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The Middle Republican Natural Resources District is responsible
for the protection of the natural resources
and assists landowners in planning, funding,
and applying conservation practices.
NeRAIN
In April 2004, The Middle Republican NRD, along with 12 other NRDs, launched
the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network (NeRAIN), funded
in part with a grant from Nebraska Environmental Trust. The mission of
the NeRAIN Project is to collect greater and more accurate statewide precipitation
data.
How does it work?
The project depends completely on local volunteers who report rainfall amounts
directly to a Website from their homes. Each volunteer will be given a National
Weather Service approved rain gauge and must have access daily to the Internet.
The Middle Republican NRD would like an equal distribution of volunteers
of all ages and at least one volunteer in each township in the District.
Each participant is given a new quality rain gauge, brief training and reporting
forms. The gauge is a special unit that is approved by the National Weather
Service and is necessary for the work that you will be doing for the network.
After you enter your data into the computer, it is transmitted to Climate
analysts from the Nebraska Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Department
of Natural Resources and other water-focused organizations, who will process
the data and prepare detailed maps showing rainfall patterns.
How is NeRAIN data used?
Here are just a few of the ways NeRAIN data will be used:
- To assist the National Weather Service in learning how
storms develop and move across the region, and in predicting flooding
and drought.
- To provide important daily decision-making information
for agriculture, industry, home water use, utility providers, insurance
companies, resource managers, and educators
- As a valuable tool for helping to confirm crop
damage claims.
The Future of NeRAIN
Currently, the NeRAIN project area covers 21 of the 23 NRDs. A Nebraska
Environmental Trust grant allowed for the expansion of NeRAIN into 8 of
the remaining 10 NRDs. Through this program, daily values are put into a
map that creates an accurate portrait of the rainfall patterns across the
state. The information gained from the project to date has been used by
the University of Nebraska and by weather stations both in Nebraska and
surrounding states.
How can I get involved?
The Middle Republican NRD is seeking more weather watchers! If you are willing
to spend a few minutes each day recording measurements of precipitation
using backyard gauges, which will be provided for you, contact Kara Gall
at the Middle Republican NRD (800) 873-5613 or rlawson@mrnrd.org.
# of Active Reporting Stations |
69 |
Frontier County |
15 |
Hayes County |
11 |
Hitchcock County |
18 |
Lincoln County |
5 |
Red Willow County
|
20 |
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