Land treatment is defined as the construction or installation of practices to prevent or reduce soil erosion, water contamination and the overuse of both surface water and ground water. Many land treatment practices result in an additional benefit—the creation of habitat for wildlife.

The purpose of the Land Treatment Program is to provide soil and water conservation incentives throughout the Upper Big Blue NRD.

The District’s technical guidelines and cost-share procedures generally coincide with USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) programs. Cost-sharing rates are based on county average costs determined by the Farm Services Agency (FSA) county committee.

The Land Treatment Program receives funding for public disbursement from the NDNR. An ancillary program within the auspices of Land Treatment is the Buffer Strip Program which receives funding from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The District’s board also budgets local tax dollars to fund the balance of the Land Treatment Program.