Platte Valley Weed Management Area
Invasive Plant Species Control Along the Central Platte River (23/24-01)
Total Dollars Requested: $595,000.00
Total Dollars Funded: $141,796.00
During the draught years of 2000-2006 invasive species infested and formed thick monocultures within the Platte River of central Nebraska reducing flow conveyance, reducing wildlife habitat, increasing water consumption by invasive vegetation, and reducing the ability of irrigators to divert Platte River flows. The choking of river channels by invasive vegetation is causing low land flooding throughout much of the project area that requires a system wide approach for control while targeting specific areas. With the thousands of acres of infestation, lack of defined ownership and herbicide restrictions/need of specialized vehicles for application landowners cannot effectively control the invasive vegetation. Platte Valley and partners have collaborated on this issue since 2008 and have shown great steps but yearly maintenance and expansion of control on remaining acres is needed along with implementing a cost share program to private landowners. In addition to direct control by WMA a cost-share program is being implemented to assist landowners in controlling invasive species within riparian zones. WMA will also implement and Early Detection and Rapid Response approach on new invasive plant species that are detected along the Platte River. PVWMA will expand this work along tributaries in 2023.
Southwest Weed Management Association
Western Republican River Riparian Habitat Improvement Project (23/24-02)
Total Dollars Requested: $125,000.00
Total Dollars Funded: $125,000.00
The Western Republican River Basin Riparian Habitat Project will continue management actions to improve water quantity, quality and enhance water flows within the Republican River watershed in southwest Nebraska. These actions will enhance water flow for the length of the Republican River in Nebraska. The severe drought has focused attention on how to effectively manage the water supplies in southwest Nebraska. There is an increased awareness of the water consumed by invasive and unwanted species in the watershed. Studies have documented the negative impacts of invasive and non-desirable vegetation reducing available water some surface runoff springs and drainages. This project will continue to build on previous years efforts. We are making a very concerted effort to engage with the county weed superintendents and county commissioners. We are also expanding our cooperation with the Middle Republican Natural Resource District, the Upper Republican Natural Resource District and Nebraska Game and Parks.
Lower Platte Weed Management
Lower Platte River & Tributaries - Water Conveyance & Habitat Improvement Project (23/24-03)
Total Dollars Requested: $372,017.00
Total Dollars Funded: $180,738.00
The Lower Platte WMA project will benefit every Nebraskan by improving water conveyance & wildlife habitat throughout the Lower Platte River and its tributaries. Implementation of the project is through a coordinated effort between the LPWMA and its partners by surveying and mapping the project area with GPS point data and providing the gathered information to the contractors for treatment. By using GPS data point information, we are extremely efficient and effective in our approach to controlling unwanted vegetation. Treatment of invasive species along the flowing rivers and streams will be made by helicopter, airboat, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) to maximize our control cost.
This year’s project includes phase 2 of the research by the University of Nebraska Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The goal of this research includes developing an intelligent sensing and application system for mapping and automatically differentiating nonnative phragmites in riparian areas, followed by site-specific application using the state-of-the-art drone-based platforms and artificial intelligence-based decision makings.
The LPWMA has excellent contributing partners including private landowners, County Weed Control personnel, Lower Platte South NRD, Lower Platte North NRD and Papio–Missouri NRD along with Nebraska Game & Parks to name a few. Future maintenance and administration support of the project will be achieved through financial commitments from our NRD partners and private landowner cost share. NDA/Riparian Vegetation Management funding will be matched with $90,000 from our committed partners.
Protecting the “Waters of the State” Every Nebraskan, especially those along the flowing rivers and streams will greatly benefit from the treatment of invasive vegetation. Increasing water conveyance, protecting livelihoods, infrastructure, wildlife habitat, public health and water for human consumption are just a few of the goals of the LPWMA. Water is the State’s most valuable resource and protecting this resource will remain our top priority.
Nebraska Weed Management Area
NEWMAC Continues Noxious and Invasive Riparian Vegetation Control (23/24-04)
Total Dollars Requested: $1,794,722.00
Total Dollars Funded: $103,005.00
The Nebraska Weed Management Area Coalition (NEWMAC) group has expanded over the past year. We now have seven WMAs involved. This grant request involves on the ground noxious and invasive weed survey and control in 30 Nebraska Counties including hundreds of river miles and thousands of acres within the flood plain. Our educational component produces over 100,000 copies of The Weed Watch. NEWMAC would like to help with funding and support of a conference that will host folks from many parts of North America as they travel to Lincoln, NE. for the North American Invasive Species Association Annual Conference.
By having Regional WMA meetings, more County Weed Superintendents are getting involved in weed control projects. Within Sandhills WMA, two counties (Grant and Greeley) have not conducted any spray programs in their counties for years. Devan Polt of Grant County and Margaret Vallodao of Greeley County are requesting equipment to begin programs in counties that do not currently have budgets to purchase the equipment. This would allow them to help with controlling the noxious and invasive weeds in riparian areas in their counties.
The Northeast Nebraska Weed Management Area recently joined NEWMAC and is involved in this request with a large project to control phragmites in Knox County. A partnership of Northeast counties, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and US Army Corps of Engineers will continue the battle against phragmites near Niobrara Nebraska.
MNWAG, PRIDE and Sandhills will all continue with riparian weed control projects including helicopter, airplane, Argo, drones, UTV, ATV and biological control methods. The importance of continuing the projects once the work has started cannot be stressed enough. Perennial noxious weeds require a perennial effort to control, and the continuation of control efforts is vital.
This grant request is for projects done by NEWMAC, MNWAG, Northeast WMA, PRIDE and Sandhills. Ongoing projects that prove working together works! Thank you for letting us apply for this funding.
Twin Valley Weed Management Area
Eastern Republican/Little Blue Watershed Improvement Project (23/24-05)
Total Dollars Requested: $922,800.00
Total Dollars Funded: $155,461.00
The highly successful Eastern Republican/Little Blue Watershed Improvement Project continues ongoing efforts to eradicate invasive species, control vegetation in stream channels, and improve riparian habitat along the Republican and Little Blue Rivers and their tributaries within our nine counties. This means that we will continue to utilize control efforts for this project by operating in a holistic manner, utilizing mechanical, biological, and chemical tools. This program will continue to build upon previous years efforts. TVWMA has undertaken the job to improve stream flow along the Republican and Little Blue Rivers to assist Nebraska in meeting its water delivery obligations to Kansas by conducting a Little Blue River debris removal totaling 125 miles of cleanup. TVWMA will also be conducting a bank restoration project in Furnas County by restoring a bank that has been devastated by erosion. By focusing on the entire watershed area, restoration and maintenance of healthy river systems prevents wasteful degradation of water resources, improves riparian habitat, and increases public awareness of the best practices that can be used to properly manage lands within the watershed.
