NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

RELATING TO THE UPPER LOUP NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT AND THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES VOLUNTARY INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN

Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-718, the Upper Loup Natural Resources District (District) and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (Department) hereby provide notice that the District and the Department shall hold a public hearing on April 14, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., at the Upper Loup Natural Resources District Office, 39252 Highway 2, Thedford NE 69166. As required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-718(1), the purpose of the hearing is to take testimony on the proposed District/Department integrated management plan (IMP) and the proposed controls. The geographic area for the proposed IMP and proposed controls encompasses the entire land area that is within the District boundary. A general description of the contents of the sections of the proposed IMP is: 1) Introduction, 2) Map and Description of the Integrated Management Plan Area, 3) Goals and Objectives, 4) Action Items, 5) Incentive Programs, 6) Funding Options, 7) Monitoring Plan and Proposed Studies, 8) Modifications to the Integrated Management Plan, 9) Information Considered in Development of this Plan, and 10) Glossary of Terms.

The proposed groundwater action item (control) for the District is set forth in Section 4 of the IMP and consists of the following action: establish a limit on the expansion of groundwater-irrigated acres.  The proposed surface water action item (control) is also set forth in Section 4 and includes: establish a limit on the expansion of surface water-irrigated acres. Furthermore, Section 4 describes the non-regulatory action items that the District and the Department will take to achieve the goals and objectives of the IMP.

Any interested person may appear at the hearing and present written or oral testimony concerning the proposed IMP and proposed controls. Individuals with disabilities may request auxiliary aids and service necessary for participation by contacting the District or the Department by April 7, 2016. Testimony or other evidence relevant to the purposes of the hearing may also be submitted in writing to the Upper Loup Natural Resources District, 39252 Highway 2, Thedford NE 69166 or to the Department of Natural Resources, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 94676, Lincoln, NE 68509-4676, or by electronic mail to the District at abaum@upperloupnrd.org or to the Department at tim.freed@nebraska.gov by 5:00 p.m., April 12, 2016.

For further information regarding the proposed IMP and proposed controls or for the full text of the proposed IMP and proposed controls, refer to the District website at http://www.upperloupnrd.org/ or the Department’s website at http://dnr.ne.gov or contact the District or the Department at the addresses listed above or contact the District at (308) 645-2250 or the Department at (402) 471-2363.

Following the public hearing on the proposed IMP and proposed controls, the District and the Department will consider testimony and make a joint decision within 60 days of whether to implement the proposed IMP with or without modifications and whether to adopt and implement the groundwater and surface water controls proposed in the IMP.

NRD’s to be Featured on NETV Program “Keeping Nebraska Local”

Have you wondered how Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts were established? How NRDs differ across the state?  The NRDs will be featured in an hour-long program to be aired on Nebraska Educational Television (NET). The program will take viewers back to even before the NRDs were created and the struggle that Nebraska faced as soil and nutrients were swept away by the wind.

The program explains what legislators and key water leaders of that time had to overcome to develop the NRDs, how they were formed, and how far they have come to give the public the protection that they deserve. It dives into many different things the NRDs do from groundwater usage, water quality, chemigation, education. It also explains how flood control duels as recreation sites, recycling support for the public, the importance of our Conservation Tree program and much more. The video ends as the NRDs develop integrated management systems and prepare for what Mother Nature will bring us in the future. We have a unique system in place - ready for anything. Nebraska is miles ahead of many other states when it comes to our conservation efforts of our natural resources and we work hard to stay that way. The Natural Resources Districts’ mission is to protect lives, protect property and protect the future for years to come. Please join us in watching Keeping Nebraska Local: A Unique Approach to Resource Management.

The program will air on the following dates: March 24 at 8:00 pm, March 27 at 1:30 pm, and more dates to come in May

Upper Loup NRD Director Filing Period Open

Natural Resource Districts (NRDs) have local leadership responsibility for protecting groundwater from overuse and pollution; soil conservation; planting trees and wildlife habitat; flood control; improving urban conservation; and recreation. Often, the NRD builds partnerships with other agencies and organizations, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, universities, municipalities, counties, and private organizations, in an effort to provide local control and local solutions to natural resources challenges.

The Upper Loup NRD is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. The district is divided into 5 sub-districts; two board members are elected from each sub-district, and one at-large member is elected. Candidates for sub-district board positions must reside in the sub-district for which they are elected; the at-large board member must reside within the boundaries of the ULNRD. The Board of Directors will appoint an eligible person to fill any unexpired term.  Directors serve four year terms, with half of the Board seats up for election every two years.

The filing period for the Primary Election for Incumbents is now through February 16, 2016. For Non-Incumbents, the filing period is now through March 1, 2016. To file, an individual is required to fill out a Nonpartisan Candidate Filing Form through the Secretary of State. Forms can be found online at www.sos.ne.gov/elec/candidateinfo.html and must be mailed to Lincoln. There is no filing fee. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission C-1 form is not needed. The ULNRD is a lower office, meaning that if you are already on a board you can also serve on the NRD board in addition.

The ULNRD Board of Directors is responsible for aiding in establishing District and conservation policies (NSWCP), rules and regulations, and adopting the necessary budget, in order to fulfill the responsibilities of the District as authorized and required by law.  The day-to-day management as well as helping establish policies, programs, rules and regulations is the General Manager’s responsibility.  Not only do the board members make decisions about conservation programs at the District level, they also bring a wealth of local judgment and experience when adapting state and national programs to local situations. 

The Board holds regularly scheduled monthly meetings on the second Thursday of every month at the NRD office in Thedford. To read more information about the ULNRD, please visit our website at www.upperloupnrd.org. If you have any questions, please contact the ULNRD office at 308-645-2250.

Recycling Update from the ULNRD

From July 1 to September 30, 2015, 41,600 pounds of materials have been recycled through the Upper Loup NRD! This amount of materials has impacted the environment in multiple ways. The illustration below demonstrates the positive outcomes that originated from our recycling efforts. Thank you to the community for your continues support in making our recycling program successful!

Mullen Grade School Receives Nature in Neighborhoods Grant

      The Nature in Neighborhoods grant supports hands-on activities and environmental education programs that protect and contribute to watershed health in the District. The program connects community-minded people to their neighborhoods, natural areas, backyards and beyond. In addition, this program is intended to encourage awareness, appreciation, knowledge and active conservation of natural resources.  The Upper Loup NRD was honored to reward the Mullen Grade School with this Grant.               
    “We wanted to beautify a scarred area,” said Roxann Brown, Mullen Elementary teacher. And that is just what they did. Students helped with planting flowers, decorating stepping stones, moving dirt and placing landscaping materials in the area northeast of the grade school. A bench was built in the middle of the area to sit and enjoy the outdoors, and even catch a few butterflies landing on the flowers.            
   For more information about the Nature in Neighborhoods grant or how you or your organization can apply for the grant, please visit our website at www.upperloupnrd.org/nature-in-neighborhoods/