News

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) has programs and dedicated staff that promote wetland and grassland management across public and private lands. These opportunities include grazing infrastructure, herbicide application, tree removal, as well as prescribed fire. Nebraska’s mixed grass prairies, as with grasslands across the Great Plains, evolved with dynamic conditions and disturbance. Climate extremes, […]

The ultimate restoration goal for a playa wetland is to fully restore the natural hydrology and vegetation communities in the wetland footprint and surrounding watershed. Most playa wetlands in the Rainwater Basin have been negatively impacted in one or more ways, and restoration may include any of the following: removing accumulated sediment, filling drainage features, […]

The RWBJV routinely works with partners to streamline conservation delivery in Nebraska. Through customized programs and decision-support tools, the RWBJV partnership collaborates to overcome implementation bottlenecks and maximize on-the-ground conservation investments. The latest tools is a new online mapping portal to help RWBJV partners deliver $18.8 million in NRCS funding through a recently awarded Regional […]

Intentionally and surgically burning grassland or woody vegetation – whether in the far reaches of the Sandhills or the urban ‘habitats’ inside the city of Lincoln – is a tool of great benefit. But only if undertaken carefully and safely after intense planning. That message was drilled into those who sat in for Wednesday’s all-day, […]

In the Rainwater Basin Wetland Complex, 90% of the wetland footprints have been drained, with only 20% of wetland acres continuing to exhibit some level of wetland function (pond water grow hydrophytic vegetation). Despite this staggering loss of habitat an estimated 8.6 million waterfowl continue to rely on this region during spring migration. With the […]

The tour allowed the RWBJV partners to showcase successful collaborative conservation projects. Tour stops included a mix of projects on public and private lands. At each stop, partners were able to highlight the wildlife habitat, water quality and water quantity benefits that have been achieved through investments on public lands and through voluntary incentive-based conservation programs […]

The Conservation Reserve Program is a federally funded voluntary incentive-based program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Conservation Reserve Program provides a contract to agricultural producers to re-establish grasslands on cropland with environmentally sensitive acres. This grassland cover helps control soil erosion, improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat. In […]

Nebraska’s grasslands are a national treasure. These grasslands significantly contribute to the state’s agricultural economy and support over 20 million grassland nesting birds and other resident wildlife species. Priority species include Greater Prairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Western Meadowlark. Managing habitats for these species is critical as many grassland obligates have experienced significant population declines […]

Nebraska’s Sandhills are a 19,300 square mile grass-stabilized, sand dune formation. Despite the semi-arid climate this landscape contains an abundance of lakes, wetlands, wet meadows, and spring-fed streams scattered throughout 12 million acres of grasslands. Grassland conversion to cropland is limited because of the sandy soil. However, invasion by Eastern Red Cedar continues at an […]