About Us

The Upper Niobrara White NRD serves the citizens of Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and most of Sioux Counties. We are dedicated to the conservation of natural resources of Northwest Nebraska.

History

The Natural Resources District system is unique to the State of Nebraska. This system was created by LB 1357 in the 1969 Unicameral session. The Upper Niobrara White NRD and 23 other Districts were then officially formed on July 1, 1972 when the State Legislature enacted laws to combine 154 special-purpose entities. Districts were developed according to watershed basins, instead of by political boundaries. This system provided a more efficient management strategy because it solved the issues of overlapping authorities and lack of funds. Presently twenty-three districts exist, due to the combination of two Eastern NRDs.

NRDs have been given broad responsibilities to deal with a variety of natural resources issues including erosion, flood prevention, soil conservation, ground and surface water, pollution control, wildlife habitat, recreational facilities, forestry and range management. To perform these duties, NRDs use a combination of grant funds, revenues generated through programs, State dollars, and property taxes. Each District is governed by a locally elected Board of Directors, which ensures that local issues and concerns are addressed.

Nebraska’s natural resources vary greatly across the state. The Upper Niobrara White NRD contains Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and the upper 80% of Sioux Counties. This Northwest Nebraskan District is approximately 4.5 million acres comprised of the Pine Ridge forest, Sandhills, rangelands and crop ground. Fortunately, the local control granted to NRDs through elected Boards allows each District to address their particular issues with local solutions and relevant projects and programs.

Today, Nebraska’s unique system of locally-controlled, tax-funded, watershed-based conservation is widely admired throughout the nation.

Responsibilities

Under Nebraska state law, NRDs are charged with:

  • Erosion prevention and control
  • Prevention of damages from flood water and sediment
  • Flood prevention and control
  • Soil conservation
  • Water supply for any beneficial uses
  • Development, management, utilization, and conservation of groundwater and surface water
  • Pollution control
  • Solid waste disposal and drainage
  • Drainage improvement and channel rectification
  • Development and management of fish and wildlife habitat
  • Development and management of recreational and park facilities
  • Forestry and range management

Staff

The Upper Niobrara White NRD currently employs ten staff members. Seven employees work at the UNWNRD office in Chadron and three work as NRCS Secretaries in the Alliance, Chadron and Rushville field offices.

Patrick O'Brien

Patrick O'Brien

General Manager

obrien@unwnrd.org

Manages all District operations and policies, Budget development

Lynn Webster

Lynn Webster

Assistant Manager

webster@unwnrd.org

Ground Water Quantity, Well Permits, GIS, Cost-share Programs: Flow meters, Pivot conversions, Home water treatment systems, Well Decommissioning

Kylen Armstrong

Kylen Armstrong

Conservation Programs Coordinator

armstrong@unwnrd.org

Accounting, Payroll, Billing, Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP) processing, Budget Assistance, Public Relations/Communications

Eli Goff

Eli Goff

Resource Coordinator

goff@unwnrd.org  

Tree Orders, windbreak planning, wildlife habitat planning, cost-share programs, WILD Nebraska, Corners for Wildlife, No-Till Drill Programs, Irrigation Flow Meter reading, Chemigation Inspections,  Static Water Levels

Haley Anders

Haley Anders

Water Programs Manager

anders@unwnrd.org

Groundwater Quality Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting, Chemigation Program Coordinator, Groundwater Sampling, Domestic Well Sampling, Water Education Meeting

Tricia Goes

Tricia Goes

Conservation Programs Specialist

goes@unwnrd.org

Chemigation Permits and Inspections, Conservation Festival, Envirothon, Land Judging, Range Judging, Board Secretary, Customer Orders, District Wellness Coordinator, Website Maintenance, Social Media Pages, PRIDE Liaison, Irrigation Flow Meter reading

Abby Brett

Abby Brett

Groundwater Management Coordinator

brett@unwnrd.org  

Water Quantity Program, Irrigation Efficiency Education, Irrigation Flow Meter reading, UltraSonic Measurements, Well Decommissioning Program, Meters Cost Share, GIS Assistant, Weather Stations, Crop Water Use Reports, Chemigation Inspections, Tree Program support, NeRAIN Coordinator, Static Water Level support

Brenda Schnell

Brenda Schnell

Alliance NRCS Field Office Secretary

brenda.schnell@ne.nacdnet.net

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Vacant

Vacant

Chadron NRCS Field Office Secretary

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Vacant

Vacant

Rushville NRCS Field Office Secretary

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Patrick O'Brien

Patrick O'Brien

General Manager

obrien@unwnrd.org

Manages all District operations and policies, Budget development

Lynn Webster

Lynn Webster

Assistant Manager

webster@unwnrd.org

Ground Water Quantity, Well Permits, GIS, Cost-share Programs: Flow meters, Pivot conversions, Home water treatment systems, Well Decommissioning

Kylen Armstrong

Kylen Armstrong

Conservation Programs Coordinator

armstrong@unwnrd.org

Accounting, Payroll, Billing, Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP) processing, Budget Assistance, Public Relations/Communications

Eli Goff

Eli Goff

Resource Coordinator

goff@unwnrd.org

Tree Orders, windbreak planning, wildlife habitat planning, cost-share programs, WILD Nebraska, Corners for Wildlife, No-Till Drill Programs, Irrigation Flow Meter reading, , Chemigation Inspections,  Static Water Levels

Haley Anders

Haley Anders

Water Programs Manager

anders@unwnrd.org

Groundwater Quality, Chemigation Program, Groundwater Sampling, Domestic Well Sampling, Wellhead Protection Community Assistance

Tricia Goes

Tricia Goes

Conservation Programs Specialist

goes@unwnrd.org

Chemigation Permits and Inspections, Conservation Festival, Envirothon, Land Judging, Range Judging, Board Secretary, Customer Orders, District Wellness Coordinator, Website Maintenance, Social Media Pages, Irrigation Flow Meter reading, PRIDE Liasion

Abby Brett

Abby Brett

Groundwater Management Coordinator

brett@unwnrd.org  

Water Quantity Program, Irrigation Efficiency Education, Irrigation Flow Meter reading, UltraSonic Measurements, Well Decommissioning Program, Meters Cost Share, GIS Assistant, Weather Stations, Crop Water Use Reports, Chemigation Inspections, Tree Program support, NeRAIN Coordinator, Static Water Level support

Brenda Schnell

Brenda Schnell

Alliance NRCS Field Office Secretary

brenda.schnell@ne.nacdnet.net

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Vacant

Vacant

Chadron NRCS Field Office Secretary

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Vacant

Vacant

Rushville NRCS Field Office Secretary

NRCS/UNWNRD liaison, NRCS Secretary

Board of Directors

The Upper Niobrara White NRD’s Board of Directors has eleven members, each of whom is elected by the public during the general election to serve a four-year term. Two members are elected from each of the five sub-districts and one is elected at-large. The Board meets once a month to review operations and vote on policies. The meetings are usually held at the UNWNRD office on the second Thursday of each month. However, a few meetings each year may be held in varying locations throughout the District on different dates. Please call the UNWNRD office for information on an upcoming meeting.

Subdistrict 1


Richard Zochol

Richard Zochol

1573 CR 54
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 762-3803

Kevin Oligmueller

Kevin Oligmueller

1019 Duncan Ave
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 760-8992
Richard Zochol

Richard Zochol

1573 CR 54
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 762-3803
Kevin Oligmueller

Kevin Oligmueller

1019 Duncan Ave
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 760-8992

Subdistrict 2


Mike Strasburger

Mike Strasburger

1690 330th TRL
Ellsworth, NE 69340
(308) 282-2753
Scott Berndt

Scott Berndt

3418 254th Ln
Lakeside, NE 69351
(308) 327-2848
Mike Strasburger

Mike Strasburger

1690 330th TRL
Ellsworth, NE 69340
(308) 282-2753
Scott Berndt

Scott Berndt

3418 254th Ln
Lakeside, NE 69351
(308) 327-2848

Subdistrict 3


David Kadlecek

David Kadlecek

P.O. Box 250
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-7426
David Carlson

David Carlson

101 Carlson Rd
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-7402
David Kadlecek

David Kadlecek

P.O. Box 250
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-7426
David Carlson

David Carlson

101 Carlson Rd
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-7402

Subdistrict 4


Tod Dorshorst

Tod Dorshorst

4745 410th Ln
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 232-4436
John Burke

John Burke

7308 Thomas Rd
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 762-5151
Tod Dorshorst

Tod Dorshorst

4745 410th Ln
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 232-4436
John Burke

John Burke

7308 Thomas Rd
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 762-5151

Subdistrict 5


Nancy Fisher

Nancy Fisher

617 W Ash Creek Rd
Crawford, NE 69339
(308) 665-1580
Allen Rasmussen

Allen Rasmussen

17219 Hwy 385
Chadron, NE 69337
(308) 432-5112
Nancy Fisher

Nancy Fisher

617 W Ash Creek Rd
Crawford, NE 69339
(308) 665-1580
Allen Rasmussen

Allen Rasmussen

17219 Hwy 385
Chadron, NE 69337
(308) 432-5112

At Large


Steve Sandberg

Steve Sandberg

4457 470th Ln
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 232-4421
Steve Sandberg

Steve Sandberg

4457 470th Ln
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 232-4421

Committees

Each Director serves on one or more Committees within the UNWNRD. The current Committees are:

Water


Rich Zochol, Chairman
David Carlson
Steve Sandberg
John Burke
Tod Dorshorst

Operations/

Personnel/Policy


Dave Kadlecek, Chairman
Kevin Oligmueller
Rich Zochol
Scott Berndt
Al Rasmussen

Information & Education/Land & Weed


Al Rasmussen, Chairman
Dave Kadlecek
Mike Strasburger
Nancy Fisher

2022 Executive Committee


Dave Kadlecek, Chair
Kevin Oligmueller, Vice Chair
Nancy Fisher, Secretary/Treasurer
David Carlson, Past Chair

2022 Representatives


Scott Berndt, NARD Rep
Tod Dorshorst, NARD Alt
David Carlson, NRBA Rep
Kevin Oligmueller, NRBA Alt

Budget


Nancy Fisher, Chairperson
Dave Kadlecek
Rich Zochol
Al Rasmussen

Make a Positive Impact on your Environment & Community

Our organization is built of enthusiastic and passionate employees focused on creating a healthy, thriving natural environment. Interested in leaning more? Contact us today.

Currently one position open; full time, Conservation Programs Assistant 

Phone:
(308) 432-6190

Fax:
(308) 432-6187

Mailing Address:
430 East Second Street
Chadron, Nebraska 69337

For specific contact information related to UNWNRD Board and Staff, please see the 'About Us' page.

To learn more about Nebraska's NRDs, please see the 'Links' page.