CPNRD Staff | CPNRD

Central Platte NRD’s physical office is closed to the public to ensure a healthy and safe environment for our employees and communities. We continue to closely monitor the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, along with implementing the latest recommendations from federal, state and local authorities. Central Platte NRD staff is answering phone calls and replying to emails.

If you are not already utilizing our digital tools for updated information, we strongly encourage you to begin using the District’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

As we navigate through these uncertain times, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (308) 385-6282.


General Manager Lyndon Vogt vogt@cpnrd.org	Lyndon is responsible for seeing that all the programs, projects and priorities of the CPNRD Board of Directors are carried out in a timely and efficient manner. He's also responsible for all NRD staff and their activities, acts as contracting officer for the District, and oversees the long-range and short-term planning and finances of the District. Lyndon began his career in 1996 at the Lower Niobrara NRD and then moved to the Upper Niobrara White NRD in 2001. Lyndon has been employed by the CPNRD since 2013.
Assistant Manager Jesse Mintken mintken@cpnrd.org	Jesse works closely with engineering firms, local, state and federal agencies on the District's projects. He also works with landowners on projects that are in the same proximity of their land including flood control. He was also heavily involved in the rehabilitation of the Dawson County irrigation canals. Jesse has been employed by the NRD since 2007.
Administrative Assistant Kelly Cole cole@cpnrd.org	Kelly oversees the accounting system, prepares election certifications and oversees insurance. She manages the Conservation Tree Program and cost-share programs. Kelly makes travel arrangements for board/staff and also coordinates the NE Children's Groundwater Festival. Kelly has been employed by the NRD since 2001.
Projects Assistant Tom Backer backer@cpnrd.org	Tom manages the tree planting crew and does all of the physical maintenance of the NRD's projects including the Upper Prairie/Silver/Moores Flood Control Project, Kearney Northeast, Wood River Floodway, and 40 flood control dams. Tom has been employed by the NRD since 1984.
Habitat Easement Specialist Krystal Bialas Krystal.Bialas@usda.gov	Krystal helps restore and protect wetlands in South Central Nebraska by working with the Wetland Reserve Program/Easement (WRP/WRE). She continually assists WRP/WRE producers to do wildlife and habitat management. Also, assist new producers enroll into the program.
Range Management Specialist David Carr carr@cpnrd.org	David is the Prescribed Fire Program manager and NRD Safety Program coordinator. He works with private landowners, and other organizations to successfully plan, implement and monitor prescribed fires, which are done for rangeland and habitat improvement. His duties include planning and coordinating fire training, and public education involving the safe use of prescribed fire. David helps out wherever is necessary including taking water samples, depth to groundwater measurements, and collection of gallons per minute measurements on irrigation wells. David has been employed by the NRD since 2004.
Water Resources Specialist Dan Clement dclement@cpnrd.org	Dan's duties include issuing groundwater well permits, assisting in updating water well registrations, technical assistance in well decommissioning, setting up the water quality sampling protocol and measuring surface flow in the rivers and streams throughout the NRD. He is also the vadose zone coordinator and helps with chemigation systems inspections, reading irrigation well flows and taking GPS locations for the Groundwater Management Plan. Dan has been employed by the NRD since 1988.
Water Quality Programs Assistant Tricia Dudley dudley@cpnrd.org	Tricia manages the District’s Groundwater Quality Management Program; maintaining and compiling the records and data submitted for the program. She also administers the District’s Chemigation Program’s data, permits and inspections. Tricia has been employed by the NRD since 2016.
District Hydrologist PhD Brandi Flyr flyr@cpnrd.org	Brandi's duties center around surface water & groundwater studies. The Platte River Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) requires much of her time as she works with others to develop the groundwater database and regional groundwater models for the Platte River Area above Columbus, NE. The Conjunctive Management Study, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, & Water Action Plan committees are additional items Brandi is involved with. Other hydrology work tasks include high groundwater investigations and storm water runoff from precipitation events. Brandi has been employed by the NRD since 2017.
Thirty Mile Ditch Manager Jim Harris	Jim assists the Cozad Canal Board in supervising operations of the canal including ordering water needed, control head gates and river gates and monitor river returns. He also sets the water delivery schedule for irrigation customers.
Resources Conservationist Bill Hiatt hiatt@cpnrd.org	Bill's focus is field assists with project maintenance, trees, habitat, water, & education programs. He was raised in Minden & was a Wildland Firefighter for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Garden County, NE. He majored in Natural Resource Ecology and Management at OSU. Bill has been employed by CPNRD since 2017.
Secretary/Receptionist Deb Jarzynka cpnrd@cpnrd.org	Deb greets people and directs them to the appropriate staff. She orders office supplies, maintains the copy machines, distributes mail, and maintains the filing system. She prepares bank deposits, the monthly board meeting packets, and quarterly travel for the board. She keeps track of expense reports and staff leave. Deb has been employed by the NRD since 1988.
District Secretary Hall County Field Office Marcyne Johnson Marcyne.johnson@ne.nacdnet.net	Marcyne provides administrative support to the Grand Island field office, working jointly with NRCS and CPNRD staff, as well as other partnering agencies. Her duties include administering & maintaining cost-share applications for various programs, ensuring participant eligibility is met. Marcyne also assists with FSA-1026 requests for HEL and wetland determinations. Data entry, ordering supplies and file maintenance are also a part of administrative duties. Marcyne has been employed with the NRD since 2015.
District Secretary Dawson County Field Office Samantha Keith Samantha.Keith@ne.nacdnet.net	Samantha is the first point of contact for landowners that come in or call the office. Her duties include data entry, records management, and mailing. Samantha also helps administer the conservation programs. Samantha has been employed by the NRD since 2009.
Demo Project Coordinator Dean Krull dkrull1@unl.edu	As an employee of the University of Nebraska and a long time partner with the Central Platte NRD, Dean conducts field demonstrations with the agricultural clientele throughout the district; focusing on best management practices that coincide with CPNRD's Groundwater Management Plan. He has partnered with CPNRD since 1980.
Information/Education Specialist Marcia Lee lee@cpnrd.org	Marcia conducts the District's public relations, education, and wellness programs. She is responsible for District outreach with local media, print materials, and social media. She also works with staff to set the monthly board agenda. As part of the District's educational outreach, she presents activities for K-12 classes, coordinates the outdoor classroom program, Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival, and regional high school contests for land judging, range judging, and the Envirothon. Marcia has been employed by the NRD since 1999.
District Secretary Buffalo County Field Office Shelly Lippincott Shelly.Lippincott@ne.nacdnet.net	Shelly's duties include file management, ordering and tracking, quarterly reports to NRCS state office, yearly irrigation water management records to producers, incoming and outgoing land transfers, and assist with NRD conservation programs. Shelly has been employed by the NRD since 2000.
Resources Conservationist Shane Max max@cpnrd.org	Shane's duties include measurement of groundwater quantity levels, collection of water samples for quality analysis, water flow metering, chemigation inspections, GIS projects, prescribed burning, and assisting in other NRD projects. Shane has been employed by the NRD since 2012.
Easement Habitat Specialist Ele Nugent Eleanor.Nugent@usda.gov	Ele provides support for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s conservation easement programs, including the Wetlands Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Easement, and Agricultural Land Easement. Her duties include helping landowners sign up for conservation programs, writing wetland management plans, monitoring existing easements, and coordinating between conservation partners. She works throughout south-central Nebraska. Ele has been employed by the NRD since 2019.
Thirty Mile Technician Mike Ostergard	Mike assists the Thirty Mile Canal supervisor in operations of the canal including ordering water needed, control head gates & river gates and monitor river returns. He also sets the water delivery schedule for irrigation customers.
Thirty Mile Office Manager Marci Ostergard	Marci assists the Canal Board with bookkeeping, contracts, staff & stockholder meetings, audit, inventory, billings, water rights and stock certificates.
Cozad Ditch Manager Mike Schmeeckle	Mike assists the Cozad Canal Board in supervising operations of the canal including ordering water needed, control head gates & river gates & monitor river returns. He also sets the water delivery schedule for irrigation customers.
Easement Administrative Specialist Michelle Steffen Michelle.Steffen@usda.gov	Michelle provides administrative support to the Wetland Team in the Grand Island Area Office and partnering agencies. Her duties include records management for the WRE/WREP contracts in the Central Area, development of Outreach materials, answering producer phone calls and input of information into the proper system for State and National records keeping. She has been employed by the NRD since 2019.
GIS Coordinator Angela Warner warner@cpnrd.org	Angela provides technical assistance in the design, maintenance, development, & creation of databases, maps and other related GIS (Global Information Systems) projects. She works particularly with certification of irrigated acres and waterbank transfers within the District. Her additional duties include: liaison with county assessors, assisting with well registrations, and troubleshooting GIS issues. Angela has been employed by the NRD since 2006.
Water Resources Technician Courtney Widup widup@cpnrd.org	Courtney conducts data collection and analysis for the District’s water quality and quantity programs, as well as providing GIS assistance and database management for those projects. She is responsible for collecting water samples, water level measurements, assisting with research projects and various other NRD ventures. Courtney has been employed by the NRD since 2018.
GIS Image Analyst Luke Zakrzewski luke@cpnrd.org	Luke's primary duties involve maintaining databases associated with certifying irrigated acres and the NRD's Water Bank. Luke also develops and manages GIS/GPS datasets for other NRD projects and occasional field work when needed. Luke has been employed by the NRD since 2011.