If you see a helicopter flying low over a river or lake in the area over the next couple of weeks, there’s a good chance it’s part of a large scale effort to identify and control invasive weeds.
The Sandhills Weed Management Area has begun a helicopter surveying and spraying project covering selected sites along several river systems and waterways across central and north central Nebraska. The project is scheduled to continue taking place until October 9, although exact timing will depend on weather and wind conditions.
Custer County Weed Superintendent and Sandhills Weed Management Area Chairman Tim Conover said the project is targeting invasive species including phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris. The helicopter will allow crews to reach areas along river systems that can be difficult for landowners and ground crews to access, including sandbars and swampy areas.
The work is being funded through a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant awarded to the Sandhills Weed Management Area. The organization received approximately $516,450 through the grant for projects over three years, with $110,000 allocated for the helicopter work in 2026 and another $90,000 planned for the project in 2027.
Conover said the helicopter will generally survey an area and spray targeted weeds during the same flight, rather than conducting a separate surveying operation and returning later to spray.
On the Calamus River, work will begin near the Cherry-Brown County line, continue through Loup County and around the Calamus Reservoir, and continue into Garfield County to the point where the Calamus enters the North Loup River.
The North Loup River project will begin near Purdum in northeastern Blaine County and continue through Loup, Garfield and Valley counties before ending near the Greeley-Howard County line.
On the Middle Loup River, the project will begin near Seneca at the Hooker-Thomas County line, continue through Blaine and Custer counties and into southwest Valley County, ending south of Arcadia near the Sherman County line. Conover said the Thomas County portion will be surveyed but not sprayed as part of this project.
The South Loup River portion will run from west of Arnold through Custer County, ending near the Buffalo County line at Highway 183.
The project also includes portions of the Cedar River, including Lake Erickson, as well as Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in Logan County.
The Cedar River work will begin near the Garfield-Wheeler County line, continue through portions of Greeley and Boone counties and end near the Nance County line. Nance County has its own separate project.
Beaver Creek will be surveyed from the northwest corner of Wheeler County through Boone County, ending near the Platte County line.
Conover said the project comes at no cost to participating landowners, with the work covered by the grant.
Landowners who do not want their property included in the spraying project are encouraged to contact their local County Weed Control Authority. Those landowners are required to have an approved weed management plan in place for controlling the targeted noxious weeds before the project begins in their area.
Conover said the helicopter service being used for the project is Hexagon Helicopters Inc. Those with questions or concerns about the project can reach Conover at 308-212-2926 or through the Custer County Weed Department office at 308-872-2410.
Listen to our full conversation with Conover here:
Full press release from the SWMA:
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) Helicopter Surveying & Spraying
On River Systems in:
(Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley & Wheeler)
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) is a WMA that is comprised of 19 counties: Boyd, Blaine, Boone, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Grant, Greeley, Holt, Hooker, Keya Paha, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Nance, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler Counties.
SWMA was awarded $516,450 through an NET Grant for a variety of projects over a three year period of time (2026, 2027, 2028). Part of that grant is to use a helicopter to survey and spray our river systems for phragmites, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris and other invasive species. $110,000 was awarded for 2026 and another $90,000 to be used in 2027 for this work.
Calamus River – We will start at the Cherry/Brown County line, continue through Loup County, go around the Calamus Reservoir, and end in Garfield County to where it enters the North Loup River.
North Loup River – We will start at Purdum in the northeast corner of Blaine County, continue through Loup County, continue through the southeast corner of Garfield County, continue through Valley County, and end in the southeast corner of Greeley County at the Howard County line.
Middle Loup River – We will start at Seneca by the Hooker/Thomas County line (only survey in Thomas County) continue through Blaine County, continue through Custer County, continue through the southwest corner of Valley County and end just south of Arcadia at the Sherman County line.
South Loup River – We will start just west of Arnold in Custer County and end in the southeast corner of Custer County at the Buffalo County line at Hwy 183.
Cedar River – We will start at the Garfield/Wheeler County line, include Lake Erickson, continue through the northeast corner of Greeley County, continue through the southwest corner of Boone County, and end at the Nance County line. Nance County has their own individual project.
Beaver Creek – We will start at the northwest corner of Wheeler County and continue in Boone County where we will end at the Platte County line.
Brown Lake – Logan County
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Section 2-965, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, provides a control authority may direct and carry out projects of control for one or more specific noxious weeds without individual notice as prescribed in Section 2-265 if the control authority has caused publication of notices of such project. Your respective Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley, Wheeler County Weed Control Authority as a part of the Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) will be doing control work on selected sites of the Calamus River, North Loup River, Middle Loup River, South Loup River, Lake Erickson, Cedar River, Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in the area. We will be surveying and spraying phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris with Hexagon Helicopters Inc from Elkhorn, NE. Control work will be performed between September 21, 2026, through October 9, 2026.
This service will be provided at no cost to the landowners within the targeted areas. The project is being funded through an NET Grant. Landowners not interested in this program are encouraged to call your local County Weed Control Authority. Those not participating in the project should have a weed management plan for the control of noxious weeds that has been approved by your local County Weed Control Authority prior to the start time of this special project.
By Order of your local County Weed Control Authority
Tim Conover, Custer County Weed Supt./Chair of SWMA
431 S. 10th Ave.
Broken Bow, NE 68822
Office – 308-872-2410
Cell – 308-212-2926
