News
WHY PLANT CONSERVATION TREES?
The first Nebraskan settlers realized the value of trees. They planted millions of trees on barren homesteads to help fulfill their basic needs for protection, building material, fuel, and food. Planting trees became a Nebraska tradition and Nebraska proudly became known as “The Tree Planter State”. Today, all Nebraskans benefit from the trees planted by our forefathers.
Trees continue to be an important part of Nebraska’s landscape. It is estimated there is a need to annually plant about 6 million trees in Nebraska. A shelter belt planting can provide multiple benefits including:
- Environment: Helpful in carbon removal, returns oxygen to the atmosphere.
- Crop Protection: Protects crops against drought by providing protection from wind and heavy rain.
- Livestock Protection: Reduces stress on livestock during heat and winter storms.
- Wildlife Habitat: Provides over-winter refuges, nesting sites and pollen and nectar feeding sources and protects other habitat.
- Soil Conservation: Creates natural barriers that protect soil and crops
- Water Quality: A cover of trees and shrubs minimizes soil erosion, stabilizes stream banks in riparian areas, and removes soil contaminants.
- Food: Many trees and shrubs are a valuable source of fruit and nuts for humans and animals.
- Water Management: Can reduce surface water runoff and pollution to the streams.
If you are interested in planting trees you can order seedlings in bundles of 25 from LCNRD. Order forms are available by contacting LCNRD at 402-254-6758 or at lcnrd.nebraska.gov/forestry. For information on developing a conservation tree plan contact your local NRCS office.
STATE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE WELL OWNERS TO INSTALL REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has announced that funding will be available for private well owners to install reverse osmosis systems to address high nitrate levels in drinking water. Applications for the program will be accepted from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, with installation required to be completed by... Read More
LEWIS AND CLARK NRD FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET
The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) Board of Directors approved the fiscal year 2023 budget with a slight increase in the overall expenses to $1,984,284 and a decrease in the property tax requirement. With increased property valuations across the district’s three-county area, the tax levy of $0.026759 per $100 of actual... Read More
REMINDER TO IRRIGATORS
If you are planning to expand irrigation to acres that have not been previously irrigated, it is important to check with the LCNRD staff before doing so. LCNRD requires well permits for all high-capacity wells and permits for expanding irrigation to acres that have not been previously irrigated. If the acres proposed for irrigation are steep... Read More
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) sets aside funds each year to assist communities and other public entities in enhancing and protecting natural resources through the Community Assistance Program (CAP). LCNRD accepts applications year-round and approves requests on a first-come, first-served basis. Projects that will have... Read More
WINDBREAK RENOVATION OPPORTUNITIES IN LCNRD
Windbreaks on farms, ranches, and home acreages provide critical protection for homes, livestock, farmsteads, crops, soil resources, water resources, and wildlife. Conservation tree plantings are valuable assets and investments for the rural landscape. A single tree planting provides numerous benefits to the owner and the neighborhood. However... Read More
CKRWP Proposed Source Water Change and System Upgrades
August 09, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CKRWP Proposed Source Water Change and System Upgrades
The Cedar Knox Rural Water Project (CKRWP) is a Public Water System (PWS) that serves the communities of Crofton, Fordyce, St. Helena, and Obert; more than 900 rural connections; several sanitary improvement... Read More
SEAL ABANDONED OR UNUSED WELLS
The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) provides cost-share to seal unused, or abandoned irrigation or domestic wells. If you have a well that is no longer serviceable and needs to have it permanently taken out of service, LCNRD can help you protect your property and groundwater by having it properly sealed.
Sealing unused... Read More
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE WELL WATER TESTING
Regularly testing the water quality of your private well is important to maintaining a safe and reliable water source. Test results allow you to properly address specific problems with your water supply. Help ensure the water source is properly protected from potential contamination, that appropriate treatment is selected when needed, and that... Read More
WANTED: WEATHER WATCHERS
NeRAIN is a network of volunteers who report rainfall from across the state of Nebraska. Funding for NeRAIN comes from all 23 participating Natural Resources Districts, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
Help make an impact: Farmers and others need accurate rain, snow, and hail data to... Read More
Spring 2022 Well Measuring Results
The static water levels of 33 irrigation wells located throughout the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) are measured in the spring and fall each year. Groundwater levels measured this spring indicate that the levels have decreased on an overall comparison by 2.3 feet from the spring of 2021 with all but 2 wells showing a... Read More
NRDs Encourage Well Owners to Address Concerns Early
The region has been experiencing lower than average rainfall over the last several months and one heavy irrigation pumping season could result in significant declines in ground water levels. Dry conditions lead to increased irrigation use, which puts increased pressure on the groundwater resources of the district, and potentially results in... Read More