Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development

Local people know what's best for their own communities. Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D Council is local folks working to identify and complete projects important to communities in Dodge, Dakota, Thurston, Burt, Washington and Cuming counties. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in Council projects.

On Saturday, September 27th, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to noon, the Loess Hills RC&D Council coordinated a scrap tire collection at the Washington County fairgrounds in Arlington, Nebraska. During the four hour collection, the Arlington Fire Department unloaded more than 8,000 tires from 260+ vehicles. The project was funded through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

We completed three HHW collections in Dakota City, Bancroft and Oakland in August. A total of 11,910 pounds of hazardous waste were collected for proper disposal. This included more than 7,000 pounds of paint, 2,000 pounds of pesticides and 1,000 pounds of batteries. The collection was made possible by a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and local volunteers.

On Wednesday, July 16th the Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D held a scrap computer/electronics disposal event in Beemer. The response was overwhelming. Half-way through the event, the Electronic Recyclers, Inc. truck was already full! The Loess Hills RC&D is grateful to Jay Petz of Beemer for quickly providing a trailer and additional storage to keep the event going! The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality funded the event.

Anyone interested in learning more about organic farming methods, certification, and marketing, should attend Nebraska Statewide Organic Farming Project sessions. Our office is acting as a facilitator for informational/educational sessions including farm tours. Call Kent or Deb for more information (402)685-5175

Scrap Tire Collection! The June 16th scrap tire collection in West Point was a success! The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Funded the event. Preliminary tire tally is 7,706 and still counting. The Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D Council truly thanks the following West Point businesses for their support: Lincoln Street Market, Pizza Ranch, Subway and Pizza Hut. We also want to thank the Nebraska Farmers Union and Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems for volunteer unloading assistance.

This ongoing project brings together weed superintendents from Dakota, Dodge, Thurston, Burt, Washington, and Cuming Counties to map infestations of noxious weeds and promote strategies to control and/or eradicate infestations. Noxious weeds such as Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) invade and completely take over bodies of water rendering them useless for recreation or wildlife habitat.

Our August Artist of the Month is Kevin Hansen from Tekamah. Kevin creates beautiful vases and vessels using native and exotic woods constructed using a segmented woodturning process. One vase alone can have as many as 860 pieces. Take a look at these photos! Or, stop in to the office to see these and other pieces on display through July 31st.

Projects