Soil & Water Conservation Program
The Lower Platte North NRD provides cost-share assistance to landowners for establishing a variety of conservation practices on their land. Up to 75% of the cost may be funded for high priority practices; in targeted watersheds, the cost-share rate can be up to 90%. High priority practices include:
- Establishment of warm and cool season grass on cropland.
- Construction of new terrace systems (including replacement of terrace systems 20 years old and older).
- Construction of sediment & water control basins when part of a new terrace system.
- Construction of diversions when part of a new terrace system or dam.
- Tree planting (only when NRD stock is planted by district staff ) for riparian buffer strips, and farmstead, livestock and field windbreaks- 200 tree minimum.
- Planned Grazing Management Systems (eligible practices include: cross fencing, livestock water dugouts, livestock well installation, livestock water tanks, livestock water pipeline installation, and spring development).
- Installation of tiled outlets into existing terraces. (The district will also cost-share on the first 200 feet of storage per terrace when adding tile into existing terraces.)
- Water impoundment dams and grade stabilization structures.
- Irrigation water management (eligible practices include: surge valve and pipe, conversion nozzles for center pivots, reuse pits and return pipe, and flow meters).
During the summer construction period (June-August), medium priority practices may also be funded. These practices include:
- Erosion & sediment control basins when not part of a new terrace system.
- Diversions when not part of a new terrace system.
Funding Sources
Funding for individual cost-share practices may come from the NRD, the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP), the federal Environmental Quality Incentive Program, or other sources such as the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Often, a landowner will receive funds from a combination of these sources.
Eligibility
Any landowner in the Lower Platte North NRD, whether an individual, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, is eligible to apply for Soil and Water Conservation Program funds.
Cost-Share Rates & Limits
Each year, the NRCS determines a "county average rate" for the various conservation practices. This rate shows the average cost for constructing a given conservation practice within a particular county. The Soil and Water Conservation Program will reimburse landowners up to 75% of the average rate, or the actual cost of the work they have done, whichever is less.
For high priority practices, there is a limit of $10,000 per year per landowner.
Targeted Watersheds
The Lower Platte North NRD provides higher cost-share rates for soil and water conservation work in targeted watersheds. The cost-share rate can be up to 90% in these watersheds (compared to 75% elsewhere). To see maps of the watersheds, click on their names below; the maps will open in a new window. (Note: these maps show the entire watersheds. The targeted subareas in Wahoo Creek are not indicated. For more information on these subareas, contact the NRD.)
| WATERSHED | TARGETED AREA |
| Elm Creek Watershed | Entire watershed |
| Czechland Lake | Entire watershed |
| Sand & Duck Creek Watersheds | Drainage areas of 7 small dams |
These watersheds have been targeted because they contain completed projects where soil erosion has become a concern, such as the Cottonwood Creek Watershed/Czechland Lake project, or planned projects, such as Lake Wanahoo where land treatment is necessary to qualify for state funding. (Jump to Watershed Projects to learn more about these projects.)
Do you qualify for increased land treatment funding? To see if your land is in one of the targeted watersheds, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office or Eric Gottschalk at the NRD.
Emergency Terrace Repair
Occasionally, terraces and other conservation practices can be damaged by intense rainstorms. When this type of storm damage occurs, the NRD may allocate Soil & Water Conservation Program funds for emergency repairs.
Only conservation practices two years old and newer are eligible to receive assistance from the emergency repair fund. Practices must have been built to Natural Resources Conservation Service design specifications to be eligible.
The cost-share rate for emergency repairs will be 50% of the total cost of repair or $1,000 per landowner, whichever is less.
Landowners with damaged conservation practices should contact their local NRCS office or Eric Gottschalk at the NRD to see if they qualify for assistance.
Signup and Construction Periods
There are two primary construction periods for land treatment practices: Summer (June-August) and Fall (September-December). Applications can be submitted at any time of the year, but to ensure consideration for a specific construction period, the following signup deadlines should be observed:
- Summer Construction: Applications must be submitted by March 1.
- Fall Construction: Applications must be submitted by July 1.
Where to Apply
Applications for the Soil and Water Conservation Program are available from local Natural Resources Conservation Offices. NRCS personnel can assist you with filling out the application.
Once an application is submitted to the NRD, it will be reviewed by the Project Committee and then taken before the full Board of Directors. Applications must be approved by the NRD Board before construction work can begin.
More Information
For more information on the Soil and Water Conservation Program, contact Eric Gottschalk, Special Projects Coordinator.