2020 Boards and Commissions

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission

General Information

Formal Name:Nebraska Natural Resources Commission
Contact Person:Kent Zimmerman, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, 301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor - State Office Building, P. O. Box 94676, Lincoln, NE 68509-4676 Department Phone: 402-471-2363
Purpose:The Nebraska Natural Resources Commission has overall approval of cost-share contributions from six program funds to soil and water conservation projects and practices. The Commission decides how annual State aid funds are distributed and performs general oversight of project and activity statuses. The Commission advises the Department of Natural Resources as requested by the Director, makes recommendations regarding approval of the State and NRDs Erosion and Sediment Control Program amendments, approves natural resources district boundary changes requested by the affected districts, and at the direction of the Governor, provides a list of nominees to serve on the Interrelated Water Review Board.The Natural Resources Commission's primary responsibilities deal with the management of funding programs for water and soil resources conservation programs administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Of the 27 members, 14 are appointed by the Governor to represent the following categories: agribusiness interests; agricultural interests; ground water irrigators; irrigation districts; manufacturing interests; metropolitan utilities districts; municipal users of water from a city of the primary class; municipal users of water from a city of the first or second class or a village; outdoor recreation users; public power districts; public power and irrigation districts; range livestock owners; surface water irrigators; and wildlife conservation interests. The remaining thirteen members represent river basins and are elected for four-year terms at caucuses of the Natural Resources Districts directors residing in that basin. To be eligible, one must be a resident of that basin, have attained the age of majority, and be nominated by one of the board members eligible to vote in that basins caucus.The Commission is responsible for program decisions relating to six funds: the Soil and Water Conservation Fund, the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund, the Resources Development Fund, the Water Well Decommissioning Fund, the Water Quality Fund, and the Water Sustainability Fund. The Resources Development Fund provides financial assistance to local units of government (primarily NRDs) for various water and related land resources projects. Currently, this fund is not accepting new applications for funding assistance, but is providing funding to complete six previously approved projects. The Soil and Water Conservation Fund provides cost-share assistance to private landowners for various soil and water conservation practices. Individual NRDs administer the Soil and Water Conservation Program at the local level. The Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund provides financial assistance to the sponsor of flood control projects for the acquisition of necessary land rights. This fund is currently inactive but remains available to meet future needs. The Water Well Decommissioning Fund provides cost-share for properly plugging and sealing abandoned wells. The Water Quality Fund provides state funds to NRDs to help support their water quality programs. The Water Sustainability Fund is a source of financial support providing cost share assistance toward research and infrastructure projects to help the State achieve water sustainability, water quality and related goals set out in 2-1506.
How Many Affectable:All Nebraska citizens and visitors
How Many Served:All Nebraska citizens and visitors
Year Created:1937
Year Active:1937
Sunset Date:none

Authorization

Authorization Citation:Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 2-1504
Parent Agency:Department of Natural Resources

Memberships and Meetings

Number Of Members:27
Who Appoints:14 appointed by Governor; 13 elected by NRD board members residing in the river basins represented.
Legislative Approval:Yes, for the 14 appointees only. The only qualification is to serve the interests heshe was appointed to represent. Appointments must be approved by the Legislature.
Qualifications Of Members:The only current eligibility requirements for election to the Commission are that the candidate be a resident of the basin heshe represents and be of the age of majority (19). LB632 (2020) requires residency in Nebraska.
Per Diem:$50 per day in performance of Commission duties
Expense Reimbursement:yes
Term Length:Four year staggered terms. Appointments are made in even-numbered years and caucuses are held in odd-numbered years, resulting in about a quarter of the body being selected every year. No term limits.
Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:Terms Rotate

Meetings Required In:

Required FY 17-18:Not specified
Held FY 17-18:4
Required FY 18-19:not specified
Held FY 18-19:4
Required FY 19-20:not specified
Held FY 19-20:2

Operations

Support Staff:yes
Shared or Separate:Department of Natural Resources provides support staff to Commission.
FY 17-18 Budget:$0, budget contained within the DNR.
FY 18-19 Budget:$0, budget contained within the DNR.
FY 19-20 Budget:$0, budget contained within the DNR.
Other Funding Sources:none
Spending Authority:No. The Commission approves and allocates funding from the programs described in question 1, but administrative spending authority rests with the Department of Natural Resources.

Accomplishments

Since July 1, 2016:The Natural Resources Commission:Recommended approval of several individual NRD Erosion & Sediment Control Programs based upon updates and amendments to the States Erosion & Sediment Control Program.Actively managed the following funds.Nebraska Resources Development FundSince July 2016 over $11 million of Commission approved funding assistance from this program has been reimbursed to provide continued financial support towards completing two Papio NRD projects the PigeonJones Creek project & the Western SarpyClear Creek project; Lower Platte North NRDs Sand Creek Environmental Restoration (Lake Wanahoo) project; Lower Big Blue NRDs Turkey Creek Watershed project; Nemaha NRDs Buck & Duck Watersheds project; and the Central Platt NRDs Upper PrairieSilverMoores Creek project. Soil and Water Conservation FundThe Commission approved cost-share distributions of nearly $11 million to Nebraska landowners for installation of approved soil and water conservation measures in that improve water quality, conserve water, and help control erosion and sedimentation. Funds are allocated among the 23 natural resources districts (NRDs). NRDs are responsible for administration of the program at the local level. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance for planning and installing conservation measures.Small Watersheds Flood Control FundThis fund has been inactive since July 1, 2016 but remains operational to meet future needsWater Well Decommissioning FundThe Commission contributed over $245,000 during fiscal years 2017 2020 to NRDs to aid in reimbursing landowners for costs of decommissioning over 1,211 wells. This action eliminates the potential for these unused wells to become direct sources of ground water contamination and safety hazards to humans and animals.Water Quality FundThe Commission approved distributions of over $4 million to NRDs for a variety of water quality related measures, both for surface water & ground water. Water Sustainability FundThe Commission has reviewed, scored and ranked 80 applications and awarded Grants totaling $53,315,726 in financial assistance to 45 applicants.