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Temperature: 72.8 F
Humidity: 43 %
Wind Speed: 3.0 mph
Wind Direction: WNW
Daily Rainfall: 0.02 "
Last Update:
6:32p 09/02/10
Board Meeting
Monday, Sept. 13
7:00 p.m.
NRD Office, Wahoo
Download Board Agenda (PDF)
Committee Meetings
Operations, Education & Rural Water
Wed. Sept. 29
8:30 a.m.
Water
Wed. Sept. 29
5:30 p.m.
Projects
Thur. Sept. 30
8:30 a.m.
Executive
Thur. Sept. 30
11:00 a.m.
Lake Wanahoo Dam Officially Finished
Sept 2, 2010
The Lake Wanahoo dam was officially completed right on schedule, meeting the August 31 deadline set almost two years ago when construction began.
With the dam complete, attention will turn to the recreational facilities. The US Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a contract for construction of the recreation area, which will take place through the remainder of this year and throughout 2011. The area is scheduled to open to the public in 2012.
Area motorists will soon be able to get a closer look at the Wanahoo dam - with construction of the Highway 77 bypass delayed due to a lack of highway funds, Saunders County will install a gravel road on top of the dam to provide temporary access until the bypass moves forward.
See write-ups on the final days of Wanahoo construction:
And get more info on the project here.
Registration Open for East Central Land Judging
Sept 2, 2010
The 2010 East Central Land Judging Contest will be held in Saunders County on Thursday, Oct. 7. FFA teachers can register their students online now here. Registrations are due no later than Monday, Oct. 4.
Lake Wanahoo Already Providing Flood Protection
June 29, 2010
Lake Wanahoo, a new reservoir one mile north of Wahoo, is already protecting lives and property - even before construction is officially finished on the dam.
As in many parts of Nebraska, the rivers and streams of Saunders County were swelled from torrential rains over the past few weeks. Thanks to the new lake, though, homes and businesses in Wahoo and downstream communities have been protected from floodwaters. Crop ground, county roads and bridges are the largest beneficiaries over the past three weeks, where it is estimated that more than $500,000 in damages were prevented. Highway access into Wahoo on U.S. 77/92 remained open throughout, unlike in past years, when even minor flooding often closed off the major routes into town. Officials estimated the highways would have been closed a minimum of four days if the Wanahoo dam was not in place. The annual savings from Wanahoo's flood protection over the lifetime of the dam is estimated at $250,000.
Construction on the dam is nearing completion; final concrete work is underway now and will be completed this summer. The Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area will open to the public in 2012.
Lake Wanahoo is jointly sponsored by the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, the City of Wahoo, and Saunders County, with Federal and state funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Nebraska Department of Roads, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Pheasants Forever.
New Viaduct Available for Download
June 16, 2010
The new issue of the Viaduct is now available for download in PDF format. Stories in this issue include:
- Irrigated Acre Certification Underway
- Lake Wanahoo Update
- Spring Conservation Sensation
- 2010 Groundwater Levels
Download (PDF, 2.75 MB)
For more information or to subscribe to the Viaduct, go here.
Another "Sensation"-al Day
May 5, 2010
360 elementary students got hands-on with nature at the 2010 Spring Conservation Sensation, held May 5 at Czechland Lake near Prague.
Students rotated through eight different stations covering a variety of topics, from the high-tech (GPS) to the low ("Secrets of Scat")...
Irrigated Acre Certification FAQs
April 14, 2010
The Lower Platte North NRD began certifying irrigated acres in Madison County this month, and will continue with other counties in the district throughout the rest of the year. If you are a landowner or tenant with irrigated acres within the LPNNRD and you have questions about the process, please consult our list of Frequently Asked Questions:
More information on acre certification is also available here. If you still have questions, please contact us at lpnnrd@lpnnrd.org or (402) 443-4675.
NRD Looking for Summer Interns
March 29, 2010
The Lower Platte North NRD is hiring summer interns for 2010. College students interested in natural resources and conservation can earn money, spend time outdoors and gain invaluable on-the-job experience through our summer internship program.
Interns will assist with tree planting, dam maintenance and inspections, chemigation inspections, irrigated acre certification, water sampling, stream gauging, and more. Pay is $9.25/hour and the internships run from May-August. Work is based out of Wahoo, NE.
For more information and to apply:
- LPN Summer Internships (PDF)
Spring Conservation Sensation Full for 2010
March 17, 2010
Due to a large number of registrations, the Spring Conservation Sensation has reached capacity for 2010 and no further registrations will be taken. However, you can still sign up for our waiting list; in the event of a cancellation from one of the registered schools, we will accept schools on the waiting list in the order they signed up.
The Conservation Sensation, an all-day, hands-on natural resources festival, is open to 5th and 6th grade classes from Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte and Saunders counties.
NRD & Partners Keep Close Watch on Platte River Ice
March 1, 2010
As temperatures warm, the Lower Platte North NRD and its partners in the Platte River Ice Jam Agreement are keeping a close eye on ice conditions on the river.
The partnership will continue monitoring the river as it thaws, and has funds set aside to hire explosive experts to dislodge any serious ice jams that might form. This is in addition to coal dusting that was performed by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency a few weeks ago to help speed melting.
New Viaduct Available for Download
Feb. 2, 2010
The new issue of the Viaduct is now available for download in PDF format. Stories in this issue include:
- Lake Wanahoo Dam 90% Complete
- NRD Budget
- Prague Qualifies for National Land Judging
- Area Conservationists Honored at Banquet
... and more.
Download (PDF, 1.5 MB)
For more information or to subscribe to the Viaduct, go here.
Online Ordering Now Available for Soil & Water Stewardship Week
Jan. 31, 2010
Soil & Water Stewardship Week 2010 will be celebrated April 25-May 2. The theme this year is "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats."
Any church or school in the Lower Platte North NRD is eligible to order Soil & Water Stewardship Week materials at no cost. Orders are due by March 5 and will be delivered in mid-April.
Certification Class Schedule for 2010
December 22, 2009
All individuals (owners, operators, producers, crop consultants) who engage in production agriculture within the NRD must be certified with the district every four years. Free certification classes are held at various locations throughout the district January-March each year. The class schedule for 2010 is now available; follow the link below for the full schedule and more information.
Conservation Efforts Recognized at NRD Annual Banquet
November 30, 2009
Area conservationists were honored at the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District’s Annual Banquet on November 29 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.
This year's award winners included Kurt Skillstad of Albion, Aaron Nygren of Coflax County Extension, Steve Satra of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Brach Johnson of Butler County NRCS.
Order Trees Online Now for Spring 2010
November 17, 2009
The Lower Platte North NRD is now accepting online orders for handplant trees for spring 2010. You can order your trees now and they will be delivered to your local Natural Resources Conservation Office next spring.
The LPNNRD sells trees to anyone within the district. Seedlings are two years old and approximately 12" to 18" tall. Handplant orders must be purchased in multiples of 25.
Second Round of Variance Request Accepted Until Dec. 15 for Limited Development in Stay Areas
October 26, 2009
The Lower Platte North NRD is taking a second round of variance requests for new wells and expansion of irrigated acres in its former “fully-appropriated” stay area.
Irrigators were initially able to apply for variance requests for new wells and/or expansion of irrigated acres in the former stay area from August 6 to September 15. That initial variance request period resulted in applications for less than half of the district’s allotted 5,000 acres for 2009-2010, so the NRD decided to hold another round.
The deadline to apply for variance requests in this second round will be December 15th, 2009. The NRD will issue variances for up to 2,750 acres. If those acres are all applied for in this round, another round will NOT be held and irrigators will have to wait until fall 2010 until they can apply again.
Prague, Waverly, Norris Qualify for State Land Judging
October 9, 2009
Land judging teams from Prague, Waverly and Norris are headed for state competition after placing in the top tier at the East Central Land Judging Contest, held Oct. 8 in Butler County.
The annual Land Judging contests are regional field competitions where FFA students compete to identify soil characteristics and suggested land practices at four different sites chosen by a soil scientist. Students work individually but are scored in teams of four, and the top teams in each region advance to state competition in November.
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New Recreation Areas Map Available
August 20, 2009
The popular "NRD Recreation Areas" brochure has been updated for 2009. This oversize full-color brochure features maps and photos of NRD recreation areas across the state (including 11 new ones added since the last update), along with directions to each area and detailed lists of the facilities and fish species. Whether you're looking for a quiet fishing hole, a hiking area, a place to hunt, or a scenic spot to enjoy a picnic, chances are you can find what you're looking for at one of the many recreation areas featured in the brochure.
You can order a free copy of the brochure here.