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Natural resources districts have a statutory
mission to conserve, protect, develop and manage the natural resources
of the state. One way that the North Platte NRD accomplishes this
goal is cooperating with landowners and the state of Nebraska
to provide conservation cost-share programs that combine the financial
resources of landowners, the NRD, and the state to provide financial
incentives to landowners to protect soil, water and other resources
for the general welfare. Most of these programs reimburse landowners
for a portion of the costs they incur in making improvements that
protect resources. These programs include:
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Conservation Cost-Share Program
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WILD Nebraska Program
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Nebraska Buffer Strip Program
Funded by both District money and the Nebraska
Soil and Water Conservation Fund, the Conservation Cost Share
Program reimburses landowners for part of the cost of installing
various conservation practices on their land. Usually the cost-share
rate varies from 50 percent to 65 percent of the actual costs,
but some practices are based on a per-acre rate. Landowners contact
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for technical
assistance in implementing these practices, and must obtain NRD
board approval before carrying them out. Money is available on
a first-come, first-served basis and a number of regulations apply
to this program.
The conservation practices include:
- Irrigation
water managment
- Planned
grazing systems
- Windbreaks
- Terrace
systems & underground outlets
- Water
impoundment dams
- Grade
stabilization structures
- Irrigation
tailwater recovery pits
- Water
& sediment control basins
- Grassed
waterways
- Diversions
- Livestock
water runoff dugouts
- Range
seeding or pasture planting
- Critical
area planting
- Underground
irrigation water return pipe
- Livestock
water facilities
- Streambank
stabilization
The WILD Nebraska program, a cooperative effort
with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, provides financial
help to landowners to develop or improve habitat for wildlife.
Participants sign 10-year contracts to manage the land as wildlife
habitat.
A one-time payment is made to the cooperator
following implementation of the management activity or activities.
Additional annual payments of up to $25 per acre are available
as incentives for certain types of projects. Cost-share reimbursement
is available for some types of improvements. Generally, cooperator
are limited to $2,500 in payments annually.
Applications must be approved by the NPNRD
board before work can begin. Contact the NRD for an application.
Landowners can enroll cropland adjacent to
streams and other bodies of water in the Nebraska Buffer Strip
Program by signing up at local USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) offices.
The program provides annual, per-acre payments
to landowners who plant buffer strips along the banks of streams
and ponds. Buffer strips can reduce the amount of silt and agricultural
chemicals that enter surface waters. Payments are available for
new buffer strips and existing buffer strips established after
January 1, 1996 .
The NRCS will evaluate each application to
determine eligibility and payment amount. If the NRCS determines
an application to be eligible and the application is approved
by the NRD and state ag department, the producer may enter into
a contact with the local natural resources district. Funding is
determined on a point system established by the Nebraska Department
of Agriculture.
The Nebraska Buffer Strip Program was created
by the Nebraska Legislature in 1998, and is funded through the
Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Fees assessed on all pesticides
registered for use in Nebraska fund the program.
Some
general terms of the Buffer Strip Program. Contracts must run
for at least five years and no more than 10 years.
- Non-irrigated
cropland rates are determined using the CRP rental rates for
soil types found in the area. Irrigated rates are a flat rate
of $150 per acre, regardless of soil type or geographic location.
Other program payments are subtracted from the maximum payment
allowed to determine the NBSP payment.
- Limited
haying and grazing is allowed.
- Buffer
strips can include grass, forb, tree and shrub species according
to NRCS guidelines.
- Buffer
strips will be between 20 feet and 100 feet wide.
- Minimum
buffer strip area is 1 acre; there is no maximum.
- The
NRD will inspect buffer strips to ensure compliance during the
five to 10-year contract period.
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