Bow Creek
2024 Bow Creek Watershed Field Day
July 25th
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Constance, NE Hall
Profiting from summer annual forages and livestock integration on cropland is the focus of the 2024 Bow Creek Field Day. This year's featured speaker is Darrel Oswald, Burleigh County Conservation District Manager. Burleigh County Conservation Districts owns and operates Menoken Farm, a conservation demonstration farm located in central North Dakota. Menoken Farm uses a systems approach to farming, enhancing erosion protection, sunlight harvest, plant diversity, carbon, pollinators, beneficial insects, wildlife, salinity control, livestock forage, and more. Darrell will discuss using summer annual forages as part of a rotation and how that improves soil which can lead to improvements in future production.
It works in North Dakota, but will it work here? A local farmer panel will discuss how they use summer annual forages in their system and the economics of grazing livestock as part of an extended rotation. Grazing summer annual forages or cover crops may open a window to rest and improve pastures and range land. Cassidy Wessel, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will outline the benefits that can be achieved for cropland, pasture/range, and wildlife. New technology can help address some of the challenges with establishing and managing summer annual forages and cover crops. Two young operators are using drones with seeding and spraying capabilities on the farm and will have live demonstrations in the afternoon. Closing out the day attendees will evaluate summer annual forage stands and learn how to select appropriate plants for each season of forage production.
This event is offered at no cost to those who live or farm/ranch in the LCNRD, and to those who support local farmers and ranchers (agronomist, crop advisors, ag businesses, etc.). Due to support from Nebraska Environmental Trust, Water Sustainability Funds and LCNRD, only a small $25 fee for those outside the LCNRD will be charged to cover the cost of meals. Noon meal will be provided with RSVP received before July 15th.
To RSVP email bravenkamp@lcnrd.org with the names of attendees, call the Lewis & Clark NRD at 402-254-6758, or register online here.
The Bow Creek Watershed contains 392,574 acres in portions of Cedar, Dixon, and Knox Counties. A rich history extends back to before the days of Lewis and Clark. Clark’s journal entry on August 26, 1804 mentions Bow Creek, writing, “above the mouth of this creek a Chief of the Maha Nation displeased with the conduct of Black Bird, the main cheif, came to this place and built a town which was called by his name Petite Arc (or Little Bow)...we gathered great quantities of grapes and three types of plumbs, one yellow round, one ovel and one the common wild plumb.”
In 2019, the Lewis & Clark NRD updated their Water Quality Assessment Plan and added Bow Creek as a priority area based on Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Basin Rotation water quality testing. The 2016 Basin Rotation water quality testing showed elevated levels of sediment, phosphorus, nitrates and E. coli in Bow Creek. Working with FYRA Engineering, models were created to show the potential to decrease nonpoint source pollutants in Bow Creek by increasing the adoption of best management practices (BMPs) in priority Bow Creek sub-watersheds.
Those best management practices include, but are not limited to:
- Nutrient Management
- Cover Crop
- No-till Management
- Land Use Change: CRP or Riparian Buffer Strips
- Grazing Management Plans
- Livestock Exclusion Plans with Alternative Water Sources and Fencing
- Septic System Upgrades
Through grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, these BMPs are eligible for additional practice implementation and education payments through the Bow Creek Watershed Project. Practices must be part of approved conservation contracts to be eligible. Details for implementation of BMPs will be planned with NRCS technical assistance and Bow Creek programs will then be applied for through the LCNRD office. For more information contact:
Bow Creek Watershed Coordinator
Becky Ravenkamp
Lewis & Clark NRD Office
608 N Robinson Ave., Hartington, NE 68739
Phone: 402-254-6758.
