The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant that was awarded to Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District provided funding for 10 projects that would develop whole field solutions. As part of these projects the wetlands are restored to the extent possible and protected through either an Agriculture Land Easement (ALE)
Cortney Schaefer was recently hired as the RWBJV Habitat Specialist. Cortney is a native of Grand Island, graduating from Northwest High School. Cortney earned a BS from the University of Wyoming and a MS from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. After spending seven years working as a Wildlife Biologist for
One of the cornerstones of the RWBJV partnership is its ability to find unique solutions to address on-the-ground conservation bottlenecks. The invasion of grasslands by Eastern Red Cedar (ERC) is one of most pressing threats to grassland nesting birds in the RWBJV administrative area. This is troubling since grassland obligates
Background The Working Lands Initiative (WLI) was embraced by the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) in 2010. Its goal is to increase the value of the remaining Rainwater Basin wetlands by stepping up grazing on them. If done correctly, grazing on wetlands can be an economically viable component of
Jessica Votipka, York News-Times, 3/29/19. Conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited and the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, offer a variety of ways for rural landowners to partake in wetland conservation. According to Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, about 97% of Nebraska’s wetlands rest on
The Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) is a special option in the NRCS’s Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This option allows producers to retain water rights and the option to pass their pivot over restored wetland and upland acres enrolled in the program. NRCS ACEP Team 5 oversees delivery of
Join landowners, agricultural producers, conservation professionals, congressional staff, researchers, and students for a day of education and networking about conservation in Nebraska. The 24th annual Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Informational Seminar will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Ramada Midtown Grand Island (the former Hotel Grand Conference Center)
(Posted 9/5/18) Since the early 2000s, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) partnership has acknowledged the importance of grazing Rainwater Basin wetlands. Cattle grazing provides disturbance, which promotes desirable, seed producing plants and helps control undesirable plants. Not only does grazing benefit the habitat, it also benefits the landowner by
(Posted 5/8/18) An exciting new conservation program is available in the Rainwater Basin region to protect wildlife habitat while allowing landowners to crop the site when conditions permit. The program is called the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE), a permanent non-development easement (i.e., no building structures) held by the local Natural
Hear what your colleagues and neighbors had to say about the 2018 RWBJV Info Seminar in these short audio clips. Then, plan to join them in 2019 to learn, network, exchange information, and have a great time!
