LOWER PLATTE SOUTH NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

 

DISTRICT CONSERVATION CORRIDOR REGULATIONS

 

INDEX

 

001             GENERAL REGULATIONS

 

001.01        ABANDONED PROPERTY

 

001.02        CAMPING

 

001.03        CLOSURES

 

001.04        FIRES, FIREWORKS

 

001.05        FISHING, HUNTING, TRAPPING

 

001.06       INTOXICATION: CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL

 

001.07       DISORDERLY CONDUCT

 

001.08       PERMITS, SPECIAL OCCASION

001.09       GEOCACHING ACTIVITIES, PERMITS

 

001.10        PETS, LIVESTOCK, AND OTHER ANIMALS

 

001.11        PROPERTY

 

001.12        SANITATION

 

001.13        SWIMMING AND WADING

 

001.14       TRAFFIC

 

001.15        VENDING

 

001.16       WINTER SPORTS

 

001.17       STANDARDS

001.18       EXCEPTIONS TO REGULATIONS

 

001.19       EASEMENTS, LICENSES, AND PERMITS GRANTED BY THE DISTRICT

 

 

***RESTATED FEBRUARY 2005***


 

001            GENERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION AND USE OF DISTRICT PROPERTY.

 

Under the provisions of Sections 2-3290 through 2-32,101 of the Nebraska Statutes, the following rules and regulations are adopted and promulgated by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District to govern the administration, use, maintenance, and protection of all recreational lands.  These rules and regulations are effective August 21, 1991 and were restated in March of 2003.

 

DEFINITION

 

The following definitions shall apply to all regulations contained in this section.

 

(a)                            District shall mean the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.

(b)                           Manager shall mean the Manager of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.

(c)                            Law Enforcement Officer shall mean any duly constituted and credentialed officer, including but not limited to any Game and Parks Commission conservation officers or deputy conservation officer, local police officer, member of the State Patrol, sheriff or deputy sheriff.

(d)                           Conservation Corridor shall mean land which the District owns, leases, or has an easement on, and which forms a passage way through private property, along water courses, streets or roads, or inactive railroad lines, and which the District has designated by separate action of the Board to be used by the public for recreational purposes.

(e)                            Special Area Regulations are regulations adopted by the District Board of Directors for a particular recreational use.

 

001.01       ABANDONED PROPERTY

 

001.01A    Abandonment of any vehicle or other personal property is prohibited and such property may be impounded by the Manager or Law Enforcement Officer.

 

001.01B     Leaving any vehicle or other personal property unattended for longer than 24 hours without prior permission of the Manager is prohibited, and any property so left may be impounded by the Manager or Law Enforcement Officer. 

 

                  In the event unattended property interferes with the safe or orderly management of District Conservation Corridor, it may be impounded at the expense of the owner.

 

001.01C    Disposing of household or commercial garbage or trash brought as such from private property is prohibited.

 

001.02       CAMPING

 

001.02A    Camping is prohibited on District Conservation Corridors.

 

001.03       CLOSURES

 

001.03A    The District may establish a reasonable schedule or visiting hours for all or portions of a District Conservation Corridors and close to public use all or any portion of a specific Conservation Corridor when necessary for the protection of an area or the safety and welfare of person or property by the posting of appropriate signs indicating the extent and scope of such closure. 

 

001.03B     All persons shall observe and abide by officially posted signs designating closed areas and visiting hours.

 

001.04       FIRES AND FIREWORKS

 

001.04A    Fires are prohibited on District Conservation Corridors, such as open fires, gasoline or propane stoves, charcoal grills, or similar devices.

 

001.04B     The use of fireworks of any kind on District Conservation Corridors is prohibited, provided that management personnel are authorized to use fireworks, scare devices or similar materials for control or management of wildlife species.

 

001.05       FISHING, HUNTING, TRAPPING

 

001.05A    Fishing is permitted on all District Conservation Corridors subject to State fishing regulations, provided that all or any portion of any area may be closed to fishing by the posting of appropriate signs.

 

001.05B     Hunting or the use or possession of firearms, bow and arrow, or other projectile devices is prohibited on District Conservation Corridors.  Firearms carried by credentialed law enforcement officer is exempt

 

001.05C    Trapping is prohibited on District Conservation Corridors.

 

001.05D    The use of and / or possession of paintball weapons of any type shall be prohibited in District Conservation Corridors

 


001.06       INTOXICATION:  CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL

 

001.06A    Consumption of alcoholic beverages on District Conservation Corridors is prohibited.

 

001.06B     Presence in a District Conservation Corridors when under the influence of alcohol, to a degree that may endanger oneself or another person, property, or may cause unreasonable interference with anther person’s enjoyment of the area is prohibited.

 

001.07       DISORDERLY CONDUCT

 

001.07A    Disorderly conduct is prohibited.

 

001.07B     Disorderly conduct is committed when a person causes public alarm, nuisance, jeopardy or violence, or recklessly creates a risk thereof by:

 

                  001.07B1   Engaging in fighting or threatening, or violent behavior; or

 

                  001.07B2   Using language, an utterance, or gesture, or engaging in a display or act which is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or done in a manner which is likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace; or

 

                  001.07B3   Making noise which is unreasonable, considering the nature and purpose of the actor’s conduct, location, time of day or night, and other factors which would govern the conduct of a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances; or

 

                  001.07B4   Creating or maintaining a hazardous or physically offensive condition.

 

001.07C    Persons committing disorderly conduct may be evicted from the area.         

 

001.08       PERMITS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS

 

001.08A    Sports events, pageants, reenactments, regattas, entertainments and the like, characterized as public spectator attractions or participant activities, are prohibited unless written permission therefore has been given by the General Manager.  Such permits shall be issued only after a finding that the issuance of such permit will not be inconsistent with the purposes for which the Conservation Corridor is established and maintained and will cause the minimum possible interference of the use of the Conservation Corridor by the general public.  The permit may contain such reasonable conditions and restrictions as to duration and area occupied as necessary for the protection of the Conservation Corridor and public use thereof.

 

001.08B     Public meetings, assemblies, gatherings, demonstrations, parades, religious services and other expressions of views are prohibited unless written permission therefore has been given by the District.

 

001.08C    The filming of still or motion pictures of lands, wildlife and facilities owned or controlled by the District for commercial purposes is prohibited unless written permission therefore has been given by the District.

 

001.08D    Applications for a Special Occasion Permit shall be received by the District not later than thirty (30) days prior to the requested special activity and shall set forth the following:  The name of the applicant, the date, time, duration, nature and place of the proposed activity, an estimate of the number of persons expected to attend, and a statement of equipment and facilities to be used in connection therewith.

 

001.08E     As a condition of the permit issuance, the District may require filing of a bond with satisfactory surety payable to the District to cover costs such as restoration, rehabilitation and cleanup of the area used, and other costs resulting from the permittee’s activity.  In lieu of a bond, a permittee may elect to deposit cash equal to the amount of the required bond.

 

001.09       GEOCACHING ACTIVITIES, PERMITS

 

001.09A    Cache Permits:  Placement of a cache on Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) property must be secured with a Special Occasion Permit. 

 

001.09A1  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.

 

001.09A2  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.

 

001.09A3  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. 

 

001.09A4  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.

 

001.09A5  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.

 

001.09B     Cache containers and contents.

 

001.09B1   Cache containers must be non-breakable, waterproof and have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife.  Cache containers must be marked “Geocache Container” on the outside of the container.

 

001.09B2   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.

 

001.09B3   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.  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.

 

001.09C    Cache Locations.  The location of a cache must be pre-approved by the General Manager.

                 

001.09C1              Physical caches are prohibited inside or attached to any LPSNRD facility or structure.  Caches may not be placed in locations that may lead to the creation of spur trails.  Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground or underwater.

 

001.09C2 No digging is permitted.  Caches cannot be buried, nor may soil, vegetation or stones be disturbed to place a cache.

 

001.09D    Compliance

 

001.09D1  The use of metal detectors in cache searches is expressly prohibited.

 

001.09D2  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.  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

001.10       PETS, LIVESTOCK, AND OTHER ANIMALS

 

001.10A    It is unlawful to permit dogs, cats or other pets to range at large on any District Conservation Corridor, except by specific provisions as listed below.

 

001.10B     Dogs, cats and other household type pets are permitted on District Conservation Corridors, provided they are physically restrained by leash, cage, crate or other such device, except where restricted by the posting of appropriate signs, or where prohibited by special area regulations. 

 

001.10C    Grazing or ranging domestic livestock or poultry is prohibited on District Conservation Corridors without prior written authorization by the District.

 

001.10D    Horseback riding is permitted on District Conservation Corridors except where prohibited by appropriate signs.

 

001.11       PROPERTY

 

001.11A    The possession, destruction, injury, defacement, removal, or disturbance of any building, bridge, sign, equipment, monument, statute, marker, or other structure, or of any animal or plant matter and direct or indirect products thereof, including but not limited to firewood, petrified wood, flower, cane, or fruit, egg, nest, den, or of any soil, rock or mineral formation, artifact, relic, historic or prehistoric feature, or of any other public property of any kind is prohibited in District Conservation Corridors.  The District and other authorized management personnel may issue special permission or authorization where it is in the best interest of the public.

 

001.12       SANITATION

 

001.12A    All garbage, papers, cans, bottles, waste materials and rubbish of any kind must be either removed from District Conservation Corridors or deposited in places or containers designated for the disposal thereof.

 

001.12B     Draining or dumping refuse or waste from any trailer or other vehicle except in places or receptacles provided for such use is prohibited.

 

001.12C    Polluting or contaminating in any manner in any watershed, water supplies, or water used for drinking purposes is prohibited.

 

001.13       SWIMMING AND WADING

 

001.13A    Swimming is prohibited in all waters located on District Conservation Corridors.

 

001.13B     Wading for the purpose of fishing is permitted on District Conservation Corridors at the sole risk of the participant, except that wading shall be prohibited on those areas that are posted with appropriate signs or where prohibited by special area regulations

001.14       TRAFFIC

 

001.14A    It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motorized vehicle on other than roadways, parking areas, or trails specifically designated for vehicle use.  This shall include all trucks, automobiles, motorcycles, trail bikes, mini-bikes, snowmobiles, four-wheel drive vehicles, and all terrain vehicles, provided that nothing in this section shall prohibit management or emergency personnel from using these vehicles for emergency or management purposes.

 

001.14B     On trails designated for vehicle use, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle within the boundaries of any District Conservation Corridor at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the prevailing conditions or in excess of any maximum posted speed limits.

 

001.14C    It shall be the duty of each vehicle operator to obey all traffic regulatory signs as posted on each area.

 

001.15       VENDING

 

001.15A    The vending of various goods, services, products, or commodities is prohibited on all District Conservation Corridors, except under the provisions of 001.08.

 


001.15       WINTER SPORTS

 

001.15A    Skiing, sledding, tobogganing, snow-shoeing, skating, and similar winter sports are permitted except upon roads and parking areas when such roads and parking areas are open to motor vehicle traffic and in other places where these activities are prohibited by appropriate regulations and / or posted signs.

 

001.15B     The towing of persons on skis, sleds, or other sliding devices by a motor vehicle or snowmobile is prohibited.

 

001.15C    The operation and use of snowmobiles shall be prohibited except upon roads and parking areas when such roads and parking areas are open to motor vehicle traffic.

 

001.16       STANDARDS

 

001.16A    The standards established in these regulations are in furtherance of the preservation and protection of the natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, fish and wildlife values and provide for the enhancement of the recreation values of the District Conservation Corridors.

 

001.16B     Use and development of property will be in conformance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

 

001.17       EXCEPTIONS TO REGULATIONS

 

001.17A    Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as prohibiting the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District or their duly appointed agents or employees from the conduct of their assigned duties in the administration, maintenance, and development of areas owned or controlled by the District.

 

001.17B     In the event of natural disaster, state or national emergency, civil disorder, accident or other situation where in the conduct of activities otherwise permitted under these regulations may constitute a hazard to the public heath, safety, or welfare, or inhibit rescue, recovery, post-disaster or development operations, General Manager of the District is herewith specifically empowered and directed to take such measures at their disposal to preserve the public health, safety and welfare and to expedite rescue, recovery and operations to include the temporary suspension of any or all activities contemplated in these regulations or any area or portion of any area owned, or controlled by the District and the temporary closure and/or evacuation of any such area.

 


001.18       EASEMENTS, LICENSES, AND PERMITS GRANTED BY THE DISTRICT

 

001.18A    The District has granted, and may from time to time grant, easements, licenses, and permits over portions of District Conservation Corridors for various and sundry uses.  Some of these uses, by way of illustration only, may be for utilities, water lines, pipelines, and ingress and egress by adjoining landowners.  Any conflict between the public and the grantee of the easement, license, or permit, over the use of recreational lands shall be immediately brought to the attention of the General Manager who shall have the authority to resolve the conflict.