May 9, 2008

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has awarded grants to five groupsto manage weeds and other overgrowth in sections of the Republican, North Platte, South Platte, and Platte rivers.

Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said the five projects, which will share $2 million in grant funds, are designed to improve the health of the river basins.

"These projects will address invasive and noxious weeds that are causing problems with stream flow and crowding out native vegetation, Ibach said. "We are pleased that all of these projects build upon existing treatment efforts and involve a variety of partners."

The five projects, sponsors, and grant amounts awarded are: 

• Western Republican Riparian Improvement Project II, sponsored by the Southwest Weed Management Area, will receive $617,260. The project will extend and complement the riparian treatment work completed in this area in the past year. Sponsors will focus on invasive tree removal in areas within 100 feet of the streambed.

   

• Eastern Republican Riparian Improvement Project, sponsored by the Twin Valley Weed Management Area, will receive $501,740. Like the western Republican River project, this project will build upon the riparian treatment work done in the eastern part of the basin in the past year. The project will focus on vegetation control in the river channel from Harlan County Reservoir to Cambridge.

   

• Platte River Restoration Project, sponsored by the West Central Weed Management Association, will receive $331,000. The project will include vegetation control in select areas within the North Platte, South Platte, and Platte River channels in Lincoln County.

   

• Invasive Species Control in the Central Platte River Project, sponsored by the Platte Valley Weed Management Area, will receive $300,000. The project will focus on vegetation control in the Platte River channel from the Lincoln County/Dawson County line east to Elm Creek.

   

• High Plains Invasive Species Project, sponsored by the High Plains Weed Management Association, will receive $250,000. The project will focus on vegetation control in the North Platte River channel starting from the state line to the Garden County/ Keith County line.

"Grant requests far outweighed the dollars available," Ibach said.

"Projects selected keep with the LB 701 objective of improving conveyance of stream flow, but also will be managed in a way that meets our obligations to Nebraska landowners, our natural resources, and wildlife." The funding was awarded through the Riparian Vegetation Management Grant Program, which was authorized in LB 701, the comprehensive water legislation approved in 2007. The legislation allowed for $2 million in funding for 2007 and $2 million for 2008.

Nebraska Department of Agriculture News Release