PLATTE LINES A column of current items of interest from the South Platte NRD

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts are unlike any natural resource management system anywhere. So unique in fact, the system is the only one of its kind and the envy of managers across the country as they seek to adequately manage their own natural resources.

One of the things that make NRDs so special is the makeup that allows for local management responsibilities, based on river basins, being overseen by locally elected boards. These board members, who live in the areas they represent, depend on the same water, use the same land, and breathe the same air as their constituents.

Imagine the vision it took for legislatures in the 80th Unicameral, who in 1969, first suggested this unique and grand plan that was so greatly different from “normal” practices. It took nearly two years to iron out the kinks of folding 154 resources-related special districts into then-24 multi-purpose districts, but the result since NRDs opened their doors in 1972 has certainly been successful.

This monthly column is being offered for your use as another source to understand more of the detail behind the District’s management of natural resources in the southern Panhandle. As a board and staff, we accept the responsibility of protecting natural resources in Kimball, Cheyenne and Deuel counties and want you to understand how we work on your behalf.

Our stated mission is to “formulate and instigate forward-looking plans and programs through a cooperative process that will provide for the long-term protection and enhancement of the district’s natural resources while ensuring that major economic and social impacts are fully considered.”

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have adopted the motto “Protecting Lives-Protecting Property-Protecting the Future.” This is more than just a catchy phrase. It very accurately reflects the scope of work NRDs across the state strive to accomplish. This work sometimes overlaps between the distinctions of Lives-Property-Future, but all are the result of our dedication to meeting the public’s needs.

Protecting Lives: NRDs help protect lives by striving to maintain high quality ground water and providing solutions to make it so. Flood water protection helps mitigate dangerous uncontrolled events that threaten the public well being.

Protecting Property: The overlapping flood protection extends to property, making it less susceptible to damage, and also protects farm and other lands for use and enjoyment. Tree programs both protective conservation trees to protect cattle, homesteads and land from damaging winds, and trees as beautifying elements that maintain property values.

Protecting The Future: The mitigating elements mentioned above help assure that generations to come have clean water, plentiful soil and properties for their families. NRDs are also hard at work understanding how ground water, which provides for 85 percent of the state’s population, works and how best to manage this important resource. This provides for today’s uses, while assuring those for tomorrow.

The South Platte NRD, like others across the state, strives to manage, develop and protect the natural resources we all depend on through a healthy balance of regulation, projects, programs and service. To do that we use tax funds collected, leveraged with grants and partnership resources, wisely to give each of you the best value for your buck.

Next month, I’ll share with you how we use those funds for your benefit. Until then, we hope you enjoy the local natural resources with which we’ve been blessed.

The South Platte NRD is based in Sidney. For more information or to contact the SPNRD, visit http://www.spnrd.org.

(Rod Horn is general manager of the South Platte Natural Resources Department. His column appears monthly).