Douglas County weed superintendent urges state support for riparian projects, will testify for LB 807

Douglas County’s noxious weed control superintendent told the county board Jan. 27 that the Lower Platte Weed Management Area—an 11-county interlocal—helps counties share resources for riparian and invasive-plant work along the Platte and Missouri rivers and that recent state funding cuts have left a gap for the Lower Platte area.

Mike Reed described the interlocal’s structure, the landowner 50% cost-share model and the ecological and flood-control benefits of proactive streambed management. He said the Papio, Lower Platte North and Lower Platte South Natural Resource Districts have doubled funding recently and that those commitments may not be sustainable without additional state assistance.

Reed said he planned to testify that afternoon in Lincoln in support of LB 807, a legislative proposal that would use the Water Resources Cash Fund to finance riparian grants administered by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment. "I'm hopeful that 807 will be carried through the legislature," Reed said, while adding it is uncertain whether the fund balance will cover all needs.

Commissioners asked about removing vegetation islands, costs and whether NRDs could raise local taxes. Reed explained that vegetation can be sprayed and then removed with large-scale grinding projects; he said landowners are integral to the process and that NRDs have taxing authority but are facing political and fiscal limits.

A member of the public suggested the weed department provide urban-focused guidance online (timing of treatments, pavement-related weeds, right-of-way maintenance) to help homeowners and city infrastructure managers.

Next steps: Reed will testify in support of LB 807 in the Nebraska Legislature; the board took no formal funding action during the meeting but approved annual reports later in the agenda for submission to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.