New Nebraska NRD Policy

[Electric Mouse]

Hi all,

 

I just recieved a call from a Journal Star reporter who wanted to know about the new NRD policy. I knew nothing about it. Anyway, they have set up a basic free permit policy. From what I gather, it is similar to the State Game and Parks policy and it sounds like it should not be a difficult process. I got a phone number for a person to talk to and plan to try to call him either over lunch today or tomorrow for more details. For example, I do not know if the policy applies only to the Lincoln area NRD or to all etc. (Nebraska has around 13 NRDs) I will find this out tomorrow.

 

In the meantime, please be aware that a permit is now needed to place a cache on NRD property. I will post detailed info here, on the Nebraskache list and on the electric mouse profile when I have it.

 

The NRDs normally operate various rails to trails trails and some wildlife type areas (Timber Point and Meadowlark are the ones around this area).

 

On a side note: I have learned through the grapevine that Lincoln Parks and Rec decided not to regulate caching, but will likely remove and throw away a cache if they come across one. The lesson there being to hide your caches well!

 

Finally, I know that some people feel offended by permit policies. Personally I don't mind them as long as they are resonable. I understand why land managers would want to know where caches are on their land. Of course if they start charging and such I would be annoyed. In the end, permit policies make my reviewing job harder, and make people have to jump through an extra hoop to place a cache, but I suspect they also avoid things like park managers calling in the bomb squad etc. when they find a cache in their park.

[Electric Mouse]

I am cross posting this from the Nebraskache yahoo group:

 

I have been in contact with a woman from the Lower South Platte NRD. She seems quite easy to work with. The new permit policy is very similar to the Game and Parks policy. The permit is free and applies only to the Lower South Platte NRD properties. I will get a list of those posted in the next day or so, but you can also obtain information about their properties at their web site: http://www.lpsnrd.org

 

The agency plans to make the policy and the necessary form available on their web site soon.

 

I am currently obtaining information about how to handle existing caches. It sounds like they will not require existing cache owners to come in and fill out the forms and instead will likely allow them to email the information. I have also suggested them allowing me to simply send them a list of exisiting cache locations, but I suspect they will want the cache owners to supply information. The person I wrote to said that they are not in any particular rush to get that done, so there will be plenty of time.

 

I also inquired about whether other NRDs were considering similar policies and I will let you know the answer to that.

 

Another inquiry I made was about the status of Wildwood lake because my understanding is that while Wildwood is NRD property it is also managed by Game and Parks as a Wildlife Management Area.

 

Here is the text of the NRD Policy:

 

PERMITS, SPECIAL OCCASION

 

I. CACHE PERMITS:

 

1. Placement of a cache on Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) property must be secured with a Special Occasion Permit. LPSNRD property allowing the placement of caches includes: Community Wetlands Management Areas, Conservation Corridors and Wildlife Management Areas. Permits may be obtained by contacting the LPSNRD office at (402) 476-2729, on-line at www.lpsnrd.org or in person at 3125 Portia Street, Lincoln, NE 68521.

2. The person applying for a permit must provide a valid address, telephone number, e-mail address, vehicle license number and the web site address on which the cache will be posted.

3. The location of the cache must be pre-approved by the General Manager whose main concern will be public safety and the prevention of undesirable impacts to natural and cultural resources. The General Manager will advise of any off limits areas, other permitted caches and possible prescribed burn areas for the calendar year.

4. Once the cache is placed, the applicant must return to the LPSNRD office to record the exact cache location, including GPS coordinates, which will be added to the permit.

5. All permits will be in effect for the calendar year. A new permit will need to be applied for and authorized each year. NOTE: If during the effective period of a permit, a permit holder wants to change the location of the cache, a new permit must be issued and the effective permit cancelled.

6. Upon the expiration of a permit, the permit holder is responsible for removing the cache and for removing the cache location from all web sites and any information source. If the permit holder fails to remove the cache, it will be removed by LPSNRD staff and held for ten (10) days after which staff will dispose of the cache. Confiscation and disposal by staff will be recorded and filed.

 

II. CACHE CONTAINERS AND CONTENTS:

 

1. Cache containers must be non-breakable, waterproof and have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife.

2. Cache containers must be marked “Geocache Container” on the outside of the container.

3. Caches may not contain inappropriate or dangerous items. Such items include, but are not limited to; food, medications, personal/hygiene products, pornography, weapons of any type, etc. Log books are encouraged in lieu of exchange items.

4. All caches are subject to random inspection by LPSNRD staff. Staff has the authority to immediately remove any item held in a cache deemed unacceptable.

5. Non-permitted caches will be removed by area staff and held for 30 days. An attempt will be made to locate the cache owner. If the cache is not claimed in 30 days, staff will dispose of the cache.

 

 

III. CACHE LOCATIONS:

 

1. The location of a cache must be pre-approved by the General Manager.

2. Physical caches are prohibited inside or attached to any LPSNRD facility or structure.

3. Caches may not be placed in locations that may lead to the creation of spur trails.

4. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground or underwater.

5. No digging is permitted. Caches cannot be buried, nor may soil, vegetation or stones be disturbed to place a cache.

 

IV. COMPLIANCE

 

1. The use of metal detectors in cache searches is expressly prohibited.

2. If geocaching activities as a whole are found to have negative impact on LPSNRD resources or if safety becomes an issue in geocache searches, the General Manager may ban geocaching from certain areas of LPSNRD property.

3. Failure to comply with LPSNRD guidelines will result in the revocation of effective geocaching permits. Continued failure to comply with these guidelines will prevent the issuance of any further geocaching permits to the non-compliant group or individual.

 

VISIT:

www.geocaching.com

[Electric Mouse]

Hi all!

 

I sent emails tonight to owners of caches on existing LPSNRD properties. In the process I realized that there could be some multis out there ending in NRD property that pre-exist my mapping of those. If you own a multi you might not have gotten an email. It is also possible that I missed some, but I think I found them all.

 

Existing caches will need a permit, but it can be done online. Wildwood lake does require a permit. The Omaha area NRD (Papio NRD) is also planning a similar permit system and a Nebraskache officer (The Shorts) is working with them on that.

 

Here is a list of LPSNRD properties. If you own a cache in one of these and did not get my email, please let me know and I will send you the same email info with permit instructions for existing caches.

 

Lakes: Cottontail, Meadowlark, Merganser, Red Cedar, Tanglewood, Timber Point, Wild Plum, Wildwood (note that Wildwood is also a Wildlife Management Area, but because it is operated by the LPSNRD they have informed me that it requires a permit).

 

Trails: Homestead Corridor (undeveloped, runs from well south of Beatrice to south of Lincoln), Mopac East (runs from 84th street in Lincoln east to Wabash), Oak Creek Trail (runs from Valparaiso to Brainard), Platte River Connection (undeveloped in parts, includes the Platte River pedestrian and bike bridge).

 

Wetlands: Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Center (east of Capitol Beach Lake in Lincoln), Whitehead Saline Wetland (undeveloped, south of I-80 and east of 27th street in Lincoln)