Rainwater Basin Joint Venture

06/04/2026

Why does everyone keep calling us that!?!

05/29/2026

No one asked for it… but we did it anyways! We assigned hunting dog breeds to conservation organizations.

Now we're ready for the consequences.

From Labs to Weimaraners, Brittanys to Blue Heelers, here's our take on which dog best represents each conservation group.

The real question:
Which one is spot on?
Which one should we have changed?
Which breeds got left off the list?

04/27/2026

“The very first day they were involved in it. They worked right along beside us” on the fire lines. - Brady Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Gruber

Prescribed burn associations aren't just focused on grassland conservation. Their efforts to manage grasslands and their willingness to step up and help their local communities is what makes these conservation groups unique. Their knowledge of the land and prescribed fire help them be value added when wildfires strike.

The story below shares the stories of two local PBA's (the Loess Canyons Rangeland Alliance and the Central Platte Rangeland Alliance) and their efforts during the Cottonwood Wildfire.

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture partnership has supported several PBA's across the state in their efforts to manage grasslands and control woody encroachment. Their value is not only in what they do for conservation but what they do for their local communities.

Full Article: https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com/2026/04/23/390660/ #

NEBRASKA - It's been a memorable wildfire season in Nebraska ... an all-time record season in fact. Multiple w...

04/07/2026

We really only have one thought...

03/26/2026

It's opening day and we wondered what it would be like if conservation organizations had walkup songs! Personally, we think these should be played every time we enter a meeting!

03/23/2026

While rainwater basin wetlands may not be a Sandhill Cranes first choice as a place to stopover during their migration through Nebraska. RWBJV partner organizations are doing tremendous work along the Platte River to provide habitat and resting places during the spring migration. Each spring, their hard work provides visitors with sights like the ones seen in the video!

03/18/2026

The 2026 RWBJV Informational Seminar was held last week. This event brought together conservation professionals and landowners to learn about new opportunities in conservation, to understand new and emerging science, and discuss past conservation projects. Topics included a prescribed burn panel, using VR to see future conservation projects, how to communicate about and promote wetlands, and grassland conservation among other topics.

We were also able to award several conservation professionals and landowners with conservation stewardship awards. Below is a list of individuals recognized at this year's event.

Conservation Professional Stewardship Award - Jessica Bolser (Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District - USFWS)

Landowner Stewardship Award - Kurt Kleinschmidt

National Association of Conservation Districts Friend of Conservation Award - Andy Bishop (Rainwater Basin Joint Venture - Coordinator)

We want to thank everyone who attend and presented at this year's Info Seminar and made the event such a success!

03/18/2026

A sandhill crane banded and outfitted with a GPS unit in Nebraska ended up nesting south of the Bering Strait on the eastern tip of Russia, wintered in New Mexico and Texas, and is likely back in the Cornhusker State by now. The bird logged at least 11,000 miles.

It was one of five fitted with GPS tracking bands last spring as part of a donor-funded study exploring what the cranes do during their annual stopover in the Platte River Valley. The study is led by the Crane Trust in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and the International Crane Foundation.

Read "Sandhill Crane Tracking" here: https://brnw.ch/21x0MR6

📝&📸: Eric Fowler

03/10/2026

The Nebraska Sandhills are home to the largest intact grassland in the world, and a Valentine man is being recognized for helping protect it.

03/03/2026

Nebraska lost more than 219,00 tons of range production to woody encroachment in 2022 but landowners don’t have to tackle it alone. The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) partnership connects producers with technical guidance and cost-share assistance to address invasive trees through targeted tree cutting, strategic grazing, and prescribed fire. These tools help restore grasslands, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain productive working lands.

Interested in reclaiming your acres? Reach out to learn how the RWBJV can support your operation or email us at [email protected].