South Platte NRD
551 Parkland Dr.
P.O. Box 294
Sidney, NE 69162
308-254-2377
877-800-1030 (In State)
Fax 308-254-2783
spnrd@spnrd.org

The South Platte NRD Board of Directors is a group of locally elected officials managing area natural resources on your behalf. The board meets the second Tuesday of each month and welcomes your input.

The next scheduled board meeting is:
Tuesday, July 13
7 p.m. at the SPNRD office, 551 Parkland Dr. in Sidney.
Click here to see board agendas and minutes.

SPNRD Provides Funding For Preliminary Flood Drainage Study

At a special meeting July 1, the South Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors approved District financing for a preliminary engineering study that could provide suggestions to protect properties in southeastern Sidney from flooding.

Board members agreed to commit up to $10,000 in a contract with J.M. Neil & Associates for engineering services to plan possible options to deal with runoff between the east Sidney interchange and areas along Fort Sidney Road. (Click here to read more)

Spring Ground Water Level Average Up Slightly

South Platte NRD staff members recently completed spring ground water measurements at observation wells located throughout the District. Each year water level readings are taken in early spring and again in the fall.

The measurements are used to monitor trends in the aquifers. Fall readings give an idea of how much levels are drawn down during the high-use summer season and spring readings show where levels are stabilizing during the winter. (Click here to read more)

Ground Water Quality Monitoring Reported

Eighteen years of monitoring nitrates within South Platte NRD water tables have been completed, and some of the average readings appear to show positive results of intensive nutrient management in some ground water management areas.

The primary goal of the South Platte NRD's groundwater quality management areas is to improve groundwater quality to within federal EPA and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality standards. The standard for nitrate nitrogen, or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), is 10 parts per million. Depending on the results of groundwater nitrate testing in a given area, a phased approach is used to bring the contaminants under control. (Click here to read more)

Fall Ground Water Report Released

The fall ground water report from the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), shows short term fall ground water levels are slowly recovering, while in the long term, levels remain low.

Twice each year, technicians from the SPNRD take ground water level measurements in the spring, prior to the beginning of the high water use season, and again in the fall when the majority of high water uses are past. The SPNRD board of directors use comparisons over time to determine the effectiveness of water management programs and make management decisions. (Click here to read more)

Board Approves Districtwide, Basin-wide and IMP Measures

At their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, August 11, 2009, the South Platte Natural Resources District board of directors approved final measures that implemented a new set of water management regulations required by the state, and adopts changes to two existing regulatory documents. (Click here to read more)

Lisa Beethe (left), grants program administrator with the Nebraska Environmental Trust, joined Tony Foster (center) from the Cheyenne County High Plains Chapter of Pheasants Forever and SPNRD Assistant Manager Galen Wittrock in cutting the ribbon to introduce the District's new grass drill.

SPNRD Puts New Grass Drill Into Service

This past year the NRD received a new, heavy duty grass drill that is expected to be in high demand as District land owners gear up for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land enhancements.

The grass drill, a 10-foot Great Plains no till model, was made possible through funding commitments by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the High Plains Chapter of Pheasants Forever. (Click here to read more)

WANTED: Local weather watchers for NeRAIN

Volunteers are needed in Cheyenne, Deuel and Kimball counties to volunteer for a special project for studying the complex patterns of rain, hail and snow in Nebraska.

NeRAIN, (the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network) is looking for volunteers – preferably with Internet access -- willing to report measurements of precipitation using high quality backyard rain gauges. (Click here to read more)

Citizens' Group Monitors Environmental Impact

In keeping with its mission to protect and manage natural recources, one activity the District is involved with is the Citizen’s Monitoring Committee (CMC) at Kimball.

The local group, established by the South Platte NRD and the Kimball community, monitors the environmental impact of operations at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. (CHESI). (Click here to read more)