LINCOLN, Nebraska – Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) were represented by nearly 50 directors and staff in Washington, D.C., March 31 to April 2, 2025.

Nebraska’s NRDs advocate for strengthening tools to preserve and fund natural resources projects, which includes engaging policymakers from the grassroots level with a unified voice.

This grassroots advocacy culminates with a visit to Washington, D.C., allowing NRD staff and directors to meet with congressional leaders and discuss local priorities with national partners on federal legislation and programs.

“Those who work and live among our natural resources are some of our most effective spokespeople,” said Martin Graff, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts president. “Going to Washington is an opportunity to advocate for Nebraska by sharing our personal stories and also hear federal perspectives on issues that could impact us locally.”

While on Capitol Hill, conference attendees spent a day meeting with Nebraska senators and congressmen and participated in a two-day session with federal agencies and conservation partners. NRDs help deliver several federal programs locally, and these partnerships equate into real dollars for Nebraska agriculture and communities. Some of the federal topics and speakers included:

• Watershed Programs, Financial Assistant Programs, and Technical Service Providers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Nonpoint Source Branch
• Waters of the United States (WOTUS) with the American Farm Bureau Federation
• Policy and Program Updates from the National Association of Conservation Districts
• Corporate Sustainability and Precision Conservation Management with PepsiCo
• Low Carbon Fuels with Cultivating Conservation
• Trade Policy with the U.S. Grains Council

“We are grateful to our federal delegation for their support and championing the cause of conservation alongside the Natural Resources Districts,” Graff said. “Their dedication and partnership have been instrumental in securing vital funding and resources that enable us to protect and preserve Nebraska’s natural resources for generations to come.”

Back in Nebraska, advocacy efforts will continue by hosting elected officials in the Natural Resources Districts and engaging in public outreach.

“Locally, NRDs will continue to share our successes and concerns with our elected officials to ensure more informed decision making,” Graff said.

Established in 1972, Nebraska’s 23 NRDs are local government units involved in a variety of projects and programs to conserve and protect the state’s natural resources. Today, the unique system of locally controlled, watershed-based conservation is widely admired throughout the nation.

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer addresses nearly 50 Natural Resources Districts staff and directors at the U.S. Capitol on April 2, 2025.