Urban Conservation
Even though most of Nebraska's residents live in cities and towns, they are never far removed from the state's Natural Resources.
Conservation is just as important in cities as in rural areas. The activities of city dwellers have a major impact on water and soil; activities like construction, tending lawns and gardens, maintaining motor vehicles and use of hazardous chemicals, as well as solid waste disposal.
NRDs respond to these needs by focusing resources and programs toward urban problems and issues. They include urban forestry, urban park development and improvement, wellhead protection, flood control, stream bank erosion, recreation and education. Public information and education efforts take the conservation message to a broad audience, including urban and rural residents.
School outreach programs help teach children about the importance of conserving natural resources and ways they can contribute to a safe, clean environment. Elementary students attend water and natural resources festivals across the state, while older students benefit from outdoor classroom developments, contests for land, range and soil judging and other activities.
Many districts help teachers develop the tools to pass the conservation message on to the next generation. Districts assist universities and colleges in developing natural resources efforts.
Workshops for farmers and urban landowners provide practical information on a variety of ways to care for natural resources.