The 24th annual Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Informational Seminar was held February 7, 2019 in Grand Island, Nebraska. This year’s seminar focused on projects and issues across the entire RWBJV Administrative Area including, and expanding beyond, the Rainwater Basin Wetland Complex. The plenary session highlighted the North American Waterfowl Management
The first year is in the books, and the RWBJV partners successfully delivered over 1,900 acre-feet of water into Funk Waterfowl Production Area (WPA). Surface water deliveries first reached Funk WPA on November 20, 2018 and were completed one month later. Multiple partners worked with the staff at the U.S.
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 9/6/18) The western portion of the Rainwater Basin region provides important stopover habitat for many migratory waterbirds, including waterfowl, shorebirds, and the endangered Whooping Crane. Restoration of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) is a high priority for the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District (WMD), particularly in the western portion of
(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 5/9/18) Expert information, landowner opportunities, networking, and great food, company and conversation were some of the reasons the 23rd annual RWBJV Informational Seminar was considered a huge success by its 194 attendees, including landowners, conservation professionals, academics, students, and natural resource volunteers. Over 40 agencies and organizations were represented.
(Posted 5/8/18) Since 2012, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture has helped fund research focused on better understanding the potential for and the impacts of cattle grazing in wetlands. The first project (2012-2014) focused on the impacts of cattle grazing on seed production in Rainwater Basin wetlands. An article based on
(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
(Posted 5/8/18) The Rainwater Basin (RWB) is an important staging area for migrating waterfowl, extending over 21 counties with approximately 40,000 acres of wetlands. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) owns and manages 35 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in 11 of the 21 counties. These properties encompass 8,953 acres
