Partnership Updates

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) recently updated the Private Land Programs Manual to help highlight the conservation programs that are available to landowners. The main goal of the update was to design a document that could be a go-to source for landowners to find which programs work best for their conservation goals. To accomplish […]

Wildlife Biologist Ritch Nelson received runner up in the nationwide NRCS State Biologist of the Year Award. Nelson’s supervisor, Britt Weiser, said, “Ritch is the consummate technical professional. He has broad expertise in the biology discipline and combines this with excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate great working relationships with employees, numerous state and federal agencies, […]

Brody Vorderstrasse started June 1st with Central Platte Natural Resources District as a Communications Assistant. Brody is originally from Glenvil, Nebraska. During his childhood Brody participated in 4-H showing cattle, sheep, and horses. He also spent a lot of time in the outdoors hunting deer, turkeys, and snow geese. Brody went to college at the […]

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV), an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, received funding for five grants totaling $958,700 from Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) in 2019. Together, the grants benefit farmers, ranchers, wildlife, wetlands and grasslands, as well as the Ogallala Aquifer. For instance, Western Basin Restorations: Improving Waterfowl Habitat, Recharging the Aquifer, and […]

Following a wetland restoration, it takes months or years to see the return of seasonal water and wetland vegetation. In three time lapse videos of 20-40 seconds, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission documented changes seen over three years. Two of the videos are from Father Hupp Wildlife Management Area (North and South) in Thayer […]

Background The Working Lands Initiative (WLI) was embraced by the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) in 2010. Its goal is to increase the value of the remaining Rainwater Basin wetlands by stepping up grazing on them. If done correctly, grazing on wetlands can be an economically viable component of a producer’s operation and provide optimal […]

Shanda Spurgeon received the 2019 Conservation Professional of the Year Award from the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture at its February 2019 Informational Seminar in Grand Island, NE. Spurgeon worked as a Resource Conservationist in Adams and Phelps County, tirelessly promoting the Wetland Reserve and Agriculture Conservation Easement Programs to private landowners. Those who chose to […]

Little Blue Natural Resources District received the 2019 Conservation Partner of the Year Award from the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture at its February 2019 Informational Seminar in Grand Island, NE. Little Blue Natural Resources District (LBNRD) has been a cornerstone partner for the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture since 1991, according to Joint Venture Coordinator, Andy […]

Dale Seidel, a landowner in Garfield County, received a Landowner Stewardship Award from the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture at its February 2019 Informational Seminar in Grand Island, NE. Seidel was nominated by Ben Wheeler of Pheasants Forever because of his commitment to using prescribed fire in collaboration with his neighbors to manage grasslands to promote […]