News

In late 2021, Lyle Alberts of EZ Acres LLC contacted the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) because he was interested in having some tree removal completed on his Clay County property.  Upon reviewing historical aerial photos, reviewing soil surveys, and visiting the site, it was clear that this could be an opportunity for so much […]

Playa wetlands in the Rainwater Basin are dependent on runoff from precipitation and snowmelt to provide habitat during spring migration.  This landscape has been highly altered to maximize production of row-crops.  Modifications have included land leveling and development of an extensive road network.  These features divert natural runoff from the watersheds that fill the wetlands.  […]

The Rainwater Basin (RWB) wetland complex covers 6,100 square miles of land throughout 21 counties in Nebraska.  Today, the RWB landscape is dominated by row-crop agriculture.  Nearly 65% of the RWB landscape is cultivated for agricultural production with RWB wetlands making up less than 1% of the landscape.  The North Lake Basin Wildlife Management Area […]

Know a Nebraska rancher, farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in the stewardship of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2023 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In […]

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Science Office is working on an NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) for the Sandhills region focusing on Eastern Red Cedar removal project delivery.  The goal of NRCS CEAPs are quantifying and reporting on trends in conservation practices, and associated outcomes, over time.  CEAP findings are used to guide conservation […]

Wetland restoration in the Rainwater Basin region is often complicated and involves designing projects that need to take into consideration multiple private landowners. On occasion, a project comes along that requires coordination between private landowners, wildlife managers on Waterfowl Production Areas or Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), and other state and federal entities. Such is the […]

Precision Agriculture In The Rainwater Basin Written By: Nathan Pflueger – Pheasants Forever Precision Ag Coordinator Did you know Pheasants Forever is working with producers across the eastern portion of the Rainwater Basin to benefit row crop operations and local wildlife? As you travel throughout the basins it is no secret that row crop acres […]

The Rangeland Brush Estimation Tool (RaBET) is a new online ArcGIS application that can be used to look at current or past woody plant canopy cover in encroached landscapes. Users can select a specific area and the application will provide a summary of canopy cover information. The percent canopy cover is defined based on the […]

Want to learn more about wetlands and how they can fit into your farming operation? Pheasants Forever is hosting a wetland workshop where you can learn more about the wetland restoration process, rotational systems, tree management, and plant identification.  Participants can attend all or part of the program. Lunch will be provided for those who […]

Partnerships play a key role in the management and conservation of wetlands within the Rainwater Basin (RWB).  The numerous partnerships held by the different conservation organizations across the state help to better manage resources, time, money, and habitat. Nebraska Ducks Unlimited (DU) recently presented the 2022 Nebraska Wetland Partnership Award to David Eigenberg.  Ducks Unlimited […]