Nebraska Water Center and Water News
Permanent Director Search Opens
The University has opened the search for a permanent director for the Nebraska Water Center. Review of applications begins June 22. The position description and application instructions are available online.
Latest USGS Report on Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer Now Available
Call for Presenters for Hydrologically Connected Fall Events
Mark your calendars for these back-to-back events this fall: Water: Science, Practice and Policy on Nov. 13 and the Water Law Conference on Nov. 14. The Call for Presenters for the Nov. 13 event is now open.
Global Water for Food Conference is May 30 - June 1
"Blue Water, Green Water and the Future of Agriculture," the fourth global Water for Food Conference is May 30 through June 1 in Lincoln. Registration is now open.
Missouri River Water Tour Planning Progresses
This summer's water and natural resources tour, July 17-19, will visit many areas of Nebraska and Iowa that were most effected by last summer's record flooding on the Missouri River.
Mapping Aquifers and Finding Uranium in the Nebraska Panhandle
It fuels both bombs and power plants, but uranium probably doesn't come to mind to many people when they think about Nebraska. Still, it's there and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher is mapping the aquifers and rock formations that may contain it.
EPA to Work with Drinking Water Systems to Monitor Unregulated Contaminants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a list of 28 chemicals and two viruses that approximately 6,000 public water systems will monitor from 2013 to 2015 as part of the agency's unregulated contaminant monitoring program.
Groundwater Levels Up; 30-Year Averages Show Differences East and West
Groundwater levels rose or were unchanged throughout much of Nebraska over the past year, but over the past 30 years, there have been markedly different changes in eastern Nebraska compared to western Nebraska.
Water-Related Activities and Photos
The 2011 Water and Natural Resources Tour visited the Loup, Niobrara and Snake River basins in north central Nebraska
Snake River Falls near Valentine
Western Nebraska’s Wildcat Hills
Courthouse and Jailhouse rocks in western Nebraska
Drop tubes on a typical center pivot irrigation system throw-off a rainbow effect
About half of Nebraska's row crops are under some form of irrigation.
The Republican River near Alma, Nebraska
A winter view of the Republican River near Red Cloud, Nebraska
The Platte River near Ashland, Nebraska
Windmills, that once powered irrigation wells, dot Nebraska's landscape
Picturesque Smith Falls on the Niobrara River
Those attending a UNL Extension field days event watch an innovative instream mulcher at work on the Platte River.
Separations chemist Dave Cassada draws a water sample at the UNL Water Sciences Laboratory.
Earth Systems Scientist Dave Gosselin of UNL's School of Natural Resources, checks a water sample.
The simple beginnings of large-scale irrigation in drought-stricken central Nebraska in the 1930's. Rapid booms in irrigation, driven by expanding technology, were seen again in the 1950's, 1970's and beyond.
Environmental Engineer Wayne Woldt speaks at a Nebraska Water Center-sponsored faculty retreat.
Outreach Specialist Rachael Herpel speaks to a visiting student group at UNL
Students from the Aurora Schools study a Nebraska Water Map.
Water Resources Advisory Panel meeting on September 29, 2010. The Nebraska Water Center coordinates WRAP.
Students demonstrate Professor Wayne Woldt’s “Water Machine.”
Rachael Herpel demonstrates groundwater concepts at "Sunday with a Scientist," Morrill Hall (03/21/10).
An outcropping of the Ogallala Aquifer can be seen on the banks of the Niobrara River near Valentine
A possible change of ownership of the scenic Snake River Falls will be discussed during this summer's water and natural tour of north central Nebraska.
Water rushing over the spillway of Pathfinder Dam in central Wyoming
Water rushes through Gavin's Point Dam, near Yankton, South Dakota, during the great Missouri River flood of 2011.
Snow still waiting to melt at Beartooth Pass in Montana in June 2011, water from which will eventually wind-up in the Missouri River.
Omaha's skyline from a swollen Missouri River in July 2011
Looking much like the Dust Bowl, wind whips river sand around an irrigated field bordering the Missouri River, near Tekamah.
Nearly a year after the 2011 Missouri River flood, sand still covers a city park on the banks of the river in Decauter.
Flood waters took-out many jetties on the river, include here, near Lake Wiconda.
More News
Confidence in Climate Data: Using 3 Million-Year-Old Records
How do we understand what's happening today by looking back millions of years? Scientists are looking at what climate conditions were like 3.3 to 3 million years ago, during a geologic period known as the Pliocene, and they are confident in the accuracy of their data.
Featured Faculty and Staff
Over 170 UNL faculty and staff work on water-related issues. They are in many units; and work collaboratively across disciplines, including the public and private sector, to address real-world water problems facing Nebraska, the U.S. and the world. We are pleased to feature:
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Amy Burgin is an assistant professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources, since September 2011. Her research integrates the fields of microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and aquatic ecosystem ecology. | Learn more about Amy. |
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John Gilley is an agricultural engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor (100% research appointment) in the UNL's Department of Biological Systems Engineering since September 1982 | Learn more about John. |
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Tala Awada is an associate professor in the UNL School of Natural Resources, where she has been an SNR faculty member for the nine years. Her areas of research interest include grassland/forest ecology, plant ecophysiology, water relations and gas exchange | Learn more about Tala. |
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Cody Knutson is a research assistant professor, water resources scientist and leader of the NDMC Planning and Social Science Program at UNL. NDMC is part of UNL's School of Natural Resources. Knutson has been an NDMC faculty member since 2004 and was previously a professional staff member since 1997 | Learn more about Cody. |
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Chris Thompson is a research economist in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agricultural Economics and has been with the department for three years. | Learn more about Chris. |
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Martha Shulski directs the High Plains Regional Climate Center at the UNL and is an assistant professor of applied climate science in UNL's School of Natural Resources since August 2009 | Learn more about Martha. |
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Greg Kruger joined University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an assistant professor and cropping systems specialist in UNL's Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte early this year. | Learn more about Greg |
Featured Research
The Nebraska Water Center helps facilitate, fund and publish a wide variety of water and water-related research involving NU researchers from many scientific disciplines. We are pleased to feature:
Information and Events
Nebraska Water Center FYI
- New Videos!
Featuring UNL faculty on a variety of water-related issues - All Featured Faculty/Staff
- Nebraska Water Center Fact Sheet
- Top Ten Water Challenges
Water Current
Upcoming Events
Spring Lecture Series
2012 Nebraska Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association Conference is July 12
Abstracts due April 15.
Registration open for the 2012 North American Invasive Plant Ecology and Management Short Course.
Missouri River Learning Adventures Offered through OLLI and Nebraska Water Center
(Please note that the January OLLI course, #305, is already full. Course instructor Bob Kuzelka is maintaining a waiting list, please contact him for availability)