labor, equipment or materials will not be considered a part of the grant project.

Definitions

Flood Control

•  A reduction in the amount of water which escapes from a stream or other natural drainageway and inundates or overflows adjacent land area; or
• A reduction in the amount of land area overflowed by water escaping from a stream or other natural drainageway. Source: Nebraska Resources Development Fund Guidelines, May 1990

Drainage         

• To rid the land of its superfluous moisture by adopting or improving natural watercourses and supplementing them, when necessary, by ditches or other artificial means. Source: Nebraska Resources Development Fund Guidelines, May 1990

Flood Water

• Floodwater is water that spills over the banks of a watercourse in times of high water and flows over adjacent lands in the floodplain, returning to the stream at a downstream point. Source: Policy Issue Study - Drainage of Diffused Surface Water, May 1982

Stormwater Management         

• Stormwater management is often distinguished from floodplain management in terms of the "direction" in which floodwaters enter a structure or property. If the water is on its way to a major stream when it floods a property, it is "storm water". If the water is rising up from a stream, it is "flood water". Source: Andrew J Reese, Ogden Environmental and Energy Services, Inc., in Lincoln - Stormwater Management Program Report 1997

The Recreation Area Development Program is an authorized program of the District to provide financial assistance to units of government (cities, counties, villages, and schools) to acquire land rights, design, establish, develop, and improve public recreation areas.

Criteria for Eligible Projects

1. Each project must be sponsored by a city, village, county, or school with the statutory authority and capability to develop and manage public recreation areas and be located on publicly owned land.
2. The recreation area, or park, must conform with the comprehensive plan for the municipality.
3. Recreation that utilizes/develops natural resources are high priority.
4. Eligible projects components:
   1. Development of a recreation area plan.
   2. Land acquisition (eligible only if recreation area is developed at the same time).
   3. Grading, seeding, and landscaping.
   4. Buildings and facilities (picnic shelters and restrooms).
5. Ineligible practices are: athletic fields, concession stands and landscaping around new buildings.
6. Projects must conform with all local, state, and federal laws.
7. Project Sponsor's labor, equipment or materials are not eligible project costs (must be contracted).
8. First time applicants and low amounts of previous grants have priority over recent recipients. 

District Responsibilities

1. Administer the Recreation Area Development Program.
2. Review and prioritize, all applications for assistance.
3. Reimburse Sponsors up to 50% of the eligible local costs (i.e., excluding state and federal funds) of an approved and completed project, up to a maximum $30,000 in District funds. Maximum payment for playground equipment is $10,000.00. Maximum payment for the purchase of trees is $50.00 per tree.
4. The District reserves the right to approve or reject plans, specifications, implementation schedules, and entire project applications.

Sponsor Requirements

1. The sponsor shall complete application on District's form 112a.
2. The sponsor shall submit preliminary plans with the application. The following items should be included:
   1. Option purchase agreement (if applicable).
   2. Recreation area development plan.
   3. Itemized estimated cost.
   4. Implementation schedule.
   5. Location map.
3. The sponsor shall execute the District's Special Project Operation and Maintenance Agreement, Form 112b, upon approval of funding and before starting work on the project.
4. The sponsor shall obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits.
5. The sponsor shall agree to manage the area as a public recreation area for a minimum of 10 years.
6. Upon completion of the project, the sponsor shall prominently display the plague acknowledging Lower Elkhorn NRD funding (provided by the District).
7. The sponsor shall administer all contracts for design, construction, and construction observation for the project.
8. The sponsor shall control all erosion on the site during and after construction.
9. The sponsor shall hold and save the District free from damages or claims due to the construction, or operation and maintenance of the recreation area.
10. The approved application becomes an agreement with the District, which includes these guidelines.
11. The sponsor is encouraged to utilize recycled or recyclable products whenever practical or feasible.

Requesting Reimbursement

1. Upon completion of the project, the Sponsor may request reimbursement from the District by providing a final report including:
   1. Letter summarizing the work completed.
   2. Listing of all project expenditures.
   3. Copies of all receipts, deeds, or easements
2. The use of participant's labor, equipment or materials will not be considered a part of the grant project.

The Lower Elkhorn NRD’s Board of Directors has developed this program to provide both technical assistance and cost-share assistance to communities within the Lower Elkhorn NRD for tree planting projects to improve, or renovate, community green spaces on public lands. It will complement existing State and Federal government community forestry cost-share assistance programs by offering up to 75% of local project costs (up to $5,000 not to exceed $200/tree).

Criteria for Eligible Projects

• Each project must be sponsored by a city, village, county or school and be located on publicly owned land. 
• The project must conform to the comprehensive plan for the municipality and provide primarily public benefits. 
• Tree species planted under this program must be purchased from a Nebraska commercial nursery and be adapted to local environmental growing conditions and have no major insect or disease problems. Strongly recommend that the organizations applying for his grant purchase trees/shrubs from members of the Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association.
• Eligible project components: 
  • Tree Removal - Trees that are to be removed must be dead, diseased, or considered a hazard. At least one tree must be planted for every tree removed.
  • Site preparation. This includes tillage of the site where the new tree(s) will go.
  • Maximum reimbursement from LENRD would be 75% of the cost up to $200.00 per tree.
  • Diversity is encouraged and varieties are subject to NRD approval.
  • Tree Installation – Including all associated costs such as mulching and all finish work. As long as the planting is done by the nursery and not by city workers or volunteers.
  • Project planning and design services by professional Landscape Architects or Designers.
• Ineligible items: 
  • Tools, equipment or landscaping around new buildings.
  • Landscape fabric or rocks for landscaping
  • In-kind donations, volunteer labor, and staff/employee time and wages
  • Planting material such as:
    • Grasses
    • Perennial Flowers / Annual Flowers / Roses
    • Vines / Vegetable Producing Plants
  • Staff/Employee time and wages are not eligible for cost share assistance
• Projects must conform to all local, state, and federal laws. Including but not limited to distances planted from roads, calling diggers hotline, and staying away from above ground electrical lines.

District Responsibilities

• Administer the Community Forestry Incentive Program.
• Review and prioritize all applications for assistance.
• Reimburse Sponsors up to 75% of the eligible local costs (i.e., excluding state and federal funds) of an approved and completed project, up to a maximum $5,000 but no more than $200.00 per tree in District funds.
• The District reserves the right to approve or reject plans, specifications, implementation schedules, and entire project applications.

Sponsor Requirements

• To qualify for this grant, the Coordinator is required to contact the LENRD for planning and to ensure that their application meets the requirements for this grant by the date specified on the cover letter
• The sponsor shall complete all pages of the enclosed application (Form 115a).
• The sponsor shall execute the District’s Special Project Operation and Maintenance Agreement, Form 115c, upon approval of funding and before starting work on the project.
• The sponsor shall obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits.
• The sponsor shall manage the completed project and provide all future operation and maintenance of the area at no cost to the District.
• The sponsor shall agree to manage the completed project as a public facility for a minimum of 10 years.
• The sponsor shall administer all contracts for design, tree removal, and tree planting for the project.
• The sponsor shall control all erosion on the site during and after construction.
• The sponsor shall hold and save the District free from damages or claims to project activities, operation, and maintenance.
• The approved application becomes an agreement with the District which includes these guidelines.
• The sponsor is encouraged to utilize recycled or recyclable products whenever practical or feasible.

Requesting Reimbursement

• Upon completion of the project, the Sponsor may request reimbursement from the District by providing a final report including:
  • Letter summarizing the work completed, with project map if different from original map with application.
  • Listing of all project expenditures.
  • Copies of all receipts that have been paid.
  • Pictures of completed project