When Matt Grosshans started farming 7 years ago in Hamilton County, he was interested in regenerative agriculture practices he’d learned about in college, including cover crops, reduced tillage, and rotational cropping systems. However, it wasn’t until extreme weather patterns started impacting his operation that he realized these practices weren’t just a good idea, they were essential to maintaining his most valuable resource—his soil.
During March and April 2022, staff of the Upper Big Blue NRD measured roughly 500 observation wells throughout the district to determine an average water level change, based on a weighted change from each well. For spring 2022 water level measurements, the NRD has determined that the average groundwater level change shows a decline of 0.24 feet from last spring. The spring 2022 average groundwater level is now 8.89 feet above the “Allocation Trigger.” Thus, there will be no allocation restrictions for the 2023 irrigation season.
Dozens of fourth graders worked together with Pheasants Forever to improve the pollinator habitat at Project GROW in York this spring. Their efforts will mean more beneficial birds, bees, bats, and butterflies will have food and shelter. The habitat planting is also protecting groundwater on the city wellfield.
Marie Krausnick has been named assistant general manager for the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. She has been with the NRD for 21 years in various roles, including seven years as the manager of the water department. As water department manager, she has managed a staff of 10 employees and an annual budget of close to $1 million. Krausnick has had direct oversight of public-facing projects such as Project GROW, walk-in water testing, certification of irrigated acres, well monitoring, water use reporting, and annual water quantity measuring, among others. More...
Local Control, Local Solutions, Global Mindset
How do Nebraskans manage water resources? What are the agricultural and environmental challenges in the state regarding water quality and quantity? And what can key decision-makers from other heavily agricultural regions of the world learn from the way things are done here? These questions and others were explored recently as a group fromBrazil visited Nebraska for a week of learning and networking, spending a day at the Upper Big Blue NRD during their visit.
Concerned about nitrates in your drinking water? Let's work together to make sure your drinking water is safe!
The Upper Big Blue NRD offers free water testing for district residents. It is recommended that you test your drinking water annually if your water comes from a private well.
The University of Nebraska is also conducting acitizen science project about water quality in Nebraska. You can request a free sample kit to do a simple test at home. If your results show high nitrates, reach out to the NRD for follow-up testing and recommendations.
The NRD is also seeking to partner with schools in the district on a grant-funded Know Your Well program that teaches high school students how to test water samples. If your school would like to participate, please contact the NRD at info@upperbigblue.org.
The NRD tree team finished planting windbreaks and wildlife areas at the beginning of June. The Conservation Tree Program provided more than 22,000 trees for the district in 2022.
