News

The static water levels of 34 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 a decline in 19 of the 34 wells monitored. 

There are multiple aquifers across LCNRD from where water is pumped for… Read More

Land within the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) boundaries has experienced considerable conversion of pasture and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to row crop. Grassland acres with steep slopes which are broken out and brought into crop production run a high risk for erosion which could lead to sediment problems for… Read More

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has funding available through the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program to assist landowners in establishing buffer strips.  A buffer strip provides an area between a stream and crop ground to maximize the filtration of water from rain events, allowing suspended sediment and chemicals to drop out… Read More

Windbreaks can serve many purposes in agricultural operations, such as reducing soil erosion, providing wildlife habitat, and sequestering carbon. Another beneficial attribute of windbreaks is their ability to protect crops and improve crop production.

Wind can have detrimental effects… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) awarded two Patefield-Green Memorial Scholarships to high school seniors in the 2024-2025 school year. LCNRD provides college scholarship funds to graduates who intend to pursue an agricultural-related career, with the hope that they will return and contribute to… Read More

If you have had weed barrier installed around your trees, it is important to check the trees for girdling. Girdling occurs when the tree grows bigger than the opening in the weed barrier will allow it to grow freely. The weed barrier is designed to break down with exposure to the sun, but the tree growth canopy will block the sun and halt this… Read More

Forests, farms, and other wooded areas provide a wide array of health benefits, such as supplying clean water, supporting wildlife habitat, adapting to climate change, and sequestering carbon. Like trees in forests, trees planted in agroforestry practices (windbreaks, shelterbelts, etc.) also sequester carbon and play… Read More

The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) and The Groundwater Foundation (GF) sponsor National Groundwater Awareness across the United States during March. National Groundwater Awareness highlights the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater and encourages yearly water well testing and… Read More

March 14th is Learn About Butterflies Day.

Created in the mid-1980s, National Learn About Butterflies Day provides an opportunity to help educate people about these beautiful, delicate creatures. Butterflies have existed since prehistoric times, with over 28,000 species worldwide. From their bright colors to their graceful flight… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) provides two $1,000 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors living within its boundary. Patefield—Green Memorial Scholarships are available to students who intend to pursue an agricultural-related career, return to the area, and help local communities conserve and protect our… Read More

Eleven elected directors guide the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) activities. Directors represent five subdistricts, with two directors serving from each subdistrict and one serving at-large. The directors are elected by the voters living within each subdistrict and serve four-year terms, with 5 to 6 seats for election… Read More

The Nebraska Chemigation Act was passed in 1987 to help ensure that the backflow of chemicals would not contaminate the ground and surface waters of the state from irrigation water application systems used to apply crop nutrients and pesticides (chemigation). The law requires producers who plan to apply fertilizer or pesticide through an… Read More

The third annual LCNRD Amateur Photography contest for 2024 encouraged residents to get out and capture the natural wonders throughout the district. Residents were asked to submit photographs representing nature, wildlife, conservation, and/or agriculture. Staff and directors selected the winning photographs by ranking. First place was “Field… Read More

The Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District hosted the 2024 Annual Banquet at the Hartington Golf Club on November 21st. This banquet provides LCNRD with an opportunity to acknowledge years of service for directors and staff and to recognize residents and partners who go above and beyond for Nebraska’s natural resources.

Four LCNRD… Read More

In 2024, the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) board of directors implemented conservation practices, projects, and services in Northeast Nebraska to benefit local natural resources.  LCNRD activities are led by eleven locally elected directors: Carolyn Heine, St. Helena;… Read More

“May the Forest Be With You, Always” was the topic of the 2024 National Conservation Association District (NACD) Stewardship Week and Poster Contest. Students from around the district submitted posters depicting trees, forests, “Darth Vader,” animals, and much more to their local NRD for judging. Local NRD contest winners were sent to the state… Read More

Even though winter is on its way, now is a great time to plan for spring 2025 conservation tree plantings. The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is taking orders for spring-delivered conservation trees. Trees come in bundles of twenty-five, and the price is $32.50 per bundle plus sales tax. LCNRD continues to carry conservation… Read More

Thank you to all who participated in the 2024 National Association of Conservation District (NACD) Poster Contest sponsored by Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD). Two schools, Holy Trinity Elementary and Wynot Public Schools, participated. There were 36 entries in the 2nd through 3rd grade competition level, 45 for the 4th… Read More

On Thursday, November 21st, at 7:30 p.m., the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) will host Dr. Dan Holtz and Dr. Gary Zalud from the Humanities Nebraska, who will perform “Heroism on the Plains: Story Songs of Courage and Determination.” The public is invited to attend the performance at the Hartington Golf Club at 710 W… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are offering water nitrate testing for domestic well water. To have your water tested, fill a small clean glass jar with the water test sample and bring it to the Hartington NRCS Office at… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) Board of Directors approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with an increase in the overall expenses to $3,023,531. The property tax requirement for the three-county area is $0.033227 per $100 of actual valuation, a five percent increase from fiscal year 2024. The Board is committed to… Read More

Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is hosting the third annual Amateur Photo Contest. The contest promotes residents to spend time outdoors enjoying the beauty of our natural resources and capturing some photos while they are at it. 

Submit your photos by December 31, 2024, following the criteria outlined below:… Read More

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has funding available through the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program to assist landowners in establishing buffer strips.  A buffer strip provides an area between a stream and crop ground to maximize the filtration of water from rain events, allowing suspended sediment and chemicals to drop out… Read More

The Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) welcomes two new members to the family: Dustin Weinandt and Cole Fiedler, who began responsibilities as Natural Resources Technicians on July 22nd and August 2nd.  Dustin and Cole will work on data management and program administration of the LCNRD activities, including water quality… Read More

With the 2024 irrigation season coming to an end, it is a good idea to consider things that can be done before next year to make irrigation management more efficient. A few things to consider when turning off your pivots for the year: an end-of-the-year checklist so that the pivot equipment is stored properly and is… Read More

Even though this growing season has seen more rainfall in many areas than last year, excessively dry conditions are still possible in areas across the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District. Paying close attention to irrigation needs is essential to maintain a consistent water supply. Efficient use of irrigation water can improve the… Read More

The groundwater from aquifers supply most of the household water used in Nebraska. Efficient water use and good management practices are necessary to maintain groundwater quantity and quality. Groundwater is a renewable resource, replenished mostly by precipitation that infiltrates into the soil and moves through the pore spaces down to the… Read More

August is National Water Quality Month, founded in 2005 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and backed by the United Nations. Its purpose is to trigger conversations about what we can do in our own households and communities to ensure that we all have access to safe, clean drinking water for generations to come. 

As… Read More

The static water levels of 34 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 shown a slight increase on an overall comparison by 0.1 feet from the spring of 2023 with 17 of the 34 wells… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resource District (LCNRD) is seeking a local candidate to consider running for the Subdistrict 5 board seat for the 2024 election. Subdistrict 5 encompasses the area from Ponca to Allen and includes the communities of Allen, Martinsburg, Newcastle, Ponca, and Waterbury, including part or all of several townships in… Read More

The region has been experiencing above-average rainfall over the last couple of months, and the irrigation pumping season may be shorter than in previous years. If things do become dry, it could lead to heavier irrigation use, which puts increased pressure on the district's groundwater resources and potentially results in decreased groundwater… Read More

Earth Day and Arbor Day are special days set aside to recognize the importance of trees and natural resources. They also provide an ideal opportunity to teach our youth about the value of trees in our lives. Trees are integral to life as we know it, from the food they produce, the shade they provide, the wildlife habitat they create, and the… Read More

Land within the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) boundaries has experienced considerable conversion of pasture and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to row crop. Grassland acres with steep slopes which are broken out and brought into crop production run a high risk for erosion which could lead to sediment problems for… Read More

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has funding available through the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program to assist landowners in establishing buffer strips.  A buffer strip provides an area between a stream and crop ground to maximize the filtration of water from rain events allowing suspended sediment and chemicals to drop out… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD), in partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is celebrating Stewardship Week from April 29 – May 3, 2024, focusing on the theme “May the Forest Be With You, Always” and educating about trees and forests.  

Regardless of where you live, the city… Read More

May is Nebraska Bird Month, a unique opportunity for NRDs and the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) to encourage state residents to explore the diverse bird species that call Nebraska home or are passing through. Nebraska offers a rare chance to view over 400 species of birds, with a record of over 454 different kinds of birds setting… Read More

After a snowy winter, farmers are heading out to fields preparing for spring planting.  For some, that means tilling and fertilizing fields. When applying fertilizer, knowing what nutrients remain in the soil from last year could save time and money.  If you will be planting corn, sampling for soil nutrient content, especially… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) awarded two Patefield-Green Memorial Scholarships to high school seniors in the 2023-2024 school year. LCNRD provides college scholarship funds to graduates who intend to pursue an agricultural-related career in hopes that they will return and contribute to local communities and to the… Read More

There is still time to order seedling trees for the spring 2024 conservation tree planting season.  The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) will continue taking orders for tree seedlings through March 31st.  The trees come in bundles of twenty-five seedlings. The price per bundle of tree or shrub seedlings is $32.50… Read More

Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is asking the public for nominations for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) awards program. Annually, NARD presents awards in six categories. These awards acknowledge individuals or organizations who have contributed to or brought awareness of the resources in the state of… Read More

The first Nebraska settlers realized the value of trees. They planted millions of them on barren homesteads to help fulfill basic needs for protection, building materials, fuel, and food. Planting trees became a Nebraska tradition, and Nebraska proudly became known as “The Tree Planter State.” Today, Nebraskans benefit from the trees planted by… Read More

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and The Groundwater Foundation (GF) sponsor National Groundwater Awareness across the United States during the month of March. National Groundwater Awareness highlights the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater and is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and… Read More

Eleven elected directors guide the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) activities. Directors represent five subdistricts, with two directors serving from each subdistrict and one serving at-large. Directors are elected by the voters living within each subdistrict and serve four-year terms, with 5 to 6 seats up for election… Read More

The Nebraska Chemigation Act was passed in 1987 to help ensure that the backflow of chemicals would not contaminate the ground and surface waters of the state from irrigation water application systems used to apply crop nutrients and pesticides (chemigation). The law requires producers who plan to apply fertilizer or pesticide through an… Read More

The static water level of 34 irrigation wells from selected locations throughout the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is measured in the fall and spring each year. The summer of 2023 was the second season of higher than usual irrigation demands and lower than usual rainfall amounts. Many of the… Read More

Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) held the second annual LCNRD Amateur Photography contest, which encouraged residents of the district to get out and capture the natural wonders of the district. Residents were asked to send in photographs representing nature, wildlife, conservation, and/or agriculture. Staff and directors… Read More

For the past 50 years, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s nitrogen application calculator has been used by producers to calculate the appropriate amount of nitrogen to apply to their corn crop fields. The calculator aims to help producers understand the 4Rs system when using nitrogen. The 4 Rs include Right source, Right rate, Right placement… Read More

The Northeast Nebraska Prescribed Burn Association (NNPBA) was recently given the Lead Ignitor Award at the 2023 Prescribed Fire Conference on December 5th in Kearney. The NNPBA was recognized for being a significant supporter of prescribed burning within their community for conserving native grasslands, wildlife, and ranching heritages. Since… Read More

In 2023, the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) board of directors implemented conservation practices, projects, and services in Northeast Nebraska to benefit local natural resources.  LCNRD activities are led by a board of eleven locally elected directors: Carolyn Heine, St. Helena; Russ Schmidt, St Helena; Jeff Steffen,… Read More

Thank you to all who participated in the 2023 National Association of Conservation District (NACD) Poster Contest sponsored by Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD). Three schools, Holy Trinity Elementary, Wynot, and East/West Catholic, participated. There were five entries in the K through 2nd grade competition level, 20 for the… Read More

Windbreaks can serve many purposes in agricultural operations, such as preventing soil erosion,  providing wildlife habitat, and sequestering carbon. Another beneficial attribute of windbreaks is their ability to protect crops and improve crop production.

Wind can have detrimental effects on soil and agricultural crops. Persistent… Read More

Even though winter is on its way, it is a great time to plan for spring 2024 conservation tree plantings. The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is taking orders for spring-delivered conservation trees. Trees come in bundles of twenty-five, and the price is $32.50 per bundle plus sales tax. LCNRD continues to carry conservation… Read More

Knox County Producer, Doug Steffen, is hightlighted for his use of compost extract in his nutrient management plan. Doug was the host for the 2023 Bow Creek Field Day where he demonstrated his process. Check out the article at https://www.farmprogress.com/soil-health/1113f1-1400-slideshow.

What is the Emerald Ash Borer?

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a beetle native to Asia introduced to Detroit, MI in 2002. It has destroyed tens of millions of true ash species in over 25 states, including Nebraska, forests, windbreaks, and urban trees. Almost 44 million Nebraska ash trees will be lost in the coming years. Many leading EAB… Read More

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is one of 13 juniper species native to the United States. It is the most widespread tree-sized conifer native to every state east of the 100th meridian. First accounts of Nebraska vegetation mention eastern redcedar as a native species, primarily along the steep valley of the Niobrara River in northern… Read More

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 be permanently removed, LCNRD can help protect your property and groundwater by having it properly sealed.

Sealing unused wells… Read More

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… Read More

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 and ensure the water source is properly protected from potential contamination. Test results are also used to evaluate whether the well is… Read More

Each spring, the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) distributes tree seedlings and provides planting services for windbreaks, shelterbelts, and wildlife habitat. Seedling orders are accepted now through March 31st. Planning assistance is available through local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices for preparing… Read More

The Bow Creek Watershed Project will host a grazing workshop on September 22nd at the Hartington Golf Course. Ralph Tate, a grazing educator, will discuss the principles and benefits of planned grazing and local producers will share their experience with planned grazing on pasture and crop land. RSVP for lunch. No cost to LCNRD producers and ag… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resource District (LCNRD) invites students to participate in a national poster contest sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the NACD Auxiliary. NACD, founded in 1946, is a nonprofit organization representing nearly 3,000 conservation districts in 50 states and U.S. territories.… Read More

With the 2023 irrigation season coming to an end, it is a good idea to consider what can be done before next year to make irrigation management more efficient. A few things to consider when turning off your pivots for the year: an end-of-the-year checklist so that the pivot equipment is stored properly and is ready for the spring, any possible… Read More

August is National Water Quality Month; it was founded in 2005 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and backed by the United Nations. It is an effort to trigger conversations on what we can do in our own households and communities to ensure that we all have access to safe, clean drinking water for generations to come. 

… Read More

The groundwater from aquifers supply most household water used in Nebraska. Efficient water use and good management practices of water use are necessary to maintain quantity and quality. Groundwater is a renewable resource, replenished mostly by precipitation that infiltrates into the soil and moves through the pore spaces down to the water… Read More

Even though we have been graced with a wetter summer than last year, drought conditions still exist across the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District. Paying close attention to irrigation needs is important to maintain a consistent water supply. Efficient use of irrigation water can improve the maximum economic return from crops and… Read More

This is a snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

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 groundwater levels.  Dry conditions lead to increased irrigation use, which puts increased pressure on the groundwater resources of the district, and potentially results… Read More

The static water levels of 34 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 0.7 feet from the spring of 2022 with 22 of the 34 wells monitored… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resource District (LCNRD) seeks a local representative to fill a vacant Subdistrict 5 seat through the end of 2024. The seat will then be on the ballot for the 2024 election. Subdistrict 5 encompasses the area from Ponca to Allen and includes the communities of Allen, Martinsburg, Newcastle, Ponca, and Waterbury,… Read More

This is the snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

This is the snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

This is the snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

This is the snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

With the cold conditions finally subsiding, farmers have been preparing fields and planting crops for another growing season. Even though there was more precipitation over the winter than in past years, and there have been spring rains, much of the district and state continue to experience drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor… Read More

This is the snapshot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

Land within the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) boundaries has experienced considerable conversion of pasture and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to row crop. Grassland acres with steep slopes which are broken out and brought into crop production run a high risk for erosion which could lead to sediment problems for… Read More

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has funding available through the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program to assist landowners in establishing buffer strips.  A buffer strip provides an area between a stream and crop ground to maximize the filtration of water from rain events allowing suspended sediment and chemicals to drop out… Read More

This the snap shot from the last two weeks, and here is a link to the Current U.S. Drought Monitor for Nebraska https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.

The Cedar Knox Rural Water Project (CKRWP) Advisory Committee recommended changing consideration of the primary site for the new water source development away from Dolphin Township. The Committee has decided instead to focus on alternative sources that have been previously identified through preliminary engineering studies conducted by Bartlett… Read More

After a long snowy winter, farmers are heading out to fields preparing for spring planting.  For some, that means tilling and fertilizing fields. When applying fertilizer, knowing what nutrients remain in the soil from last year could save time and money.  If you will be planting corn, sampling for soil nutrient content, especially… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD), in partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is celebrating Stewardship Week from April 30 – May 7, 2023, focusing on the theme “One Water” and educating about watersheds.  

A watershed is an area of land that channels rainfall and snowmelt to… Read More

May is Nebraska Bird Month; NRDs and Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) are encouraging state residents to get outside and take in all the different kinds of birds that call Nebraska home or are passing through. Within the borders of Nebraska, there is an opportunity to view more than 400 species of birds, with a record of over 454… Read More

Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) is asking the public for nominations for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) awards program.  Annually NARD presents awards in six categories as listed. These awards acknowledge individuals or organizations who have contributed to or brought awareness of the resources in… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) awarded two Patefield-Green Memorial Scholarships to high school seniors in the 2022-2023 school year. LCNRD provides college scholarship funds to graduates who intend to pursue an agricultural related career in hopes that they will return and contribute to local communities and to the… Read More

The first Nebraska 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… Read More

LINCOLN, Nebraska – To ensure water infrastructure safety, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on several dam assessments across the state.

In 2022, nine floodwater reduction dam assessments were completed with four NRDs – Lewis… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) enacted a 180-day stay of development on high-capacity wells under the authority of Nebraska Revised Statutes, 46-707, at their regularly scheduled board meeting on November 17, 2022.  The board of directors clarified the language of the stay at their… Read More

The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District (LCNRD) enacted a 180-day stay of development on high-capacity wells and expansion of irrigated acres effective immediately under the authority of Nebraska Revised Statutes, 46-707 at their regularly scheduled board meeting on November 17, 2022.  The stay was… Read More