Nebraska Great Plains
Area Description
The Nebraska Great Plains Resource Conservation and Development Area comprise some 4,936 square miles in east central Nebraska. Roughly rectangular in shape, this 50 by 100-mile area is overwhelmingly rural, despite having 56% of the state’s population within its boundaries. Eighty five percent of the land use is agricultural, primarily cropland.
The area is home to over 951,000 people, with 92% living in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties. Four percent of the remainder of the area’s population lives in cities with populations between 1046 and 8081 in the other six counties of the area, while just over two percent live in smaller communities or on farms. The population density is very disparate across the area, from 1,401 per square mile in Douglas County to 12.0 in Polk County. The average farm size is 379 acres. Of the 96 towns in the area, 58 have populations under 500. The median population in this area is 342.
The Nebraska Great Plains RC&D is the only RC&D in Nebraska represented by all three congressional districts.
Summary of 2008 Activities
- 620 Council Member Hours Contributed
- 2,190 Volunteer Hours Contributed
- 177 Project Partners
- 12 Council Meetings
- 12 Completed Projects
- 15 Projects in Progress
The Nebraska Great Plains RC&D partnered with the Butler County Extension office, the Four Corners Health Department and the Butler County Health Care Center to host a Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste collection, in David City on May 3rd, 2008.
The grant application was written and submitted by the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and was approved for $10,363.00.
Collection organizers knew right away that the response would be big and they were right. The grant would have only covered a third of what was eventually brought in. Both vendors hired agreed to take everything that was collected. Electronic Recyclers of Omaha took the electron waste, while Red Willow County collected the household hazardous waste.
Those who hauled in items also filled out surveys that indicated some interesting scenarios. People are reluctant to part with a computer they spent hundreds of dollars on, even if it doesn’t work anymore. The majority of respondents were over 60 years of age, and had been storing the electronics for 20 years or longer.
The surveys also indicated that people wanted help getting rid of items they think are harmful to the environment. In addition to keeping harmful substances out of the landfill, firefighters that assisted with this collection noted that the disposal also made many homes safer in the case of a fire. In five hours, Butler County collected fifteen 55 gallon drums of paint, 28,400 lbs. of electronics computers, monitors, televisions, radios, and microwaves), and items too many to count including fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers, and other garden and household chemicals. 26 volunteers totaled 191 hours on the collection day alone.
Partners:
- University of Nebraska Extension in Butler County
- Four Corners Health Department
- Butler County
- City of David City
- Butler County Health Care Center
- David City Volunteer Fire Department
- Butler County Sheriffs Office
- Butler County Emergency Management
- David City Aquinas High School
- East Butler High School
- $10,363.00 State Government
- $ 3,600.00 Local Government
- $ 2,089.00 Non Governmental Organizations
- $16,052.00 Total
Day two of the conference was the motor coach tour of the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D. The first stop was at Pheasant Oak Vineyard Confections near Brainard Nebraska in Butler County. This stop showcased non-traditional agricultural enterprises near Nebraska’s urban population centers. Vendors included: Pheasant Oak Vineyard Confections – wine flavored ice cream; Bohaty’s Gourmet Grass Fed Beef;Buy Fresh/Buy Local; Heartland Nuts ‘N More; Hilger’s Gourmet Popcorn; Holgate Heirloom Produce – Hydroponically grown vegetables; Jisa’s Farmstead Cheese; and Willow Woods Gardens – woody florals.
The next stop was at the Richard Sabata Memorial Handicapped Fishing Pier, a project of the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D. Rich was a long time public servant and a charter member of the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D and spent the last few months of his life in a wheelchair. This pier was built to allow handicapped fishing access to the newly renovated David City Lakes.
Following lunch at the David City Park, a bus tour was taken of the Omaha-Lincoln Expansion Corridor that was discussed on day one of the conference. This was followed by a stop at the City of Lincoln’s main well field, for discussions about water quality, and a talk from the Lower Platte Weed Management Area on how noxious weeds can have an adverse effect on water quantity. Day two wound down with a riverboat dinner cruise aboard the River City Star to view the Omaha Skyline and the new pedestrian bridge that spans the Missouri River.
Partners:
- Nebraska State RC&D Association
- NRCS
- Cascade Earth Sciences
- HDR Engineering Inc.
- Jacobson-Satchell Consultants
- JEO Consulting Group Inc.
- Lower Platte North NRD
- Lower Platte South NRD
- Papio-Missouri River NRD
- Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center
- University of Nebraska- UNL Extension in
- Lancaster County
- First National Bank – David City
- Union Bank and Trust Company – David City
- Bank of the Valley – David City
- U.S. Bank – David City
- $ 1,000.00 Local Government
- $11,137.00 Non Governmental Organizations
- $12,137.00 Total
- Polk County
- City of Stromsburg
- United Farmers Cooperative – Stromsburg
- Four Corners Health Department
- Polk County Health Department
- Osceola High School
- $22,069.00 State Government
- $ 400.00 Local Government
- $ 400.00 Non Governmental Organizations
- $22,869.00 Total
2007 Projects & Activities:
400 Council Member Hours Contributed
1056 Volunteer Hours Contributed
168 Project Partners
12 Council Meetings
12 Completd Projects
17 Projects in Progress
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Prescribed Burn Schools
Prescribed Burn Schools were held in both Polk and Saunders County during the winter and spring of 2007. These schools worked to educate producers and local firefighters of the benefits of prescribed burning. These benefits were not just environmental, but included a reduced fuel load during hot dry periods later in the year, when most wildfires occur. Wildlife concerns, safety, and fire control methods were addressed.
These schools attempted to make producers, as well as those issuing burn permits more at ease with the prescribed burn process. Two actual prescribed burns were conducted later in the spring to allow producers to try out the skills they learned at the school, totaling over 200 acres. 64 producers and volunteer firefighters attended these two schools.
Partners:
Central Platte NRD
Lower Platte North NRD
UNL Extension in Polk County
Prescribed Burn Task Force
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Nature Conservancy
Funding:
$ 2,340.00 Federal Government
$ 600.00 State Government
$ 760.00 Local Government
$ 400.00 Non Governmental Organizations
$ 4,100.00 Total
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R.J. Sabata Handicapped Fishing Pier
In the fall of 2005, the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D received a call from an employee of an elderly care center, asking if we could assist them with a problem. The David City Park lakes had just been restored and stocked with fish. The residents really enjoyed fishing at the restored lakes, but found that it was difficult for those that had trouble walking or confined to wheelchairs to approach the lakes to fish. The caller wanted the RC&D to help find a solution to this problem.
The RC&D contacted the City of David City, and the Lower Platte North NRD, who both showed interest in the project. It was suggested that a handicapped accessible fishing pier be constructed, and named after Richard Sabata, a founding member of the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D, a long time director of the LPNNRD, and an active member of the David City community. Rich suffered from cancer and was confined to a wheelchair the final months of his life.
Working with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, a design was developed for a handicapped accessible basic fishing pier. At the same time, the children of Rich Sabata started a fund raising effort, and with the help of the RC&D, raised almost $8,000.00 toward the project. This fund raiser was a pancake feed with a band, and included raffles for many donated items. The RC&D worked to provide posters and brochures to publicize this event throughout the area.
Construction started in the spring of 2007, and was completed soon after. A ceremony was held on July 17, 2007, and the project was dedicated by Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy. The pier was being used by residents of the care center during the ceremony, which was a fitting tribute to Rich and the partners that worked to complete this project. This project won a 2007 Nebraska Community Improvement (NCIP) Award for Recreation and
Forestry.
Partners:
City of David City
Lower Platte North NRD
David City Chamber of Commerce
David City Area Jaycees
David City Banner Press
David City Rural Fire District # 9
David City Rotary Club
St. Joseph Villa
U.S. Bank
Union Bank
First National Bank
David Place
Saddle and Surrey Club
Oak Creek Gun Club
Agency One Insurance
Senior Citizen Center
Region V
Kirby’s Northside
Scrib’s Moving and Heavy Hauling
Frontier Cooperative
Moravec & Associates
KV Vet
Benes Service
Marquis Body Shop
Didier’s Grocery
Dale’s Food Pride
Knights of Columbus
Funding:
$18,500.00 Local Government
$ 200.00 Non Governmental Organizations
$ 6,500.00 Contributions from Friends and Private Businesses
$25,200.00 Total
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Polk County Used Tire Collection
A grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) allowed the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D to assist Polk County with their first ever used tire collection in 2007. This two day event collected 149 tons of old tires, and enough of the grant is left to hold another collection in the spring of 2008.
FFA students from Osceola High School assisted customers unload the tires. The Husker Co-op provided free scale services and staff during this event, and Polk County and the City of Osceola provided equipment to load the tires for transport. Four Corners and Polk County Health Departments provided lunch and refreshments for the volunteers.
Partners:
Polk County
City of Osceola
Four Corners Health Department
Husker Co-op
UNL Extension in Polk County
Polk County Health Department
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Funding:
$27,700.00 State Government
$ 900.00 Local Government
$ 1,000.00 Non Governmental Organizations
$29,600.00 Total
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Legislative Breakfast for Methamphetamine Strategies
On April 3, 2007, the Nebraska Great Plains RC&D and many partners hosted a Nebraska Meth Watch Legislative Breakfast at the state capitol in Lincoln. Sponsored by state Senator Ray Aguilar, this breakfast was an informational session for all state senators on the problems that methamphetamine causes to families and communities throughout the state.
This breakfast included an introduction from Senator Aguilar, statements from Senator Chuck Hagel, and reports from family members dealing with addicted loved ones. Glen Elwell of the Nebraska State Patrol, reported on issues they deal with on a daily basis that senators could address with new legislation. Also, reports from treatment providers and a success story from a recovering addict finished up the breakfast.
Partners:
Region V Systems
Nebraska State Patrol
Rural Sheriffs Association
Community Health Endowment
Four Corners Health Department
Nebraska Department of Corrections
Lutheran Family Services
State Fire Marshal
Blue Valley Prevention Services
Nebraska Drug Court
Nebraska Public Health and Human Services
UNL Extension
Interfaith Council
Funding:
$ 500.00 Federal Government
$ 700.00 State Government
$ 320.00 Non governmental Organizations
$ 1,768.00 Private and other sources
$3,288.00 Total