Nebraska Water Center and Water News
Fall Symposium Call for Presenters Open
Presenters are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations for this fall's water symposium, Changes: Climate, Water and Life in the Great Plains. Research and innovative programming on all water-related topics are invited. Read more about the fall symposium.
UNL Extension Irrigation and Soils Courses Online
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension provides two online short courses on irrigation and soils at UNL Marketplace. Read more about these courses.
Water-Related Activities and Photos

UNL irrigation engineer and interim director of the Nebraska Water Center Suat Irmak leads the Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network (NAWMN) that began in 2005.

Stephen Reichenbach (from left), Xin Dong, Mehmet Can Vuran and Suat Irmak are working on a project to develop wireless underground sensor networks to give agricultural producers real-time information about soil moisture and changing conditions.

Larkin Powell, of UNL's School of Natural Resources, leads a Nebraska Water Center workshop for students on the elements of an effective poster. The idea is to help students-especially grad students-create more attractive and effective posters. This is the second time the workshop has been offered and Powell has been the presenter with assistance from Dee Ebbeka, graphic design expert. The invitation for this event was extended to students of all Nebraska Water Center affiliated faculty. This year's event was Sep 13 in Hardin Hall. (Lorrie Benson photo).

The Niobrara River as it looks just east of Valentine looking south from the Cowboy Trail bridge.

Water and natural resources tour participants listen to a lecture from retired UNL geologist Bob Diffendal on the 2012 tour.

UNL Extension Educator Lindsay Chichester (right) explains interactive I-pad applications at Husker Harvest Days to Nebraska Agriculture Secretary Greg Ibach and Governor Dave Heineman.

At north Omaha's N.P. Dodge Park, Graham Herbst of the Nebraska Forest Service discusses how the flood killed and damaged trees during the 2011 Missouri River flood.

Retired UNL Professor Bob Diffendal talks about the significance of geologic outcroppings visiblealong the Steamboat Trace Trail near Peru on the 2012 Water and Natural Resources Tour.

2012 Water and Natural Resources Tour participants look at lingering flood damage and erosion to fields at Lee Valley Farms near Tekamah.

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

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

Separations chemist Dave Cassada draws a water sample at the UNL Water Sciences Laboratory.

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.

Students from the Aurora Schools study a Nebraska Water Map.

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

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.

Nearly a year after the 2011 Missouri River flood, sand still covers a city park on the banks of the river in Decauter.
More News
Drought Webinar Series
A spring webinar series provides drought planning techniques and technologies to advisors seeking to help Great Plains ranchers manage through drought. The webinars are January through May, on the last Wednesday of each month. Read the full article.
Extension Drought Resources Website
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has created a new website that offers resources from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and others for dealing with regional drought.
UNL Research Team Giving Irrigators New Management Arsenal
In the midst of the worst drought in more than half a century, U.S. farmers are drawing on their best defenses - the center pivot and their experience dealing with some of the harshest conditions Mother Nature can deal. Read the full article.
Making Every Drop Count: UNL Extension using Technology, Education to Conserve Water and Save Dollars
Agricultural water use is a high-stakes numbers game and Nebraska's agricultural producers are beating the odds, using technology education provided by UNL Extension specialists. Read the full article.
Upcoming Events
2013 Water and Natural Resources Tour Will Be Two Days in June
Urban and rural management of Nebraska's water resources will be examined in a two-day University of Nebraska water and natural resources tour in June. Read more about this tour or download a registration brochure

Save the date for our fall events, Changes: Climate, Water and Life on the Great Plains 2013 and the 2013 Water Law Conference.
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 |
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Tonya Bernadt is an Education and Outreach Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), which operates within UNL's School of Natural Resources. | Learn more about Tonya |
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Larkin Powell is a professor of conservation biology and animal ecology in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources (SNR) since August 2001. He teaches courses in SNR's fisheries and wildlife major, including field courses to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Puerto Rico. | Learn more about Larkin |
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Derek Heeren joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in August 2012, as an irrigation engineer and assistant professor with a 60 percent research and 40 percent teaching appointment. He is housed in UNL's Biological Systems Engineering Department and was part of a University of Nebraska Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute (WFI) cluster hire. | Learn more about Larkin |
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









