The Cedar River Stabilization Project was began in May 2000 to assist landowners along the Cedar River with concerns about the erosion. A committee was formed, which held monthly meetings and produced monthly newsletters. The group secured funding from the Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to assist 12 landowners with cost share assistance for erosion control structures and practices.
A preliminary evaluation was completed at each site. Resource personnel from Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality, Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lower Loup NRD, US Army Corps of Engineers, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, and Loup Basin RC&D evaluated each site and recommended an erosion control practice. The group recorded factors such as streambank height, streambank length, land use, and structures threatened by erosion. The participating landowners were required to install a minimum 35 foot vegetative buffer. The vegetative buffer must be either seeded or left to grass. Livestock exclusion must be enforced with the installation of fencing, if needed. Landowners chose a contractor to complete the structural practices, and the landowners could match the grant with either cash or in-kind services. Several different practices were installed including Cottonwood Tree/Root Wad Jetties, which includes the utilization of cottonwood trees as jetties; Wooden Jetties, which utilizes used power poles as structure of the jetty with cedar trees secured to the frame; Rock Bendway Weirs and Vanes, which are composed of sized rock/broken concrete, and Stone Toe Protection, which is a mat of sized rock/broken concrete and Root Wad Jetties.In addition to assistance to landowners, education has been provided on water quality, water quantity, and best management practices. The project has coordinated three youth activities: Cedar River Monitoring Teams, National River Cleanup Teams, and Willow Planting Teams. Stream workshops, site tours, and site planning trips have also been utilized to inform landowners, residents, and youth about the project, the benefits, and outcomes of the erosion control practices.
Partners:
- Nebraska Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Lower Loup Natural Resource District (NRD)
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- PrairieLand RC&D
- Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality
- Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund
- Landowners along the Cedar River
- Wheeler Central, Burwell, Spalding Public Spalding Academy, Cedar Rapids, and Fullerton High Schools.
Funding:
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund $ 64,000 Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality $ 90,000 Cash and In-kind Match by Landowners $ 20,000 In Kind Technical Assistance by Partners $ 60,000 Total $ 234,000
Website: http://cedarriverproject.com/