About Nebraska's NRDs
Nebraska's natural resources are the greatest sources of the state's wealth and its assurance for future prosperity.
Once dismissed as "The Great American Desert," Nebraska is now known both nationally and abroad for its agricultural bounty and natural wonders. We sometimes take these wonders for granted, but they surround us from one corner of the state to another; from Harrison to Fall City, from Kimball to Ponca.
- A field of little bluestem, the official state grass, waving in the summer breeze;
- Sparkling, clean water, pumped fresh and pure from an underground aquifer or meandering down a river channel;
- Soil that nourished cultivated crops and native prairies;
- Trees, evergreen and deciduous, that shade us from the wind and cold, and protect wildlife.
NRD Structure
The Nebraska Legislature enacted laws in 1972 to combine 154 special purpose entities into 23 NRDs. These districts are unique to Nebraska. NRDs are local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect out natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries, enabling districts to respond best to local needs.
Elected boards of directors govern districts. Much of their funding comes from local property taxes. In many cases, your local natural resources district typically uses 1 to 2 percent of all property taxes collected in the county.
Challenges & Solutions
NRDs help Nebraskans respond to natural resource challenges with local control and local solutions. Often, they build partnerships with other agencies and organizations, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, other state and federal agencies, municipalities, counties and private organizations.
Leaving a Legacy of Conservation
Many NRD projects leave permanent results: dams, terraces, drainage ditches, windbreaks, reservoirs and recreational trails.
NRDs are unique to Nebraska, a state which has a long history of political innovation including the nonpartisan, single-house legislative and total public power.
In the quarter century since they were created, NRDs have experienced tremendous growth in the responsibilities given to them by state statute, especially in protecting ground water.
With information, education and outreach efforts, NRDs also touch Nebraska's future generations, the young people who will watch over the state's resources in the 21st Century.