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News and Information
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Through funds provided by a Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) Grant, the NRD has installed two weather stations in the district. One is located east of DeWitt, and the other is located south of Beatrice. Click the button below to view the weather!
Visit NRD Recreation Areas | Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (nrdnet.org) for more information.
Submit an entry form at NRD Recreation Exploration Entry Form | Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (nrdnet.org)
Learn about the Lower Big Blue NRD rec. areas at Recreation (lbbnrd.net)
*Lower Blue NRD rec. areas will open at the end of March or beginning of April depending on weather.
Want to maximize your yield?
Want to reduce your costs to irrigate?
Want to conserve your groundwater resources?
These are just a few reasons to measure the soil moisture in your field during the upcoming growing season. Soil moisture sensors are available for purchase from the NRD. Cost-share is available on those sensors or other forms of soil moisture monitoring equipment. Visit our MOISTURE SENSORS page to learn more about our soil moisture sensor program. We will receive cost-share orders until March 31st. The order/cost-share form is available on the website.
12/08/2022
Due to concerns about the sustainability of groundwater supplies in the area, the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District Board of Directors has imposed an immediate 180-day moratorium, or stay, on the construction of new wells and the increase of irrigated acres in the District. The primary purpose for the stay is to provide the NRD with an opportunity to evaluate management options in areas that are experiencing static water level declines attributed to dry weather conditions and the increase in irrigated acres in the areas. The 180-day stay will not impact permits that were issued prior to the implementation of the stay and which have not expired.
Under the authority of Nebraska Revised Statute § 46-707(2) and in accordance with LBBNRD Board action taken at the monthly meeting on December 8, 2022 at 8:30 a.m., the District is under a temporary stay in regards to drilling any new water wells or any increase in the number of acres historically irrigated. During the 180-day stay, the District may hold a public hearing to determine whether or not the stay will become permanent. Details on any public hearings are forthcoming and will be published upon availability. Also during the 180-day stay, the District may revise its rules and regulations and hold a public hearing on those revisions should they be made.
Exceptions to the stay include test holes, dewatering wells with an intended use of one year or less, monitoring wells, EPA remediation wells, water wells for range livestock, replacement wells and water wells of public water suppliers (Nebraska Revised Statute § 46-714(3)).
The Lower Big Blue NRD, in partnership with NRCS, NDEE and Nebraska Extension are looking for involvement from produces with land in the Turkey Creek watershed. The Turkey Creek National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) project aims to address water quality concerns for nitrates, Atrazine, and E. Coli. The project encompasses more than 75,000 acres from Southwest of Crete to Southwest of DeWitt and includes the Wellhead protection areas for the city of Wilber and DeWitt. A map of the project area is attached.
Cost-share and incentives will be provided through this project to assist producers in adopting Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to reduce E. coli, Atrazine and nitrate contamination. Featured BMPs will include, but not be limited to: cover crops, crop rotation including: small grains, integrated pest management to reduce Atrazine use, nutrient and irrigation management to improve timing and reduce the quantity of nitrogen and water applications, manure composting and storage, improved grazing management and limited stream access, restoration of stream buffers and riparian zones, and upgrading residential septic systems.
If you are interested in learning more about the cost share opportunities, you are encouraged to contact Jerry Bucy, Special Projects Coordinator at 402-228-3402 or bucy@lbbnrd.net.
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1. Please click on the button to take the nitrogen certification test.
