Limits
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICTS
12 NRD RESPONSIBILITIES
1.
DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, USE, AND CONSERVATION OF GROUNDWATER
WHY ARE NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCE DISTRICTS SO VITAL ?
Nebraska Natural Resource Districts are organized by river basin boundaries. There are 23 NRDs across the state of Nebraska and each district has different areas of responsibilities. The NRDs work hand in hand with other state and federal government agencies such as USDA NRCS, which are located all over the United States. The NRDs however, are only in Nebraska. The NRDs are vital to implementing conservation practices for ranchers, farmers, and urban areas. In the 1940's, Nebraska experienced the Dust Bowl which was devastating and left many people starving. Because of the fragile environment of the Sandhills and farmland, it is vital that rotational grazing and farming practices are implemented so the top layer of soil and sand is protected and not over exposed or lost.
The Ogallala Aquifer is located underground in parts of western NE and is used to irrigate crops and provide water for people and livestock. If the water is not used sparingly, this could potentially hurt the health of the aquifer, reducing water for future generations. This is where the NRD's come in. TPNRD specifically helps farmers and ranchers with providing water programs to help them know how much water they are using. TPNRD also provides cost-share programs, and helps design windbreaks to protect livestock and property in areas of harsh wind and cold weather, as well as grassland/rangeland programs.