News

News

​Water Levels Rise 3.67’

​Water Levels Rise 3.67’

During April 2020, NRD staff measured roughly 500 observation wells throughout the district. The goal of these well measurements is to determine an average water level change for the district, based on a weighted change from each well. For spring 2020 water level measurements, the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District staff has determined...Read More

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Visits Nebraska Sites, Including Upper Big Blue NRD

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Visits Nebraska Sites, Including Upper Big Blue NRD

Matt Lohr, United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) chief, spent time in Nebraska last week to learn more about conservation projects and partnerships in the state. His visit included sites in the Upper Big Blue and Lower Platte North Natural Resources Districts. Lohr visited locations where...Read More

Soil Nitrate Levels Increasing in Hastings, Study Shows

Soil Nitrate Levels Increasing in Hastings, Study Shows

The level of nitrate and other elements associated with negative health outcomes are rising in the soil in the Hastings Wellhead Protection Area, according to a study from Dr. Dan Snow, research professor with the Nebraska Water Center. In 20-30 years, Snow estimates that these...Read More

Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change

Interseeder Research Collaboration Makes Cover Crops Accessible for Local Producers

On a hot, dry, and extremely windy day in early June, Neal Hentzen surveys the dryland field on the edge of Seward where his corn is ankle high. The leaves on the plants whip in the wind like green streamers running in long, straight rows from...Read More

NRD Staff Additions

NRD Staff Additions

 
Rodney Verhoeff joined the staff  in June as the new assistant general manager. Verhoeff’s resume is impressive, listing more than 15 years of project and program management in government, corporate, academic and non-profit settings. He has worked with Nebraska’s NRDs in a variety of capacities, including...Read More

​NRD Funds to Support Educational Opportunities

​NRD Funds to Support Educational Opportunities

Expanding agricultural and environmental education opportunities for the next generation of district residents is important to the board of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. That’s why they annually award grants and scholarships to teachers and students who are advancing this field of study through the Educational Capital Projects...Read More

​NRD Office to Reopen to the Public

​NRD Office to Reopen to the Public

The office of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District will resume normal operations in June, with the public able to enter the office without the need to call ahead for an appointment beginning June 8. Committee and board meetings will resume in-person in June as well.

The NRD...Read More

NeRain: Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network

NeRain: Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network

NeRAIN is a program that is designed to help citizens be more involved with monitoring the weather across Nebraska. Several hundred volunteers within the program spend a few minutes each day recording precipitation measurements and uploading them to the NeRAIN website. This data can be accessed daily through maps and reports, spanning back to 2004...Read More

Pooling of Irrigated Acres: an Introduction

Pooling of Irrigated Acres: an Introduction

In the event of groundwater use allocation, the NRD’s Rule 5 allows pooling of irrigated acres. Pooling is a process that combines large numbers of irrigated acres (multiple parcels of land), so that landowners and operators can average water withdrawal over the combined acres.  In an allocation event, pooling can help farmers optimize...Read More

Project GROW: 2020 Season Update

Project GROW: 2020 Season Update

At the Project GROW demonstration fields in York, things are off to a great start for the new growing season. Both the north and south fields were planted to rye last fall. The north field will be harvested for rye seed in late June or early July and has been contracted to Green Cover Seed in Bladen, Nebraska. Immediately after the rye has been...Read More

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