The LRNRD fund provides monies for cost-share assistance to help encourage the proper decommissioning of water wells that are no longer needed or used.

pdf Well Decommission Cost Share Form

Administered by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Natural Resources Districts and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Fund provides state financial assistance to Nebraska landowners for the installation of approved soil and water conservation measures that improve water quality, conserve water, and help control erosion and sedimentation.

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The LRNRD’s annual tree planting program encourages area landowners to engage in soil erosion and conservation practices. On average, the LRNRD sells 25,000 trees each year.

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COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Lower Republican Natural Resources District has established a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors and first, second, and third year college students. There are up to three scholarships available amounting to $1,000 each. To be eligible for a scolarship, the student must meet the following criteria:

• the applicant must have a permanent residence in the Lower Republican NRD.
• the applicant must be planning on furthering their education in a natural resources or agriculture related field.
• the applicant must be a first, second or third year college student that is registered full-time.
• Scholarship recipients may attend the college of their choice, but priority will be given to those attending a Nebraska college or university.
• The scholarship may be received for a maximum of 2 years.
• the applicant must submit a compleated application to the Lower Republican NRD by April 1.
• application may be emailed (preferred) to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ACE (Adventure Camp about the Environment) SCHOLARSHIPS 

Environmental camp for 6th and 7th graders. 

ACE Camp will be held at Kamp Kaleo in Burwell in 2024. Camp dates are June 23-26, 2024. 

pdf ACE Poster              pdf ACE Brochure

The Lower Republican NRD offers 2 scholarships for $235. If you are interested, registration forms need to be postmarked no later than May 17th. Or they may be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lower Republican NRD scholarships are filled. If you are interested in a scholarship, contact the NRD for help to find another sponser.

Check out the Facebook page at Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE Camp).

RANGE CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS  

NE Youth Range Camp for 14-18 year-olds

pdf 2024YouthRangeCampBrochure            pdf LRNRD NE YOUTH RANGE CAMP GRANT APPLICATION

 Check out the Facebook page at Nebraska Youth Range Camp.

Corners For Wildlife gives landowners the option of enrolling in a program to help establish wildlife habitat on center pivot corners not capable of sustaining high yields when planted to row crops. Pivot corners already containing wildlife habitat are not eligible for the program as the object of the program is to establish new wildlife habitat.

Buffer strips are strips of grass and/or trees that slow water runoff, trap sediment and enhance water infiltration in the buffer itself. They also trap fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, pathogens and heavy metals, minimizing the chances of these potential pollutants reaching surface or groundwater sources.

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Water Jamboree is an educational fun day for fifth and sixth grade students from schools located in the Lower Republican Natural Resources District, the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Phelps, Gosper, Harlan, Franklin, Kearney, Furnas, Webster and Nuckolls Counties in Nebraska) and north central Kansas (including the cities of Phillipsburg and Kensington). Students attending will be involved in interdisciplinary water activities relating to aquatic life, recreational uses, water quality, non-point source pollution, irrigation, historical aspects of water, plants and water, and how water quality affects wildlife.

The event is a copperative effort provided by the Tri-Basin NRD, Lower Republican NRD, Nebraska Extension, Post Rock Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Water Jamboree will be held on two days (a Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday) in late April.  Activities are held both indoors and outdoors at the Camp Joy and the Harlan County Reservoir. 

2023 will be the 30th year for the Water Jamboree. Approximately 500 students and 60 adult volunteers attend the festival.