• The current Nebraska version of CREP
• The Federal CREP home page

The NRDs are exploring the idea of using CREP money to help compensate the landowner for the retirement of irrigation wells. There are discussions ongoing between the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and the USDA to solicit funds to provide an incentive to the landowners to turn off their wells.

Discussions have suggested a retirement of 100,000 acres to be shared by the Platte River and the Republican River watersheds.  The DNR is hoping that CREP will pay as much as $117 an acre; 80% of this by the Federal Government, 20% funded locally.  

It is hoped that if the Platte River watershed does not use its share of the 100,000 acres, these could be used by the Republican River watershed.

LB962 allows the NRD to raise the tax it collects by $0.01 per $100 in valuation.  This might fund about a third of what would be needed locally.  This method taxes all property owners, dry land and home owners as well.  The NRD does not have authority via LB962 to raise the tax above this $0.01 per $100 in valuation.

The NRDs and the DNR do not have the authority to raise taxes beyond the limits set by the State.  Without the ability to raise taxes, the local portion of the CREP program will be difficult to achieve.

03/27/2004