VALENTINE, Neb. - The Niobrara Council is feeling the strain of National Park Service (NPS) funding cuts, leaving its financial future uncertain. As News Channel Nebraska previously reported, the NPS typically provides $100,000 annually to the council through a cooperative agreement. However, the final $20,000 from last year was never paid, and this year’s $100,000 remains in limbo after concerns were raised by the state auditor over mishandled funds and now NPS budget cuts.

At December’s Niobrara Council meeting, Niobrara National Scenic River Superintendent Susan Cook shared a promising update—her regional director had successfully pushed Washington to move the unpaid $20,000 to the council. But optimism faded at Thursday’s meeting when council member Dallas Dodson revealed an email from the NPS stating that no short-term funding would be provided after the Trump administration is making cuts to NPS.

“We’re kind of left hanging. We have no idea what’s going to come out of the Department of Interior for the Park Service,” said Dodson.

With federal support uncertain, council members are looking to the State to fill the funding gap. The Niobrara Council, which helps manage the Niobrara Scenic River corridor, was established by the Nebraska Legislature in 2000. Despite its state origins, funding from Nebraska has remained stagnant at around $50,000 per year since it was created.

“It would be nice if we could rely solely on the State. We were created by the state legislature, not the federal,” said Dodson. “If they don’t fund us, they have to have legislation to do away with us. Come July we’re not going to be able to make the mandates that we’re supposed to do. They have to get it figured out on their end too.”

Niobrara Council Executive Director Kalli Kieborz and Chair Wade Hollenbeck plan to testify at a Nebraska Appropriations Committee hearing in Lincoln on March 3, requesting an additional $50,000 in state funding for the next fiscal year.

“We need to tell them, ‘You created us. Are you going to support us or not? We have these obligations to meet,’” Dodson said. “If they don’t support us, they need to know what the ramifications are.”