Our new Rain-Ready Landscapes Program provides 50% of the landowner’s cost for certain green practices in their landscapes, up to $2,000. Any type of property is eligible, including residential, commercial, public or private land. Landowners outside the City of Lincoln, but still within LPSNRD, can apply for cost-sharing to install best management practices, such as rain gardens and bioswales, for filtering pollutants from rainwater. These best management practices also slow down the flow of stormwater, which decreases erosion and keeps sediment out of streams and lakes.

Anyone interested should contact LPSNRD to see if a project they have in mind is eligible. If it is approved, we’ll help with the costs of design, materials and construction. Maintenance of completed projects is not eligible. Applications are considered on a first-come first-served basis and upon approval the landowner has one year to complete the project. Requests for extensions will be considered. Landowners will be reimbursed by the NRD upon completion of the project, even if the landowner receives other funding assistance. LPSNRD reimbursements will be based on the landowner’s actual out-of-pocket costs for eligible expenses. Learn more about the program.

LPSNRD co-sponsors a similar program with the City of Lincoln, for Lincoln landowners. Learn more about the program. 

Flood Reduction

Completion of the 56th and Morton Streets Flood Reduction Project, in Lincoln, re-started in April and was expected to be completed June 1, following seeding grading and asphalt work. The City of Lincoln was the project’s lead partner.

Salt Creek Levee

Erosion repairs at 14 sites on Lincoln’s Salt Creek Levee began in March (see our spring issue). With completion expected September 1, expect to see activity on the levee all summer-long.

Dam Rehabilitation

The rehabilitation of our Oak Middle Watershed Dam 82-B, northwest of Garland, re-started in early-spring, after a winter shutdown. In partnership with the USDA/NRCS, 82-B is being brought up to high-hazard dam standards with a new pipe, higher dam and new spillway.

Our review of groundwater monitoring and management activities issued each spring is an important part of LPSNRD’s commitment to keeping the public informed. The 2019 Groundwater Management Plan Review updates groundwater conditions throughout the district, including nine areas designated as Phase II or Phase III groundwater management areas. All nine designations are for elevated nitrate levels in groundwater. Nitrate levels from sampled wells in all of these designated areas are still within federal recommendations. Under a Phase II or Phase III designation, an area may have more stringent rules and regulations to try to decrease nitrate levels. The district collected 215 samples from 201 wells in 2019. Samples were analyzed for various pollutants, but all samples were analyzed for nitrates.

There are no Phase II or Phase III groundwater management areas for quantity in the district, but a special management area has been designated in the Dwight-Valparaiso-Brainard area, due to seasonal declines in available groundwater. In addition to sampling and testing wells throughout the district, 128 wells were measured in the spring of 2019. All but five of those wells showed an increase in groundwater levels, compared to measurements recorded in the spring of 2018. Groundwater levels measured in the spring of 2020 are compared to the 2019 spring levels in the chart below.

This chart compares well measurements this spring in our designated groundwater reservoirs and the remaining area with measurements last spring. Average groundwater levels are down slightly; some due to lower precipitation; others because the reservoirs are adjacent to rivers and those areas experienced flooding in the spring of 2019.

Learn more about our Groundwater Management Plan Reivew. 

One year after enduring record flooding, the Lied Platte River Bridge, near South Bend, was inspected by engineers. The trail bridge has remained closed since the bomb cyclone of March 2019. Crews began clearing debris from the bridge piers in January, allowing an early- spring inspection.

Besides obvious needs to replace a large section of guard railing on the upstream side and to repair or replace ice breaker cones that help protect bridge piers, the inspection found no other damage. Still, it is unknown when the bridge can be reopened. Designing and constructing the replacement railing will take an estimated two months. A timeline for work on the ice breaker cones is still unknown. Repairs are also needed to the connector trail at the east end of the bridge.

The Papio-Missouri River NRD is overseeing the repairs. They co-own the bridge with LPSNRD. FEMA has agreed to help fund debris removal and repairs.

Fish Signs

Have you ever wondered what kind of fish you’ve caught? Look for new fish identification signs at the LPSNRD lakes, and remember to tag us using #lpsnrd with your own fun lake photos.

Distributing Seedlings

LPSNRD staff overcame COVID-19 challenges to distribute 31,000 tree and shrub seedlings to 350 district landowners in April and May. Seedlings are sold each year, starting in November, with delivery in April.

Oak Creek Trail Closed

One mile of the Oak Creek Trail remains closed one mile west of Valparaiso, due to severe stream bank erosion. An engineering contractor is designing repairs. 

Public input is important to developing a fiscal year budget that meets all needs for efficient natural resource management. Those who have thoughts and suggestions about the budget can make them known to us, while maintaining social distancing. Simply check for information in the News & Events section often. You’ll find how to easily access the audio portion of our monthly Board of Directors meetings, subcommittee meetings and public hearings by phone. The public will be given an opportunity to speak specifically about the budget at the meetings listed below:

• Wednesday, June 17, 6:00 PM – Board of Directors Meeting and Public Input Session
• Wednesday, July 22, 7:00 PM – Board of Directors Meeting and tentative budget approval
• Wednesday, August 19, 7:00 PM – Public Hearing on budget
• Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 PM – Board of Directors Meeting and budget approval

Any changes to our current public access procedures will be posted online.

The initial budget draft is available for review. Board Treasurer Dan Steinkruger said, “The earlier someone approaches us with their budget suggestions and concerns, the more time we have to make any needed adjustments.” 

Provide your input by emailing Mike Mascoe, Public Information Specialist. 

Voters in two of ten subdistricts found LPSNRD Board of Directors races on their May 12th Primary Election ballots. Gary Aldridge and LeRoy Sievers, both of Lincoln, were chosen from a field of four Subdistrict 4 (southern Lancaster County) candidates to advance to the November 3rd General Election. Races appear on primary election ballots only if more than two candidates file in a subdistrict. Bastienne Salners and Ray Stevens, both of Lincoln, moved on to November from a field of three candidates in Subdistrict 10 (southwest Lincoln).

Seven contested LPSNRD Board races will appear on November ballots in the district. Here is a complete listing of candidates by subdistict:

1. Don Jacobson, Lincoln
2. Sarah Wilson, Waverly & Ron Nolte, Plattsmouth
3. Mike DeKalb, Lincoln & Kenneth Vogel, Lincoln
4. Gary Aldridge, Lincoln & LeRoy Sievers, Lincoln
5. Greg Osborn, Lincoln & John Yoakum, Lincoln
6. Anthony Schutz, Lincoln
7. Chelsea Johnson, Lincoln
8. Christy Eichorn, Lincoln & Christine Lamberty, Lincoln
9. Milt Schmidt, Lincoln & Lisa Lewis, Lincoln
10. Ray Stevens, Lincoln & Bastienne Salners, Lincoln

Learn more about the board

Trent Henry is our new maintenance technician. Trent graduated with a Wildlife Conservation Biology degree. He and his wife live in Lincoln. He tells us the best part of his job is getting to be a part of the Haines Branch Prairie Corridor development and working outside to maintain LPSNRD properties.

The NRD has cost sharing available on many land treatment practices including terraces, grassed waterways, farm ponds, tile outlets and cover crops. Listen to our newest podcast featuring NRD Resources Technician Cindy Splinek to learn more!

From only a few feet away, this abandoned well is completely hidden, illustrating one reason proper well abandonment is important. Learn about our Well Decommissioning Program by listening to our new podcast.

by Board Chair Larry Ruth

We are learning many things from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our regular work environment is changing, as well as how we communicate and work with others, including the public. Many of these changes will last beyond the immediate need to be safe, as new ways of doing things become normal.

Our staff and directors are working more from home on their duties, requiring more focus and more responsibility to do our work well and remain accessible to the public. I am constantly impressed with the work done in this new environment. Our quality standards are high and will remain so.

In the last month I have attended many meetings by video conference, as directors work hard to develop a Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, and I observe the same commitment to our natural resources, both for protection and appropriate use. Ageless challenges like flood protection, water quality and drought mitigation remain, regardless of our place of work and how we do it. Please know that the Lower Platte South NRD remains committed to protecting the public and protecting our precious natural resources.

Make plans to visit our lakes trails and wetlands soon! NRD areas have plenty of space for you to enjoy getting out into nature while maintaining social distancing between you and other healthy guests. View our rec areas.

Marsh Wren Saline Wetland

Oak Creek Trail

MoPac East Trail

WildWood Lake

Our Education team is usually busy in the spring hosting Family Nature Nights, leading classroom presentations and facilitating Field Trips for students. With school closures due to COVID-19, we went to Plan B and developed a virtual classroom page on our website. It’s got materials we’ve developed to share with you! You’ll find videos, activity sheets and resources links. Visit the environmental education page. 

We love to see pictures when people are enjoying our NRD areas! Be sure and Capture the Moment with a selfie, group shot or pretty picture of the area! Tag us using #lpsnrd or message them to our Facebook page. If we feature your picture(s) on a Fan Photo Friday we’ll mail you an NRD shirt!