Our Mission

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been protecting lives, protecting property, and protecting the future since 1972.  Central Platte is one of 23 NRDs created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1972.  The mission of the Central Platte Natural Resources District is to wisely conserve, manage, and enhance the water, soil, range, wildlife, and forest resources within the District for the benefit of all.

The Central Platte NRD boundaries reach from the Lincoln-Dawson county line near Gothenburg to Hwy 81 near Columbus (see map below).  There are 21 members on the Board of Directors, each serving a four-year term. The board consists of two directors in each of the 10 sub-districts and one at-large director.  Directors in the same sub-district are elected in alternate election years.  Board of Directors

We have 27 staff members in the Grand Island headquarters, the Lexington field office, the Dawson County irrigation canal offices, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service offices in Grand Island, Central City, Kearney and Lexington.  Staff Page

We are responsible for:

• Soil conservation and erosion control.
• Flood prevention, control & channel rectification.
• Drainage.
• Groundwater, surface water, and water supply.
• Water quality, pollution control, solid waste disposal and sanitary drainage.
• Fish and wildlife habitat.
• Forestry management.
• Recreation and parks.
• Range management.

The Central Platte NRD boundaries reach from the Lincoln-Dawson county line near Gothenburg to Hwy 81 near Columbus. The District includes all or parts of 11 counties: Dawson, Custer, Buffalo, Hall, Howard, Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, Platte, Polk and Frontier.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT CPNRD

• Land Acres:  2,136,304 acres
• Irrigated Acres:  1,018,829 certified irrigated acres in CPNRD.  Of those: 937,674 groundwater; 14,562 acres surface water & 77,180 acres co-mingled use (groundwater & surface water)
• Population: According to the 2020 Census, the municipal population is 144,855.
• River System: River system includes 205 miles of the Platte River, 49.9 miles of the North Channel, and 173 miles of the Wood River.
• Congressional District: The entire district is within the Third Congressional District.
• Legislative Districts:  22, 34, 35, 37, 41, 43, 44 are within CPNRD.
• Education: ESUs 7, 9, 10 are within CPNRD.

2025 FY BUDGET
The total operating budget for 2024/2025 is $34.71 million, reflecting a 0.69% decrease from the previous year’s $34.96 million requiring a property tax request of $5.35 million—an increase of $523,097 from 2024. The total assessed valuation of $22.39 billion required a levy of 0.023890, a slight increase from last year’s 0.023380. For a home valued at $200,000, the property tax is $47.78 in support of the Central Platte NRD’s conservation efforts that include flood reduction, water quality management, soil health, conservation cost-shares, forestry, land management, recreation, and natural resources education.

  2024/2025 Budget Comparison

Membership/lobbying dues paid in the 2024 fiscal year: