What Natural Resources Districts Are
Nebraska does conservation differently from most states. Instead of county conservation districts, it has 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), each autonomous and each setting its own priorities and programs. Their boundaries follow the state's major river basins, so a district manages land and water on a watershed basis rather than along county lines. The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts says the system is unique in the United States. That is why a Nebraska listing may be called an NRD rather than a conservation district.
How the NRDs Came to Be
According to the NRD history fact sheet, the Legislature passed Legislative Bill 1357 in 1969, introduced by Sen. Maurice Kremer, merging 154 special-purpose entities into 24 districts by July 1972. In 1989 the Middle Missouri and Papio NRDs merged into the Papio-Missouri River NRD, leaving 23. The districts followed the Dust Bowl era, the Soil Conservation Service (1935) and flooding in the 1950s, and were meant to tackle flood control, soil erosion, irrigation runoff and groundwater quantity and quality.
The fact sheet reports that since 1972, NRDs have planted about 95 million trees, built more than 700 flood-control structures and developed more than 80 recreation areas.
What NRDs Are Responsible For
State law gives NRDs 12 areas of responsibility. The NRD booklet lists them:
- Developing, managing, using and conserving groundwater and surface water
- Soil conservation, and erosion prevention and control
- Flood prevention and control, and preventing damage from flood water and sediment
- Pollution control and water supply for beneficial uses
- Developing and managing recreation and park facilities
- Forestry and range management
- Fish and wildlife habitat
- Drainage improvement and solid waste disposal
When needed, NRDs also enact regulations to protect natural resources, and they work with irrigators to monitor water use and set up groundwater recharge projects, according to the Upper Big Blue NRD.
Programs for Landowners and Producers
Programs vary by district and funding, so call yours. The NRD booklet describes the range:
- Cost-share. Many NRDs share costs for conservation measures such as terraces, cover crops, grassed waterways, buffer strips and grazing systems, as budgets allow. Practices must meet engineering and agronomic standards.
- Trees. The Conservation Tree Program sells trees and weed barrier and helps landowners design, plant and install windbreaks. Many districts also cost-share tree plantings.
- Water testing. NRDs offer water sampling, and the University of Nebraska notes that some NRDs offer free testing to residents.
- Chemigation. NRDs conduct chemigation inspections.
- Flow meters and sensors. Many districts cost-share on water meters and soil moisture sensors.
- Grazing. Financial assistance exists for planned grazing systems, including cross-fencing and livestock water pipelines.
The Lower Platte North NRD's responsibilities page shows how long a district's list can run. It includes well permits and registration, an abandoned well program, wellhead protection, nitrogen certification and water conservation classes, a pollinator program, small dams and a weed management area. Eligibility and application steps are on each program's page.
The North Platte NRD lists conservation tree planting, cost-share programs and best management practices covering fertilizing, nitrogen credits, watering and pesticide use among its landowner programs.
Who Runs an NRD and How It Is Paid For
Each NRD is governed by a locally elected board of directors with professional staff. The North Platte NRD, for example, has a nine-member board elected locally on a non-partisan ballot. Board size can differ, so check your own district.
NRDs are funded mainly by local property taxes. The North Platte NRD says it uses a small share of those taxes, typically 1 to 2 percent of a county's total property tax collections. The Nebraska Corn Board notes that local funding keeps the districts accountable to their communities.
Finding Your NRD
The statewide list includes Central Platte, Lewis and Clark, Little Blue, Lower Big Blue, Lower Elkhorn, Lower Loup, Lower Niobrara, Lower Platte North, Lower Platte South, Lower Republican, Middle Niobrara, Middle Republican, Nemaha, North Platte, Papio-Missouri River, South Platte, Tri-Basin, Twin Platte, Upper Big Blue, Upper Elkhorn, Upper Loup, Upper Niobrara White and Upper Republican. The NARD site has a Find Your NRD map and search tool at nrdnet.org/nrds, with each district's address, phone number and website. For help, call NARD in Lincoln at 402-471-7670.
Practical Tips
- Ask your NRD about cost-share before you start a project, and whether you must apply first.
- If you irrigate, ask about the chemigation program, flow meter cost-share and any local groundwater rules.
- Look for the tree order link on your district's page.
- If you buy land in a new district, check its rules, because each sets its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an NRD the same as a conservation district?
It plays a similar role, but NRDs follow river basins, not county lines, and they are local government units with elected boards and taxing power.
How many NRDs are there?
There are 23, after two districts merged in 1989.
Can I vote for my NRD board?
Yes. Each NRD board is elected by voters in the district.
Do NRDs test my well water?
NRDs offer water sampling, and some offer free testing. Contact your district to ask what it provides.
Nebraska Listings Covered by This Guide
- Central Platte NRD
Central Platte NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Grand Island office.
215 Kaufman Avenue, Grand Island, NE 68803, Grand Island, NE 68803 | (308) 385-6282 - Lewis & Clark NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the Lewis & Clark NRD out of Hartington on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
608 N. Robinson Avenue, Hartington, NE 68739, Hartington, NE 68739 | (402) 882-6758 Website - Little Blue NRD
Based in Davenport, the Little Blue NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
100 East 6th St., Davenport, NE 68335, Davenport, NE 68335 | (402) 364-2145 Website - Lower Big Blue NRD
The Lower Big Blue NRD headquarters in Beatrice serves producers with groundwater management, conservation practices and natural resource planning.
805 Dorsey St., Beatrice, NE 68310, Beatrice, NE 68310 | (402) 228-3402 Website - Lower Elkhorn NRD
Lower Elkhorn NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Norfolk office.
1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68701, Norfolk, NE 68701 | (402) 371-7313 Website - Lower Loup NRD
The Lower Loup NRD headquarters in Ord serves producers with groundwater management, conservation practices and natural resource planning.
2620 Airport Drive, Ord, NE 68862, Ord, NE 68862 | (308) 728-3221 Website - Lower Niobrara NRD
Based in Butte, the Lower Niobrara NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
410 Walnut St., Butte, NE 68722, Butte, NE 68722 | (402) 775-2343 Website - Lower Platte North NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the Lower Platte North NRD out of Wahoo on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
1616 County Road 17, Wahoo, NE 68066, Wahoo, NE 68066 | (402) 443-4675 Website - Lower Platte South NRD
Lower Platte South NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Lincoln office.
3125 Portia St., Lincoln, NE 68501, Lincoln, NE 68501 | (402) 476-2729 Website - Lower Republican NRD
The Lower Republican NRD headquarters in Alma serves producers with groundwater management, conservation practices and natural resource planning.
30 N. John St., Alma, NE 68920, Alma, NE 68920 | (308) 928-2182 Website - Middle Niobrara NRD
Based in Valentine, the Middle Niobrara NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
303 E. Hwy. 20, Valentine, NE 69201, Valentine, NE 69201 | (402) 376-3241 Website - Middle Republican NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the Middle Republican NRD out of Curtis on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
208 Center Ave., Curtis, NE 69025, Curtis, NE 69025 | (308) 367-4281 Website - Nemaha NRD
Nemaha NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Tecumseh office.
62161 Hwy 136, Tecumseh, NE 68450, Tecumseh, NE 68450 | (402) 335-3325 Website - North Platte NRD
The North Platte NRD headquarters in Scottsbluff serves producers with groundwater management, conservation practices and natural resource planning.
100547 Airport Road, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, Scottsbluff, NE 69363 | (308) 632-2749 Website - Papio-Missouri River NRD
Based in Omaha, the Papio-Missouri River NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
8901 S. 154th St., Omaha, NE 68138, Omaha, NE 68138 | (402) 444-6222 Website - South Platte NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the South Platte NRD out of Sidney on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
551 Parkland Drive, Sidney, NE 69162, Sidney, NE 69162 | (308) 254-2377 Website - Tri-Basin NRD
Tri-Basin NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Holdrege office.
1723 Burlington St., Holdrege, NE 68949, Holdrege, NE 68949 | (308) 995-6688 Website - Twin Platte NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the Twin Platte NRD out of North Platte on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
3021 East Philip Ave., North Platte, NE 69101, North Platte, NE 69101 | (308) 535-8080 Website - Upper Big Blue NRD
Based in York, the Upper Big Blue NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
319 E 25th St., York, NE 68467, York, NE 68467 | (402) 362-6601 Website - Upper Elkhorn NRD
The Upper Elkhorn NRD headquarters in O'Neill serves producers with groundwater management, conservation practices and natural resource planning.
301 N. Harrison, O'Neill, NE 68763, O'Neill, NE 68763 | (402) 336-3867 Website - Upper Loup NRD
Upper Loup NRD is one of Nebraska's 23 natural resources districts, managing groundwater, flood control and soil conservation from its Thedford office.
39252 Highway 2, Thedford, NE 69166, Thedford, NE 69166 | (308) 645-2250 Website - Upper Niobrara White NRD
Landowners and irrigators work with the Upper Niobrara White NRD out of Chadron on water quantity and quality rules, conservation cost-share and tree programs.
430 E. 2nd St., Chadron, NE 69337, Chadron, NE 69337 | (308) 432-6190 Website - Upper Republican NRD
Based in Imperial, the Upper Republican NRD runs local water, soil and flood-control programs as part of the statewide NRD system.
511 East 5th St., Imperial, NE 69033, Imperial, NE 69033 | 888-883-9066 Website
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.