What Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District does

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska, established in 1972 as part of Nebraska's statewide Natural Resources District system. Headquartered at 1508 Square Turn Blvd in Norfolk, Nebraska, the district operates with a staff of 21 across northeast Nebraska, serving ten counties (Antelope, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dixon, Dodge, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Stanton, Thurston, Wayne) and 50 communities. LENRD's statutory mandate covers water resource management, conservation, flood control, soil erosion prevention, and recreation, with exclusive jurisdiction over groundwater management, chemigation permitting, and irrigated acre certification within its boundaries.

The district's core products center on water resource management (groundwater monitoring, irrigation certification across 647,050 acres, flow meter telemetry on all high-capacity wells) and conservation programs (cost-share for terraces, waterways, sediment basins, cover crops, nutrient management). Supporting programs include the Chemigation Program (2,219 permits in 2025), four recreation areas (Willow Creek, Maskenthine Lake, Maple Creek, Pilger), two wholly-owned rural water systems (Logan East RWS, Wau-Col RWS), and the Bazile Groundwater Management Area covering 756 square miles in partnership with three other NRDs. Underlying technology includes McCrometer Propeller Flow Meters with telemetry, HydroVu-based real-time groundwater level monitoring, and a Nebraska Environmental Trust-funded Vadose Zone Study using NMR imaging, electrical resistance tomography, and induced polarization profiling.

LENRD generates operating revenue through property tax assessments within its jurisdiction, permit fees (chemigation renewals at $20, new at $50, variances at $100), and grants from state and federal sources including Nebraska Environmental Trust, USDA NRCS, and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment. Programs are delivered through a direct-to-consumer model via district office consultations, USDA NRCS co-located service centers, online payment and reporting portals (Producer Connect), and public board meetings. As a government entity, LENRD is not privately owned, has no parent company, and is governed by a locally elected Board of Directors.

Name

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District

Legal name

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District

Website

https://lenrd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District is a Nebraska government subdivision managing water resources, conservation, and recreation across ten counties in northeast Nebraska, serving 19,489 registered well operators, 12,939 irrigated farms, and 50 communities through regulatory permitting and cost-share programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Wellhead Protection & Source Water Protection Studies (EUAHAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• Water conservation services
• Irrigation management programs
• Groundwater quality protection
• Rural water systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: The NRD operates primarily through government funding, receiving allocations from state and federal sources including Nebraska Environmental Trust grants, USDA NRCS programs, and Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment funding.
2. Property Tax Revenue: The district generates operational revenue through property tax assessments within its jurisdiction, as evidenced by annual budget hearings and tax request proceedings.
3. Program Fees and Permits: Revenue generated from permit fees including chemigation permits ($20 renewal, $50 new, $250 emergency), variance applications ($100), and various service fees for water testing and well registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is a Nebraska political subdivision that manages natural resources across 23 counties in northeast Nebraska. Its core activities include groundwater level monitoring and modeling, administering cost-share conservation programs, managing the Bazile Groundwater Management Area, operating rural and regional water supply systems, certifying irrigation acres, regulating chemigation permits, running domestic well assistance programs, and developing community recreation areas.

Product overview

Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District operates as a government agency providing comprehensive natural resource management across northeast Nebraska through an integrated portfolio of core programs and specialized services. The organization offers Water Resources Management encompassing groundwater monitoring, irrigation certification (647,050+ acres), and flow meter requirements; Conservation Programs with cost-share for terraces, waterways, and erosion control; Chemigation Program managing 2,219+ permits for chemical application through irrigation; Groundwater Management Areas with phased regulatory controls; and Recreation Areas including four major facilities. Supporting services include the Conservation Tree Program, Domestic Well Programs, Rural Water Systems, and various funding assistance programs for both individuals and public entities. The district also conducts specialized research like the Vadose Zone Study for water quality evaluation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Resources Management and Groundwater Monitoring
• Conservation Cost-Share Programs
• Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA)
• Chemigation Permit Program
• Rural and Regional Water Supply Systems
• Urban Conservation Assistance Program
• Community Forestry Program
• Conservation Tree Program
• Domestic Well Programs (Treatment and Sealing)
• Vadose Zone Study
• Recreation Area Development Program
• Best Management Practices (BMP) Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,489 registered active wells supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Multi-agency partnership formed in 2013 including Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Upper Elkhorn NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD, and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to mitigate excessive groundwater nitrates in portions of Antelope, Knox, and Pierce Counties across 756 square miles.
• Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013NDEE administers the Nebraska Chemigation Act, well registration, and provides regulatory oversight. Partners on Bazile Groundwater Management Area and various water quality programs.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRCS partners with LENRD on conservation programs including EQIP and CSP, providing technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for natural resource improvements. NRCS guides Local Working Groups in each NRD that recommend conservation program priorities and funding allocation for the area.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNL researchers including Dr. Jesse Korus and Extension educators collaborate on groundwater studies, geophysical investigations, nitrogen management research, and agricultural best practices education.
• Nebraska Game & Parks CommissionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages fisheries at district reservoirs, provides funding for recreation development, and collaborates on Cowboy Trail management and wildlife habitat programs.
• Lower Platte River Basin CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 7 NRDs and NDNR formed in 2013 to coordinate efforts protecting long-term balance of the Basin's water uses and supplies. LENRD participates in voluntary Integrated Management Plan development.
• US Geological SurveystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict contributes funding to maintain USGS stream gage on North Fork near Hadar and collaborates on surface water studies and management plans.
• Nebraska Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly develops Integrated Management Plan for conjunctive management of groundwater and surface water. Administers Water Sustainability Fund grants and Lower Platte River Basin Coalition coordination.
• Northeast Community College and Wayne State CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners collaborating on water resource studies, research, and workforce development for the district.
• City of Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska Department of Roads, Nebraska Central Railroad, Elkhorn Valley Trails NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Cowboy Trail Connector development bringing the trail into Norfolk via Ta-Ha-Zouka Park. Nucor and Wis-Pak donated right-of-way for the project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Lower Platte River Basin Coalition: Coalition of seven NRDs including LENRD that coordinates basin-wide water management. Not a competing entity but a parallel governance structure that influences LENRD's operating framework.

Direct peers

• Lower Niobrara NRD: Nebraska NRD and BGMA partner with similar rural water systems, irrigation certification, and conservation cost-share offerings. Direct peer across all of LENRD's core program categories.
• Lewis & Clark NRD: Adjacent Nebraska NRD and BGMA partner with identical jurisdiction structure, water monitoring programs, and recreation area portfolio. Direct peer for cost-share and groundwater management comparison.
• Papio-Missouri River NRD: Larger Nebraska NRD that participates in the Lower Platte River Basin Coalition. Direct peer in flood control, erosion management, and the Integrated Management Plan framework for conjunctive groundwater-surface water management.
• Central Platte NRD: Nebraska NRD member of the Lower Platte River Basin Coalition with comparable groundwater management, chemigation permitting, and Integrated Management Plan obligations. Direct peer for regulatory and operational benchmarking.
• Upper Elkhorn NRD: Sister NRD in northeast Nebraska with the same statutory mandate, funding model (property tax + grants), and BGMA membership. Most direct operational comparison for groundwater management and conservation programming.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal partner that co-delivers EQIP, CSP, and conservation planning with LENRD. Operates nationally across the same conservation program categories; not a competitor but a co-administrator of landowner-facing services.
• Nebraska Department of Natural Resources: State-level agency that jointly develops Integrated Management Plans with LENRD and administers the Water Sustainability Fund. Operates at a broader jurisdictional scale but in the same natural resource management category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NWSOmaha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lower-elkhorn-natural-resources-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District