Nemaha NRD

Office Information

• District Conservationist Biographical Sketch             
• Resource Needs and Concerns
• Priorities Addressed by NRCS
• Primary Programs and Services
• Nemaha NRD homepage
• Nemaha Resource Assessment Maps

District Conservationist Biographical Sketch

Terrance Newell
District Conservationist
Nemaha NRD

I’m originally from Hill City, Kansas, which is located in northwest Kansas.  I graduated from Hill City High School in May 1975.

• 1975 – 1977:  Attended and graduated from Mid Plains Community College at North Platte, NE

• 1978 – 1979:  Began career with NRCS (SCS) as a Soil Conservation Technician Aide, LaCrosse, KS

• 1979 – 1989:  Transferred to Larned, KS as a Soil Conservation Technician

• 1989 – 1992:  Participated in the NRCS (SCS) Upward Mobility Program by attending Fort Hays State University.  While attending school I was stationed at the Ellis County Field Office in Hays, Kansas, as a Soil Conservation Technician

• 1992 – Graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural

• 1992 – 2002:  I was transferred and promoted to Seneca, KS as a Soil Conservationist

• 2002 – 2006:  Promoted to Resource Conservationist at the Pawnee City, NE Field Office

• 2006:  Promoted to District Conservationist of the Nemaha NRD headquartered at the Tecumseh Field Office

The primary resource concerns as identified by a survey conducted by the Nemaha NRD of 1200 households and by the Local Work Group are:

• Sustainability of Soil Productivity
• Flood Control
• Grassland Health and Productivity
• Water Quality
• Health of Stream System

Priorities Addressed by NRCS

NRCS, through a variety of programs and with help from its partners, as and continues to address the district's and work group's priorities in the following ways:

1. This area has a strong soil conservation ethic and millions of feet of terraces, waterways, diversions, tile outlets, and acres of residue management practices have and continue to be installed under programs such as EQIP and NSWCP.
2. Thousands of major watershed structures and small farm ponds have been installed to reduce erosion and flooding.  Programs like EQIP, WHIP, NSWCP, PL 566, NRD Small Dams Program, and Fish and Wildlife Service allow for more structures to be constructed.
3. Pasture and rangeland acres have and continued to be improved with fencing, water developments, and the use of proper grazing techniques through programs like EQIP and NSWCP.
4. Water Quality, which has always been a secondary benefit from the installation of conservation practices, is gaining  more attention.  Now several areas have been identified as water quality priority areas and received special consideration through several programs.  All programs offered help benefit water quality.
5. Stream health is popular with producers who are protecting miles of stream banks with trees and grass buffers under several programs now offering incentives.  Programs affecting stream health include EQIP, WHIP, WRP, CRP, NRD, and Nebraska Buffer Programs, Pheasants Forever, and Nebraska Game and Parks.
6. While wildlife habitat improvement is a secondary benefit to all our programs it's primary to programs under WHIP, WRP, CRP, Pheasants Forever, Nebraska Game and Parks, and Fish and Wildlife Service.

Turkey Creek EQIP Priority Area

The Local Work Group identified 175,700 acres located primarily in Pawnee County (with a small portion in Johnson County) as a priority area for EQIP funds.  The area consists primarily of small farms with numerous limited resource producers raising traditional conventional crops, but has a tremendous potential for forestry, wildlife management, and recreation.

Objectives are to reduce flooding, restore riparian areas, reduce soil erosion, improve soil health and increase range condition.  A network of small flood control structures with donated land rights will address flooding problems.  Environmental Trust Funds are being combined with EQIP dollars to increase the number of dams built.  Diversions with tile outlets will control the grade problems of waterways entering the streams.  Modern terrace systems with tile outlets will control soil erosion and grade problems.  Grazing lands will be improved with planned grazing system, cross fencing, and livestock watering facilities.  Soil health will be improved by working with crop rotations and nutrient management (including livestock manure).  Riparian areas will be restored through establishment of trees and grasses with livestock exclusion.  Shallow water habitat areas will be restored or constructed with Fish and Wildlife funds.

Educational efforts will concentrate on riparian, soil sustainability, and water quality issues.  Cooperative Extension and the NRD will lease educational efforts.

Primary Programs and Services

A variety of programs are available to hel pland users with their resource concerns, and with the district and work group priorities, they include:

• EQIP
• WHIP
• WRP
• NSWCP
• CRP
• PL 566
• NRD Small Dams Program
• NRD Buffer Program
• Nebraska Buffer Program
• Pheasants FOrever
• Nebraska Game and Parks
• Fish and Wildlife Service
  

Please contact your local NRC office for more information on specific programs or services that may be of interest to you.