(GRAND ISLAND, NE) The Central Platte Natural Resources District board of directors will take action on a request from UNL to participate in Project SENSE, a pilot study that promotes in-season nitrogen fertilization for corn and improving efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer applications through the use of canopy sensors. The research locations will be focused in Natural Resources Districts with high nitrate levels including Central Platte, Upper Big Blue, Lower Platte South, Lower Platte North and Lower Loup NRDs. Central Platte NRD would have four fields participating in the research. Richard Ferguson, UNL, requested up to $26,000/year for three years at the January board meeting.

The board of directors will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at the Central Platte NRD office located at: 215 Kaufman Ave in Grand Island NE.

COMMITTEES/BOARD AGENDA:

-Grassland Conservation Grant- David Carr, range management specialist, will give an update the funding level approved by the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the Grassland Conservation Grant submitted by CPNRD. The requested amount was $864,150 to reclaim and preserve up to 12,000 acres of crucial habitat in the Loess Canyons in the western part of the District. The goal is to remove Eastern Red Cedar seed source within three short years through mechanical tree clearing and prescribed burning. 

-Western Office- Lyndon Vogt, general manager, will report on plans to open an office in Dawson County.

-Representative Selection- The board will take action to appoint a representative and alternate to the Nebraska Appropriated Basins Coalition, which the board approved participation in last month.

-Programs Budget- The Programs Committee will start reviewing the cost share and information/education requests for the Fiscal 2016 budget.

-NRCS- James Huntwork, USDA-NRCS district liaison, will report to the board.

-Legislation- Mark Czaplewski, biologist, will have an update on legislative bills dealing with natural resources. 

-Canals- Jesse Mintken, projects manager, will give an update on current construction of the canal rehabilitations in Dawson County.

-Cost Share- The board will consider cost share requests by landowners.