More than 600 high school students from 30 area schools competed in the Northeast Area Land Judging Competition on Wednesday, October 2nd, in Blair, Nebraska, to test their knowledge of soil structure and land evaluation.
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD) hosted the annual competition on an acreage in Blair where students assessed physical features of the soil, such as texture, permeability, thickness, wetness, slope, erosion, depth, and organic matter.
Land judging enables participants to learn how to recognize the physical attributes of soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship.
Eight teams (West Point, Norfolk, Wisner-Pilger, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Tekamah-Herman, Pierce, Oakland Craig, and North Bend) and one individual, Aubree Schlueter of Logan View, advance to the state land judging competition in Norfolk, Nebraska, on October 16th, 2024.
The competition was sponsored by the Papio NRD in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Papillion Creek Watershed Project
Improvement Plan Approved
Plan to provide environmental and safety benefits to eastern Nebraska communities
LINCOLN, Nebraska – In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD), received official approval on the Papillion Creek Watershed Project Improvement Plan. The plan, an extension of an effort that began in 1966, promises to deliver significant environmental and safety benefits to residents across Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy counties.
From left, Papio NRD General Manager John Winkler, NRCS State Conservationist Robert Lawson, and Papio NRD Director Patrick Bonnett.
The original planning effort led to the construction of 30 grade control structures, which have been instrumental in reducing flooding and stream channel erosion within the watershed. Building on this foundation, a local group, the Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership (PCWP), was formed in 2001 to identify future projects to further protect and enhance the watershed.
In 2019, the Papio NRD utilized the NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program, which has been critical in advancing the latest supplemental plan, which identifies 40 new watershed protection projects aimed at stabilizing degrading streams, reducing erosion and sediment, mitigating flood damage, and improving public safety.
NRCS contributed $560,000 toward the completion of the plan, enabling the Papio NRD to qualify for additional NRCS financial assistance for developing detailed project designs, anticipated to begin in 2025.
“NRCS is proud to provide both technical and financial support to the Papio-Missouri River NRD,” said Nebraska State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “Our top priority is to help local sponsors identify and complete watershed projects that enhance natural resources and ensure public safety.”
The Papillion Creek Watershed, spanning 245,800 acres in eastern Nebraska, includes a large portion of Omaha and the surrounding communities of Papillion, Elkhorn, Millard, and Ralston. The projects outlined in the Supplemental Plan are designed to address the pressing environmental challenges faced by these rapidly growing areas.
“The Papio NRD appreciates our strong working relationship and strategic partnership with the NRCS,” said Papio NRD General Manager John Winkler. “This is just one more textbook example of how partnerships maximize public safety and the wise management of our natural resources while simultaneously reducing the reliance on local property taxes and other scarce local resources. Nebraska has the very best natural resource management system in the country, and arguably the world, and this type of project makes us that much better,” said Winkler.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments and tribes to plan and implement authorized project plans for completing numerous watershed enhancements.
While driving around Washington county recently, you may have noticed how dangerous some of our four-way rural intersections have become due to the height of corn. Tall crops often obstruct the line-of-sight needed at rural intersections. The Papio NRD, along with Pheasants Forever, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska Game & Parks offer a cost-share program to improve safety while also providing a benefit to pollinators.
Due to this one-acre Pollinator Safety Corner, drivers have a better line of sight. Photo courtesy of Armando Zarco.
Pollinator Safety Corner in Washington County.
Photo courtesy of Armando Zarco.
The Pollinator Safety Corners Program allows landowners to take one to three acres at a four-way rural intersection out of crop production and seeded into a mix of short, native grasses or pollinator habitat. Landowners receive 75% cost-share on seed mix. In addition, the program provides an annual payment of $250/acre for 5 years. Some participants even choose to install bee boxes on their safety corners.
“The Pollinator Safety Corners Program helps save the lives of both people and pollinators,” said Papio NRD Land & Water Programs Coordinator Terry Schumacher. “It’s a great way to increase the overall safety in our communities while also benefitting our ecosystem.”
For more information, contact the Papio NRD Blair field office at (402) 426-4782 ext. 3.
Several crabapple trees recently found a new home and the crew that planted them in the heat and among blood-thirsty mosquitoes was anything but crabby.
“We’ve been taking out more trees than we’ve been able to replace and when we saw that we were able to get some, we tried to get in with the grant program,” said Westover.
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park applied for trees through Papio NRD’s Celebrate Trees Grant Program. The grant was approved, and the park received 21 trees, enabling it to replant native trees, complete a fruit orchard, and provide shade for park visitors.
Michael Westover & Jesse Lautrup of Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.
Crabapple tree received through Papio NRD Celebrate Trees Grant Program.
The Celebrate Trees Grant Program provides funding for tree planting on public land for community benefit, such as parks, cemeteries, tribal lands, libraries, and villages within the six counties of the Papio NRD (Sarpy, Douglas, Washington, Burt, Thurston, and Dakota).
“It’s a great program to take advantage of due to the value trees bring to a community and to help offset the increasing cost of trees,” said Terry Schumacher, land and water programs coordinator for the Papio NRD.
“Grants are awarded a maximum of $2,500 or $250 per tree and matching funds are not required,” said Schumacher. “The applications are funded using a ranking system that places higher emphasis on public parks and the replacement of diseased or storm-damaged trees.”
Schumacher says those who apply should plan to do mulching, staking, watering, and other care to ensure a successful planting.
Westover says the park will definitely apply for future grants and encourages others who are eligible to do the same.
“We just want to say thank you,” said Westover. “This was an amazing thing we could do. Every time we have to cut down more trees, it just kind of hurts, so that fact that we were able to bring in more trees and give this kind of beautification to our park, it’s just great.”
Applications can be submitted for the Celebrate Trees Grant Program November through February. If you’d like more information, please contact Kalani Fortina (402) 426-4782 ext. 3 or Kalani.Fortina@usda.gov.
Papio NRD staff planting a windbreak in Washington County.
Landowners – it’s tree/shrub seedling time!
The Papio NRD is accepting orders for tree/shrub seedlings now through February 23rd. The seedlings are perfect for windbreaks or wildlife habitat planting.
Through the Papio NRD tree program, landowners purchase bare-root seedlings for $29/bundle plus tax. There are 25 seedlings of the same species per bundle. Multiple species are available.
Cost-share funding is available which makes the total out-of-pocket cost minimal to you.
For more information, please contact one of our Field Office representatives in your county:
Washington, Douglas & Sarpy counties: Kalani Fortina at 402-426-4782 ext. 3 Burt County: Deb Ward at 402-374-1920 ext. 3 Thurston County: Tamara Tipton at 402-846-5655 Dakota County: Mahkenna Koinzan at 402-494-4949
Spruce trees planted at Veteran’s Park in Papillion through the Papio NRD’s Celebrate Trees Grant Program.
Applications are open for the Papio NRD’s Celebrate Trees Grant Program. The program provides funding for tree planting on public land for community benefit. Parks, cemeteries, tribal lands, libraries, and villages within the six counties of the Papio NRD are encouraged to apply.
Grants are awarded a maximum of $2,500 or $250 per tree. Matching funds are not required, but applicants should plan to do mulching, staking, watering, and other care to ensure a successful planting.
Applications are funded using a ranking system that places a higher emphasis on public parks and the replacement of diseased and storm-damaged trees.
The deadline to submit applications is February 15, 2024. Please contact Kalani Fortina (402) 426-4782 ext. 3 or Kalani.Fortina@usda.gov for more information.
A roller crimper, an alternative mechanical method to terminate cover crops without herbicides, is now available for farmers in and around Washington County. By crimping cover crops and rolling them over like a blanket on a field, it can improve weed suppression and reduce moisture evaporation from the soil.
Grant funding from the EPA, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and the Papio NRD for practices relating to water quality improvements enabled the recent acquisition of the roller crimper.
It’s available to local farmers for use at a low cost of $1/acre (to address routine maintenance). Farmers who may be hesitant about this practice are encouraged to try it on a few acres initially to make their own judgement and consider it a potential future investment.
To learn more about the roller crimper and cost-share on eligible conservation practices, contact Armando Zarco with the Papio NRD at 402-350-3695 or azarco@papionrd.org.
To schedule the roller crimper, contact Phil Kempcke at 402-533-3122 or Nate Kempcke at 402-278-0584 with Kempcke Seeds in Blair.
A great opportunity for area landowners to learn about practices and programs to conserve natural resources from a variety of conservation partners. Free food and drinks, too!
The event is coordinated by the Papio NRD in association with the Papillion Creek Watershed Enhanced Water Quality Practices Program.
Urban Drainageway Program, Hell Creek Channel Restoration Project
The Papio NRD has nine (9) cost share programs available to assist government agencies to conserve and protect natural resources for people in our communities.
Please see the annual letter which includes a description of each program, program guidelines, and application forms.
The deadline for applications under all programs is March 22, 2024.
Juniper trees planted in 2021 at Pioneer Park in Fort Calhoun through the Celebrate Trees Grant Program.
Applications are open for the 2022 Celebrate Trees grant program administered by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD). The program provides funding for tree planting on public land.
Parks, cemeteries, tribal lands, schools, libraries, villages, and cities within Papio NRD are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded a maximum of $2,500 or $250.00/tree. Matching funds are not required, but applicants should plan to do mulching, staking, watering, and other care to ensure a successful planting.
Applications are funded using a ranking system that places a higher emphasis on public parks and the replacement of diseased and storm-damaged trees. The deadline to submit applications is February 15th, 2022.
Please contact Kalani Fortina (402) 426-4782 ext. 101 or Kalani.Fortina@usda.gov for more information.
