History of Projects and Tours
May 4, 2005 TVWMA sponsored a weed tour to Harlan County Dam. The dam at the time was approximately 19 ft. below full pool. This left roughly 4,000 acres of exposed lake bottom, which in varying degrees is infested by Salt Cedar and Canada Thistle. The tour visited two sites, and viewed areas chemically treated by TVWMA in late August of 2004. One site was Salt Cedar and Canada Thistle, and the other was Phragmities. The event was attended by 35 – 40 participants.
June 2005 University of Nebr. at Kearney graduate student Jessica Jurzenski and two associates established study plots for research of the growth and distribution of Salt Cedar at Harlan Co. Dam as reported to TVWMA.
August 2005 TVWMA conducted scouting of the Little Blue River in Clay and Nuckolls Counties. Light populations of Salt Cedar were found in several areas along the river system.
September 2005 TVWMA worked with the Army Corp. of Engineers in Spraying Salt Cedar at Harlan Co. Dam. Roughly 300 acres were spot sprayed with ATV’s in two days.
January 2006 TVWMA was awarded $20,000 grant from NDA.
February 8, 2006 TVWMA had a meeting with Bob Bettger, a representative of third district congressman Tom Osborne. Mr. Bettger was encouraging the TVWMA to apply for grants for the control of invasive weeds on the Republican River. Potential grants were discussed by Ken Noonan Asst. State Cons. and Leroy Stokes, Watershed Planner. Biological control of Salt Cedar was also discussed by Tim Miller, USDA (Aphis).
February 21, 2006 A Republican River Basin meeting was requested by Congressman Tom Osborne. Congressman Osborne informed those in attendance that he had met on Jan. 26th with Rep. Moran and Attorneys General Brunning and Kline, to discuss the problem of water-wasting noxious and invasive weeds in the Republican River Basin, especially Salt Cedar and Phragmites. These plants consume tremendous amounts of water daily throughout the watershed rather than flowing downstream. Rep. Osborne encouraged those in attendance to apply for programs to control invasive weeds and help mitigate water shortages in the river. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), NE Game and Parks, and TVWMA decided to apply for a Conservation Innovation Grant. TVWMA has been addressing this problem since it’s inception, and will continue to develop a integrated weed management program for the Republican River, and the Little Blue River basins.
