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Last Update:
4:54p 05/17/12
Board Meeting
Monday, May 13
7:00 p.m.
Download Board Agenda (PDF)
Committee Meetings
Operations, Education & Rural Water
Thu. May 3
8:30 a.m.
Water
Thu. May 3
5:00 p.m.
Projects
Thu. May 3
9:30 a.m.
Executive
Fri. May 4
9:00 a.m.
Lake Wanahoo is Now Open!
- Photo Gallery from Opening Day
- Things to know if you're planning a visit. We look forward to seeing you there!
1/2 Price Tree Seedlings Available
May 15, 2012
With tree planting season winding down, the Lower Platte North NRD will be selling tree seedlings for half-price this week to clear out remaining inventory. Trees will be available in bundles of 25 for $8.75/bundle (.35 cents per seedling).
Sales will be first-come, first-served. The selection is limited but there are a few varieties of conifers, hardwoods and shrubs available - call us at (402) 443-4675 if there's a particular variety you're looking for.
You will need to purchase/pick up the trees at our office in Wahoo (we're open M-F, 8:00 am-4:30 pm). The last day of sales will be Monday, May 21.
National Water Quality Initiative Funds Available for Cottonwood Creek Watershed
May 10, 2012
Landowners and producers in the Cottonwood Creek watershed in Saunders County have the opportunity to apply for cost-share funds from the new National Water Quality Initiative announced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on May 8.
Cottonwood Creek was one of four watersheds in Nebraska to be selected for targeted funds from the new initiative. NRCS will provide funding and expertise to eligible producers interested in installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips, terraces and other erosion control practices to improve water quality.
Students Get Up Close With Nature at Spring Conservation Sensation
May 2, 2012
195 upper elementary students from area schools got an up-close look at nature at the 2012 Spring Conservation Sensation on May 2 at Czechland Lake near Prague.
Students attended a variety of sessions that gave them hands-on time with fish, animal pelts, insects, trees, and more. The day culminated in a live presentation with a screech owl, barred owl, and kestrel from the Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Lake Wanahoo Brochure
April 24, 2012
Just in time for the opening of the Lake Wanahoo on April 28 - the official Game and Parks brochure, including a facility map, depth map, and other details about Nebraska's newest State Recreation Area.
Download it now, and also check out the Things to Know page for other important information about Lake Wanahoo's opening weekend.
Update, 4-28: Check out a photo gallery from opening day here.
New Grass Drill Available for Rental
April 17, 2012
A new grass drill is now available for rental to landowners in the Saunders County area for planting native grasses, grains and legumes.
The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District purchased the 10' Great Plains No-Till Grass Drill with the assistance of a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant of $20,000. The drill replaces an 18-year-old drill the NRD owned. The drill will be housed and rented out by Dave Rezac Seed near Valparaiso, NE.
Cost-Share Funds Available for Entire Shell Creek Watershed
April 17, 2012
For a limited time, the Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Group (SCWIG) has opened up its Best Management Practices cost-share program to all landowners/operators in the watershed.
This is a great opportunity to sign up for SCWIG cost-sharing and extra incentive funds that were previously available only in designated priority areas in the watershed.
More Details on Wanahoo Opening
April 15, 2012
The big day is almost here - Lake Wanahoo opens to the public at 8:00 am on April 28. To answer some frequently asked questions:
- Entrance to the park will require a state park permit from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Opening weekend is expected to be very busy, so visitors are encouraged to buy their park permits and fishing permits ahead of time. (Park permits will be sold on-site and fishing permits will be available at the NRD office opening weekend, but be prepared to wait in line.) Permits are available for online purchase from Game and Parks here.
- No camping reservations will be available; all RV and tent camping sites will be first-come, first-served.
- Boating is no-wake with a 5 mph speed limit. The boat ramp can accomodate up to three boats at a time.
- Catch and Release is required for all Northern Pike.
- All Largemouth Bass less than 21 inches in length must be released.
- No live bait fish allowed.
- The lake is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Walleye, Northern Pike and Blue Catfish.
- A Shower House is expected to be ready for use by the 4th of July.
If you have other questions about Lake Wanahoo, please contact us at (402) 443-4675 or lpnnrd@lpnnrd.org.
Conservation Trees App Now Available for Android
March 28, 2012
The Conservation Trees for Nebraska app is now available for Android - get it here:
The iOS version was also updated to take advantage of the new iPad's Retina Display:
Wanahoo Rec Area to Open April 28
March 9, 2012
The wait is almost over! Despite some last-minute uncertainty, Lake Wanahoo will open to the public this spring as planned.
At their March 8 meeting, the NRD Board of Directors approved an interlocal agreement that will let the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission operate the Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area.
Game and Parks is targeting April 28 as the opening date. We will provide updates here and on our Facebook page and Twitter feed as the opening day approaches.
Register Now for Spring Conservation Sensation!
March 6, 2012
Registration is now open for the 2012 Spring Conservation Sensation, an all-day natural resources festival for 5th and 6th graders. Schools in the NRD's portions of Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte, and Saunders counties are eligible to attend.
Registrations are due by Friday, April 6. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so register early to ensure a spot for your class.
LPNNRD Irrigators Eligible for Nebraska Ag Water Management Network
Feb. 29, 2012
Irrigators in the Lower Platte North NRD are now eligible for the Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (NAWMN). Participants in the program can receive cost-share funds for equipment and support from Extension Educators on its use. The NRD in cooperation with UNL Extension is looking for growers interested in learning more about this water and energy saving opportunity!
Order Soil & Water Stewardship Week Materials
Feb. 2, 2012
Soil and Water Stewardship Week 2012 will be observed April 29-May 6. The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District is pleased to once again offer Soil and Water Stewardship materials at no cost to schools and churches within the district.
The theme of this year's event, "Soil to Spoon", focuses on the critical relationship between healthy soils and our food supply and contains a variety of activities to help students connect what's on their plate to where it comes from.
Update 3/1/12 - Orders have been placed for 2012 materials, and they will be delivered in advance of Soil & Water Stewardship Week.
NRD Honors Conservationists at Annual Banquet
Jan. 26, 2012
Vermeline Farms (Outstanding Conservationist), Travis Rinehart (Educator of the Year), and Charlie Jonas (Volunteer of the Year) were honored along with directors and staff at the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District’s Annual Banquet on January 22 at the Klein Center in Brainard.
Each year, the NRD gives awards for outstanding efforts in conservation of our soil and water resources. Award winners are chosen by NRD staff and directors.
New Viaduct Available for Download
Jan. 6, 2012
The latest issue of the LPN newsletter, The Viaduct, is now available for download in PDF format. In this issue:
- Lake Wanahoo on Schedule for Spring Opening
- Homestead Lake Celebrates 10 Years
- More Improvements On Tap for Czechland Lake
- and more...
Download (1 MB)
Lake Wanahoo on Track for Spring Opening
December 14, 2011
Outdoor enthusiasts in southeast Nebraska will have a reason to celebrate next spring when the long-awaited Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area opens to the public.
Major construction at the 1,600-acre site one mile north of Wahoo is complete and the final touches are being put on the recreation area now, with everything on track for a grand opening next April or May.
2012 Certification Class Schedule Announced
December 6, 2011
Dates and times have been announced for nitrogen certification and water conservation training classes for 2012. Certification is required for all operators of irrigation, municipal, and industrial well systems in the Lower Platte North NRD, as well as operators who use any type of fertilizer (either commercial or organic) in production agriculture.
New Subdistrict Maps Available
November 15, 2011
New election subdistrict maps are now available for the Lower Platte North NRD. Subdistricts were redrawn based on 2010 Census results. Two directors are elected from each of the NRD's nine subdistricts (one of the Board's 19 members is elected at large).
Shell Creek Monitoring Project Featured in Video
November 15, 2011
For a number of years, the Lower Platte North NRD has been proud to support the efforts of Newman Grove High School teachers and students in their ongoing program to monitor water quality on Shell Creek. Now the project has been showcased in a video from Nebraska Loves Our Public Schools. NRD Director Ralph Pieke and his granddaughters are featured in the video, which you can watch here.
Tekamah-Herman, Norris, Franklin, Arapahoe and Raymond Central Headed for National Land Judging
November 3, 2011
Teams from Tekamah-Herman, Norris, Franklin, Arapahoe and Raymond Central came out on top at the State Land Judging Contest, held Nov. 2 near Mead.
One hundred students on 25 teams from across the state braved cold weather and intermittent rain to compete in the contest, which tests students on their knowledge of soil types, topography, proper land use practices, and related topics. The top five teams qualify for national competition in Oklahoma.
PATH Mentored Youth Hunting at Lake Wanahoo
October 11, 2011
The majority of the new Lake Wanahoo’s recreational facilities won’t be open to the general public until April 2012, but youth hunters and their mentors can get a sneak peek through the PATH (Passing Along the Heritage) program sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Tree Orders Now Open for Next Spring
September 28, 2011
The Lower Platte North NRD is now accepting tree orders for spring 2012. Tree sales are first-come, first-served, so getting your order in early will ensure that you can get the species you want for planting in the spring.
Special Board Meeting Announced for September 16
September 14, 2011
The Lower Platte North NRD, Schuyler City Council and Colfax County Commissioners will jointly conduct a special board meeting at 1 pm on Friday, September 16 at the Colfax County Courthouse (Public Meeting Room in lower level). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Schuyler 205 Flood Reduction Project. The multiagency project is intended to help reduce flood damages and lessen flood insurance requirements in Schuyler.
No Bacteria Detected in Colon Rural Water System
August 19, 2011
The Lower Platte North NRD has been closely monitoring the Colon Rural Water System since E. coli bacteria was detected in the Wahoo water system earlier this week. The Colon system buys its water from the Wahoo system.
Results from tests taken on August 18 for the Colon system showed no signs of E. coli or other bacterial contaminants. Customers on the Colon Rural Water System can continue to use water as they normally would; the water is safe to drink and boiling is not required.
The NRD will continue to monitor the situation closely and notify Colon Rural Water customers of any changes.
A public notice was also distributed to all Colon customers which can be viewed here.
As a precautionary measure, the NRD will continue disinfecting water going into the Colon system for the time being. If you have any questions, please contact Rural Water Manager Mike Sousek at 402-443-4675 or cell 402-443-9575.
Powered Up at Czechland Lake
June 29, 2011
A long-requested feature has come to Czechland Lake Recreation Area near Prague just in time for the 4th of July holiday - electrical hookups for RVs.
There are now eight camper pads at Czechland Lake offering electrical hookups for $18/night. Camper permit forms are located near the RV entrance to the recreation area. The camper pads are first-come, first-served.
Tent camping in other parts of the recreation area is still free, and a park permit is not required to enter the recreation area.
New Viaduct Available for Download
June 14, 2011
The latest issue of the LPN newsletter, The Viaduct, is now available for download in PDF format. In this issue:
- Lake Wanahoo flooding
- NRD Recreation Areas website & app
- Spring Conservation Sensation Report
- Attorney General opinion on soil sampling
- and more...
Download (1.4 MB)
New NRD Recreation Areas Website and App Available Now
June 2, 2011
Feeling the need to get away from it all? You're in luck - no matter where you are in Nebraska, from the biggest city to the most remote Sandhills ranch, you are never far from an outdoor recreation area offered by our state's Natural Resources Districts.
Whether you're looking for a quiet fishing hole, a hiking area or bike path, a place to hunt or camp, or just a scenic spot to enjoy a picnic, find it now by visiting our new website at www.nrdrec.org, or download the app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Lake Wanahoo - Update on Flooding
May 25, 2011
On May 20, following a significant amount of rain, some lowland flooding occurred downstream of Lake Wanahoo near Wahoo. Some fields were flooded and water ran over Highway 77/92 for a period of several hours.
This surprised some area residents and attracted a significant amount of media attention, based on the belief that downstream flooding would be completely eliminated now that the Lake Wanahoo dam is fully operational.
While any amount of flooding is unfortunate, the NRD would like to emphasize that the Wanahoo dam is working as intended. The dam did hold back a significant amount of storm water, but it was not designed to capture 100% of the runoff from a large rain event like the one that occurred in the late evening/early morning hours of May 19-20.