UPPER BIG BLUE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT BLUEPRINT Nebraska Groundwater QualityRegulationsAcross Upper BigBlueNRDtoSelectTwo $2,000Burke Upper BigBlueNRDHostsboththe RangeandLand Keeping CitizensSafeThroughNew Multi-Jurisdiction Nebraska BufferStripProgram IN THISISSUE . The NDA provides rules and regulations Natural local the Resources Districts. Department of (NDA) and is administered by Nebraska the rate of acre. $250per range from acre $20per to amaximum funding program payments. Payments partnered withcan other be government fromContracts run 5to 10years, and cropland (irrigated or non-irrigated). rates by and type soil by vary adjacent Enhancement Program. Payment Program, or Reserve Reserve Conservation the USDA programs such as Conservation the Program alone, or inconjunction with other 55feet andbetween 180feet wide. buffer strips containtrees grass,and andcanbe a maximum width of 120feet. Riparian of grass with aminimum width of 20feet up to of buffer strips. Filter strips are narrow strips fieldused, runoffandpractices, volume). (depending on width of filter strip, and can remove 75%or more of removerunoff, 30-60%of infield pesticides Program. Filter strips have shown been to fundingthe for Nebraska the Buffer Strip Fees on assessed registered provide pesticides suchagrichemicals and as pesticides. by stabilizing environment the and filtering to protect waterbodies adjacent to cropland wetlands. These bufferstrips are designed andperennial streams, seasonal ponds, and buffer strips incropped fields adjacent to cost-share payments for landowners to install Nebraska BufferStripProgram Nebraska Scholarship Winners andOneAlternate Judging Contestsfor2018 Hazard MitigationPlans The Nebraska BufferStrip Program Landowners can up sign for Buffer the Strip The program provides cost-share for two types The Nebraska BufferStrip Program provides PROJECTS ISSUE ...... • Pg.4-5 Pg.3 Pg.3 Pg.2 Pg.1 NOVEMBER 2018 2019 Conservation TreeProgram OrderForm Upper BigBlueNRD BoardandStaff Star CityJuniorAnglersStageSuccessful B.A.S.S. 2018 UpperBigBlueNRDBoardof DirectorsTour Scott andBarbGonnermanReceiveboththe total cost-share payment of $666,807.84(average included 659contracts for 5,293acres, with a share of acre). $165per Statewide, program the a total payment of $25,695.08(average cost- contracts for 155acres covering with 21miles, recovery of previous payments. forfeiture of future payments, and may cause strip inaccordance with contract the cause shall Buffer Strip Act. Failure to maintainthe buffer Act and and regulations within rules the of the accordance with Noxious the Weed Control landowner must maintain buffer the strip in adjacent land must remain cropland. The provides an index to rank applications. and select on landbased value and potential benefits, and buffer widthsstrips, of buffer the sets strips, rates of types specify which suitable for Resources District. NRCS Office the or BigUpper Blue Natural cost-share of acre). $126per Tournament atOxbow TrailRecreationArea Soil StewardshipConservation"Award Nebraska AssociationofResources Districts'"Outstanding World-Herald's In Upper 2018,the Big Blue NRDhad 22 Once acontract awarded, has been the For questions, or to apply, contact your local For more information, go to: "MasterConservationist"Awardand The bit.ly/NDAbuffer ......

...... Omaha ...... Pg.8 Pg.7 Pg.7 Pg.6 Pg.6 Effort Being Led by the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District Keeping Citizens Safe Through New Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plans To keep citizens safe, Hamilton, Seward, and York County Emergency Management officials, and the Upper Big Blue NRD are undertaking an effort to update their current Hazard Mitigation Plans. Originally approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2015, Hazard Mitigation Plans are a requirement of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, administered by FEMA. Hazard Mitigation Plans are required to be updated on a five-year cycle with the plans for Hamilton, Seward, and York Counties set to expire in 2019-2020. A Hazard Mitigation Plan is a publicly- guided document that identifies vulnerability from natural disasters such as flood, drought, earthquake, , winter storm, tornado/high wind storm, and dam failure, etc. The plan sets goals, establishes mitigation alternatives, and prioritizes projects which can protect lives and alleviate potential damage to property when future disasters occur. The Upper Big Blue NRD has hired JEO Consulting Group, Inc., to assist with updating and combining all three county plans together over the next 12 to 18 months. This Hazard Mitigation Plan update is funded by a FEMA planning grant. The cost is shared 75% through federal funding, and 25% through a local match. For this combining plan update, Hamilton, Seward, and York Counties, and the Upper Big Blue NRD will provide the 25% local match. For every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, $6 in post-storm cleanup and rebuilding is saved, according to FEMA. Proactive hazard mitigation planning allows a community to take actions to reduce or eliminate threats from natural and man- made disasters. or visit the website at: http://jeo.com/upper-big-blue-hazard- This planning effort is being guided by a Planning Team mitigation-plan/ consisting of representatives from the Upper Big Blue NRD, For additional information on this planning effort, county emergency management officials, and the Nebraska please contact: Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Public input will Gary Petersen, Seward/York County Emergency Director at be gathered during plan development through online tools and (402) 643-5761 [email protected] public meetings. All communities, county agencies, school districts, and taxing authorities within Hamilton, Seward, and Kirt Smith, Director of Hamilton County Emergency York Counties are eligible to participate undertaking an effort to Management at (402) 694-5126 [email protected] update and combine their current Hazard Mitigation Plans. For Rod DeBuhr, Assistant Manager, Upper Big Blue NRD at an overview of this effort, please contact the Upper Big Blue NRD (402) 362-6601 [email protected]

PG 2 Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT Upper Big Blue NRD Hosts both the Range and Land Judging Contests for 2018 The Upper Big Blue NRD was responsible for hosting both the Area-6 Range Judging (September 19), and South Central Land Judging (October 3) Contests for 2018. The Range Judging Contest was located at the Meadowlark Lake Management Area six miles southwest of Valparaiso, and the Land Judging Contest took place at Fillmore Central the Project GROW site on the City of York Wellfield. Area-6 Range Judging Contest featured a record-breaking number of 221 students. Area-6 Range Judging top Senior Division The top Senior Division teams were: Tri- Team: Tri-County - Creighton Niemeyer, County (Alexx Malchow, Jauques VanZyl, Jauques VanZyl, Evan Larson, and Alexx Evan Larson, and Creighton Niemeyer); Malchow. Diller-Odell (Bryston Warren, Kaleb Rupprecht, Ashtyn Humbphreys, and Shickley Tucker Martin); and Diller-Odell (Ryan Arnold, Morgan Phillips, Jess Scheele, and Kelsay Schlichtman). The top Senior Division individual was Alexx Malchow. The top four Junior Division individuals were: Kara Kniep, Makinna Peterson, Trenton Buescher, and Jayden Isernhagen, coincidently all from Deshler Public School. Red Cloud The South Central Land Judging Contest Doniphan-Trumbull top Land Judging had 354 students from 20 schools Team. Pictured left to right: Dave Johnson, participating. The top 6 teams that placed Instructor, Taylor Lautenschlager, Brenna and went to State from first to sixth Schuler, Brady Harrenstein, and Scott Snell, place were: Doniphan-Trumbull/Team Public Relations Manager, Upper Big Blue 1; Shickley/Team 3; Hampton/Team 9; NRD. Not pictured: Grant Turner Hampton/Team 2; Fillmore Central/Team 1; and Heartland/Team 5. The top individual winner was Tyler Lewis of Heartland. Blue Hill We would like to personally thank the Lower Platte South NRD for the use of Meadowlark Lake, the City of York for access to the wellfield, Brisk Builders of McCool Junction for digging the Land Judging pits, and the scores of volunteers from the NRCS, and Upper Big Blue NRD Heartland Staff and Board of Directors. Hampton Upper Big Blue NRD To Select Two $2,000 Burke Scholarship Winners and One Alternate The family of Raymond A. Burke established this scholarship in his 4 Are enrolled in a course of study leading to an associate or memory for the benefit of students interested in pursuing careers in undergraduate degree in a natural resources related field. natural resources related fields. Mr. Burke was a land improvement 4 Intend to enter the work force upon graduation in a “hands- contractor and farmer with very strong interests in the management on” position, such as a soil or water conservationist, resources of conservation, and educating young people. He served for 40 years manager or engineering technician. on the elected boards of the Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. Below 4 Are not family members of staff/board of directors of the Upper are the qualifications necessary for applying for the annual Raymond Big Blue Natural Resources District. A. Burke Scholarship. This scholarship is for full-time students. The deadline for submitting the 2019 Burke Scholarship application Qualifications: is Friday, April 26, 2019. 4 Permanent home address of the applicant is in the Upper Big An application form can be obtained by calling Scott Snell, Blue Natural Resources District. Public Relations Manager, at the Upper Big Blue NRD at 4 Attend, or plan to attend, a two-year/four-year Nebraska college (402) 362-6601, or online at: www.upperbigblue.org (under the or university. “Education” tab, then “Burke Scholarship” bottom-bar tab). PG Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT 3 PG PG 4 Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT 5 Scott and Barb Gonnerman Receive both the Omaha World-Herald’s “Master Conservationist” Award and The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts’ “Outstanding Soil Conservation” Award York farmers win Master “My farm has to have insect paths and bad fungi, because that’s what Conservationist Award for the beneficial insects survive on,” Gonnerman said. “If we create improving soil health the right , then when all the insects and pests come, they will balance themselves out.” By Grace Gorenflo / World-Herald staff writer Today, the Gonnermans’ farm includes non-GMO seed with no insecticide or fungicide use. Once he gets his weeds under control, When Scott Gonnerman was young, he Gonnerman said he will start the process of being certified organic. dreamed of being a fourth-generation farmer. Little did he know he’d one day Marie Krausnick, water department manager for the Upper Big be an award-winning one. Blue Natural Resources District, nominated the Gonnermans for the award, calling Scott a “pioneer steward” in soil health and Scott and Barb Gonnerman sweep Gonnerman and his wife, Barb, conservation in central Nebraska. received a 2018 Master Conservationist soil conservation awards for 2018. Award from The World-Herald for their efforts in soil health. “(Scott’s) biggest advocacy, I should say, is his willingness to share what he’s learned through his adoption process to help others better “If we don’t change the way we’re farming, then future generations won’t their operation,” Krausnick said. be farming the family farm,” Scott Gonnerman said. “I’m trying to increase soil productivity so that my grandson can make a living farming someday.” Krausnick specifically mentioned the Gonnermans’ field days. Each year, they bring in speakers from all over the world, inviting other Gonnerman, who farms near York, received the Production Agriculture farmers to come watch demonstrations and learn about soil health. award, given to those who excel in the use of new, innovative and traditional methods of conservation on a Nebraska farm. For more than “It’s so motivating for people to come and to want to learn and to 10 years, Gonnerman has experimented with farming methods, working share their experiences as well,” Barb Gonnerman said. “Sometimes, toward water and soil conservation. you have to see to believe, and we can do that for folks.” “Since we started educating ourselves on how soils function, our driving Reprinted with permission from the Omaha World-Herald article force for a majority of our farm operation is if it’s going to be healthy for written by Grace Gorenflo / World-Herald staff writer and published the soil or not,” he said. on September 23, 2018. In 2008, Gonnerman turned to no-till — a method of farming that doesn’t disturb the soil through tillage. When Gonnerman took over farming his father’s 80 acres, had been lost to tillage and irrigation . That same year, Gonnerman stopped using gravity irrigation — a method of irrigation that lets water flow from a higher-level field to a lower level. His goal was to install center-pivot irrigation, where equipment rotates around a pivot and are watered with sprinklers. But until the soil had a higher infiltration rate — the speed at which water enters the soil — the pivot wouldn’t make a difference, he said. In 2009, Gonnerman planted rye grass, his first single-species cover , which is planted for the protection and enrichment of the soil. That’s when he developed his mantra: “Every time a combine leaves the field, a planting drill follows.” Scott Gonnerman receives The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts’ (NARD) “Outstanding Soil Stewardship Conservation” Award just hours before “We always something after the combine leaves just so we have the Omaha World-Herald award… Pictured Left to right: Larry Reynolds-NARD a living out there to pump carbon into the soil and feed the living Board President, Scott Gonnerman, and David Eigenberg-General Manager biology,” Gonnerman said. of the Upper Big Blue NRD. The Upper Big Blue NRD’s Water Department The cover crops have disrupted the insect cycles enough that Manager, Marie Krausnick nominated Gonnerman for both awards. It was an Gonnerman doesn’t need to use insecticides, allowing beneficial unprecedented sweep of these highly prestigious awards and it is testament of the insects to control invasive pests. Gonnerman’s commitment to improving soil health across Nebraska. 2018 Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors Tour The annual Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors Tour focused on the south- western portion of the District with stops in Hastings and Sutton that included the Hastings Aquifer Storage & Restoration Project and Pond site, Northwest High Hazard Dam, Coal Fired Plant, Sutton Pedestrian Bridge, Pleasant Hill’s Children’s Park, and Kleinschmidt Private Dam. These annual tours provide an assess- Marty Stange, Hastings Utilities Environmental A close-up of the reverse osmosis system used ment of projects that the NRD Board has Engineer & Supervisor (pictured center) speaks to to filter contaminants out of the the drinking approved and making consideration for the NRD Board about the Reverse Osmosis sys- water supply to keep the residents of Hastings future projects. tem in the Aquifer Storage & Restoration Project. safe.

PG 6 Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT Star City Junior Anglers Stage Successful B.A.S.S. Tournament at Oxbow Trail Recreation Area The early autumn day was a perfect backdrop for the anglers who have twice now held fishing tournaments at Oxbow Trail. Oxbow Trail Recreation Area is owned and managed by the NRD. The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors approved construction of this site in 1998 and features a 39-surface-acre lake. The dam and reservoir were designed to provide flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation. The lake is spring-fed and can store 274-acre feet of water. The recreation area was named after the nearby “Oxbow Trail” that was used by pioneers during the mid-1850’s as they journeyed west to pursue a new set of dreams and livelihood. Congratulations to all those who participated in the 2018 Star City Junior Anglers B.A.S.S. Tournament…they are already making plans for another contest in 2019. Some of the Upper Big Blue NRD citizen youth spent a fun-filled day at Oxbow Trail Recreation Area (located 1.5 miles east of Ulysses, Nebraska) Below Left: Early sunrise over Oxbow Trail Recreation Area… to host the Star City Junior Anglers B.A.S.S. Tournament on September 15th. Pictured left to right: Front row: Lane Mead, Ryder Kahney, Below Center: The spring fed lake is a perfect spot to land Bass… Alex Wilhelm and Michael Nelson. Back row: Chris Teter, Jared Knuth, Below Right: The lake is stocked full of Bass and plenty of Brennan Teter, Justin McEvoy, and Mike Aalberg. enjoyment!

Upper Big Blue NRD Staff Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors BLUEPRINT David Eigenberg ...... General Manager The BLUEPRINT Jeff Bohaty Seward, NE Sub-district 2 Rod DeBuhr ...... Assistant Manager Jack Wergin ...... Projects Dept. Manager newsletter is published Douglas Bruns Waco, NE Sub-district 3 Marie Krausnick ...... Water Dept. Manager The BLUEPRINT quarterly by the Paul Bethune York, NE Sub-district 8 Ken Feather ...... & Parks Dept. Manager Uppernewsletter Big Blueis published Nancy Brisk ...... Office Manager Sub-district 2 Naturalquarterly Resources by the District. Douglas L. Dickinson Seward, NE Scott Snell ...... Public Relations Manager Upper Big Blue Jeffrey Ball ...... Lead Engineering Technician Gary E. Eberle Bradshaw, NE Sub-district 7 Wade Backstrom ...... Water Resources Technician NaturalUnless Resources specifically District. noted or credited, articles printed in this newsletter are Roger W. Houdersheldt Shelby, NE Sub-district 1 John Bush ...... Water Resources Technician Unless specifically noted or credited, Drew ten Bensel ...... Water Resources Technician not copyrighted and may be repro- Linda L. Luebbe Beaver Crossing, NE articles printed in this newsletter are not Kyle Yrkoski ...... Water Resources Technician duced without permission if proper At Large Member Erinn Richert ...... Water Resources Technician copyrighted and may be reproduced without Nancy Beach ...... Water Data Specialist credit is given to the Upper Big Blue John Miller Aurora, NE Sub-district 6 permissionNatural Resources if proper credit District is given as the to the Miranda Coffey ...... Water Data Assistant Uppersource Big of Blue the article.Natural Resources District Larry K. Moore Ulysses, NE Sub-district 1 Dan Leininger ...... Water Conservationist as the source of the article. Julie Dudley ...... Aurora Field Office Clerk The BLUEPRINT editor may be Micheal D. Nuss Sutton, NE Sub-district 5 Sylvia Jividen ...... Geneva Field Office Clerk Thereached BLUEPRINT by phone editor at may402-362-6601, be reached by Bill Kuehner, Jr. Phillips, NE Sub-district 6 Tamra Jones ...... Osceola Field Office Clerk phone at (402) 362-6601; by fax at Janet Yates ...... Seward Field Office Clerk ext. 217; by fax at 402-362-1849; by David Robotham York, NE Sub-district 8 April English ...... York Field Office Clerk (402)email 362-1849; at [email protected]; by email at Bill Stahly Milford, NE Sub-district 3 Rita Hoblyn ...... Projects Dept. Secretary [email protected];or by mail at: or by mail at: Carleen Light ...... Water Dept. Secretary Upper Big Blue NRD Ronda Rich York, NE Sub-district 7 DeeDee Novotny ...... Water Dept. Secretary Upper Big Blue NRD Patty Connors ...... Secretary 105319 N. E. Lincoln 25th Street Avenue Merlin M. Volkmer Shickley, NE Sub-district 5 Troy Dowling ...... Maintenance Worker York,York, Nebraska Nebraska 68467 68467 Becky L. Roesler Geneva, NE Sub-district 4 Jay Geiger ...... Maintenance Worker www.upperbigblue.orgwww.upperbigblue.org Tom Johnson ...... Maintenance Worker Lynn Yates Geneva, NE Sub-district 4 Andy Larkin ...... Maintenance Worker

PG Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District BLUEPRINT 7 PG 8 2019 CONSERVATION PROGRAM ORDER FORM • Each species must be ordered in lots of 25. Name:______County (for pick up)______• Seedlings must be planted within the District’s boundaries. Address:______Town:______• You will be contacted after April 1 to pick up your order. Zip:______Telephone:______Home • The Upper Big Blue NRD will plant orders ______of 150 or more for an additional $1.15/tree. RESERVE SEEDLINGS EARLY Work/Cell • Call 402-362-6601 for assistance creating a planting plan. Please check the location where you prefer to pick up your seedlings:  Upper Big Blue NRD  Adams County NRCS  Fillmore County NRCS  Saline County NRCS 319 E 25th Street  Butler County NRCS  Hamilton County NRCS  Seward County NRCS York NE  Clay County NRCS  Polk County NRCS CONIFERS DECIDUOUS FRUIT & NUT SHRUBS _____ Austrian Pine _____ Cottonwood _____ Black Cherry _____ American Plum _____ Gray Dogwood _____ Black Hills Spruce _____NA Diamond Willow _____ Black Walnut _____ Amur Maple _____ Honeysuckle _____ Colorado Blue Spruce _____ Hackberry _____ Bur Oak _____ Buffaloberry _____ Lilac _____ Concolor Fir _____ Hawthorne _____ Catalpa _____ Caragana _____ Nanking Cherry _____ Eastern Red Cedar _____ Honeylocust _____ Crabapple _____ Chokeberry _____ Redosier Dogwood _____ Jack Pine _____ Peachleaf Willow _____ Hazelnut _____ Chokecherry _____ Russian Almond _____ NE Scotch Pine _____ Red Maple _____NA Kentucky Coffee Tree _____ Cotoneaster _____ Sandcherry _____ Norway Spruce _____ Russian Olive _____ Manchurian Apricot _____ Elderberry _____ Serviceberry _____ Ponderosa Pine _____ Sandbar Willow _____ Northern Pecan _____ False Indigo _____ Skunkbush Sumac _____ White Pine _____ Silver Maple _____ Red Oak _____NA Gambel Oak _____NA Snowberry _____ Swamp White Oak _____ Golden Currant _____ Villosa Lilac Seedlings in Italics are recommended for use in Riparian Forest Buffer Projects along streams.

Number of Seedlings Ordered ______x $1.15 / tree ...... $ ______Sales Tax: 7.5% (Geneva, David City, York); 7% (Hastings, Osceola, Seward, Wilber);6.5% (Clay Center); or 5.5% (Aurora) ...... $ ______YOUR COST $ ______

Please return with payment to: Upper Big Blue NRD NRD Use Only 319 E 25th Street Payment Rec’d______Date Paid______Check #______York, NE 68467 Trees Received By______Date______402-362-6601 Special Instructions______www.upperbigblue.org