Protecting Rivers & Wetlands
Nebraska’s rivers and wetlands could be our state’s greatest, and most underappreciated, natural asset. They provide habitat for great flocks of migrating ducks, geese, and cranes; provide a home for fish, frogs, river otters, and beaver; and water for thirsty deer and elk. They maintain the great Ogallala aquifer, supply water for crops and livestock, and provide drinking water to cities like Lincoln and Omaha.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation is working to protect Nebraska rivers and wetlands and to restore our state’s aquatic habitat. We helped negotiate and now help oversee the Platte River Recovery Program, are supporting protection for remaining flows in the Niobrara River critical for wildlife and recreation, are working to restore habitat in the Missouri River, and support programs that protect and restore our disappearing wetlands. With pollution impacting nearly all of Nebraska’s major rivers, we support water quality programs to make our rivers and lakes swimmable and fishable again.
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Protecting Rivers & Wetlands
Nebraska’s rivers and wetlands could be our state’s greatest, and most underappreciated, natural asset. They provide habitat for great flocks of migrating ducks, geese, and cranes; provide a home for fish, frogs, river otters, and beaver; and water for thirsty deer and elk. They maintain the great Ogallala aquifer, supply water for crops and livestock, and provide drinking water to cities like Lincoln and Omaha.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation is working to protect Nebraska rivers and wetlands and to restore our state’s aquatic habitat. We helped negotiate and now help oversee the Platte River Recovery Program, are supporting protection for remaining flows in the Niobrara River critical for wildlife and recreation, are working to restore habitat in the Missouri River, and support programs that protect and restore our disappearing wetlands. With pollution impacting nearly all of Nebraska’s major rivers, we support water quality programs to make our rivers and lakes swimmable and fishable again.
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Supporting Sound Farm Policy
Over 95% of Nebraska’s land is privately owned farm and ranch land. Healthy wildlife populations in our state depend largely on habitat on those farms and ranches.
US Department of Agriculture conservation programs provide over $185 million per year to help farmers and ranchers improve their land stewardship. The Federation supports strong Farm Bill conservation programs. We support policies and programs that promote sustainable farming and ranching, and that better protect native prairies and wetlands.
The Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Grassland Reserve Program have provided over 1 million acres of wildlife habitat in Nebraska – more than all of the land in federal, state and local parks, wildlife areas, grasslands, forests and refuges put together!
Farmers and ranchers face a host of financial and other challenges — high property taxes, wide swings in crop and livestock prices, and high prices for fertilizer and fuel. The increasing concentration in both suppliers and commodity buyers pinch family farmers and ranchers in the middle. Important as they are, the problems in our rural areas cannot be cured through better farm conservation programs alone. The future health of Nebraska farmers and ranchers, rural communities, and rural resources will require more basic, structural change.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation is working alongside the National Wildlife Federation and other NWF state affiliates to improve Farm Bill conservation programs. We belong to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which develops Farm Bill policy options that benefit wildlife, family farmers, and rural communities and works to make more basic change in the structure of agriculture. We provide advice to the US Department of Agriculture NRCS State Technical Committee, helping USDA implement Farm Bill conservation programs in ways that provide the most benefit for fish and wildlife in our state.
Supporting Sound Farm Policy
Over 95% of Nebraska’s land is privately owned farm and ranch land. Healthy wildlife populations in our state depend largely on habitat on those farms and ranches.
US Department of Agriculture conservation programs provide over $185 million per year to help farmers and ranchers improve their land stewardship. The Federation supports strong Farm Bill conservation programs. We support policies and programs that promote sustainable farming and ranching, and that better protect native prairies and wetlands.
The Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Grassland Reserve Program have provided over 1 million acres of wildlife habitat in Nebraska – more than all of the land in federal, state and local parks, wildlife areas, grasslands, forests and refuges put together!
Farmers and ranchers face a host of financial and other challenges — high property taxes, wide swings in crop and livestock prices, and high prices for fertilizer and fuel. The increasing concentration in both suppliers and commodity buyers pinch family farmers and ranchers in the middle. Important as they are, the problems in our rural areas cannot be cured through better farm conservation programs alone. The future health of Nebraska farmers and ranchers, rural communities, and rural resources will require more basic, structural change.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation is working alongside the National Wildlife Federation and other NWF state affiliates to improve Farm Bill conservation programs. We belong to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which develops Farm Bill policy options that benefit wildlife, family farmers, and rural communities and works to make more basic change in the structure of agriculture. We provide advice to the US Department of Agriculture NRCS State Technical Committee, helping USDA implement Farm Bill conservation programs in ways that provide the most benefit for fish and wildlife in our state.
In the Legislature
We support policies that protect our rivers and wetlands, and promote sound wildlife management. We work for funding for our State Parks and wildlife areas, and support the acquisition of additional public wildlife lands. We support programs that improve water quality, provide for better water management, and ensure access to public lands and waters for people who hunt, fish, hike, boat, and enjoy nature.
Nebraska’s non-partisan, unicameral Legislature presents unique challenges and opportunities to influence state laws. Every bill introduced is required to have a public hearing, and must go through three stages of debate before final passage. The open process of legislative action, and the lack of closed-door conference committees that characterize two-house legislatures, makes the Nebraska legislature very accessible to the public.
Critical decisions made in the state legislature that impact Nebraska fish and wildlife include water policy, funding for wildlife and other state environmental programs, game and fish policy, and environmental regulation of water and air quality. When the Legislature is not in session, legislative committees hold interim study hearings to explore solutions to problems.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation provides information at public hearings, contacts legislators and the Governor on key wildlife issues, and cooperates with conservation, environmental, and other organizations.
Join the Nebraska Wildlife Federation’s efforts to ensure the future of Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places!
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In the Legislature
We support policies that protect our rivers and wetlands, and promote sound wildlife management. We work for funding for our State Parks and wildlife areas, and support the acquisition of additional public wildlife lands. We support programs that improve water quality, provide for better water management, and ensure access to public lands and waters for people who hunt, fish, hike, boat, and enjoy nature.
Nebraska’s non-partisan, unicameral Legislature presents unique challenges and opportunities to influence state laws. Every bill introduced is required to have a public hearing, and must go through three stages of debate before final passage. The open process of legislative action, and the lack of closed-door conference committees that characterize two-house legislatures, makes the Nebraska legislature very accessible to the public.
Critical decisions made in the state legislature that impact Nebraska fish and wildlife include water policy, funding for wildlife and other state environmental programs, game and fish policy, and environmental regulation of water and air quality. When the Legislature is not in session, legislative committees hold interim study hearings to explore solutions to problems.
Nebraska Wildlife Federation provides information at public hearings, contacts legislators and the Governor on key wildlife issues, and cooperates with conservation, environmental, and other organizations.
Join the Nebraska Wildlife Federation’s efforts to ensure the future of Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places!