About the Water Center
Introduction
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Center implements and facilitates water and water-related research, extension, teaching and public outreach programming within the University of Nebraska system as a part of NU’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and UNL’s School of Natural Resources (SNR).
This site will give you easy access to UNL Water Center-related facilities and key programs such as the UNL Water Sciences Laboratory (WSL), Water Resources Research Initiative (WRRI) and annual Water Law, Policy and Science Conference.
In addition, you can access some of the best information about water in Nebraska and the Great Plains.....everything from groundwater and irrigation to river systems, drinking water and wetlands.
The UNL Water Center has been operating since 1968, being established as the Nebraska Water Resources Research Institute by Congressional mandate in 1964. It is one of more than 50 water resources research institutes forming a network at Land Grant Universities nationwide. For more information about this network, go to the National Institute for Water Resources (NIWR).
Learn More about the Water Center
- Contact the Water Center
- Current and Past Directors
- Faculty and Staff, and affiliated Faculty
- Goals and Focus Areas
- Water Projects, 1965-2008
- Archives
Historic Water Center Dates
From 'History of the UNL Water Center, from 1964 to 2008', School of Natural Resources: Karen E. Stork and Steven W. Ress, pp. 46-47.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1964 | Nebraska Water Resources Research Institute Water Center established by University of Nebraska Board of Regents with Dr. Eugene Reed, director of the Conservation and Survey Division, as part-time Water Center director. |
| September 1968 | Water Center becomes a separate entity with its first full-time director, Dr. Warren Viessman, Jr., and moves to the Agricultural Engineering Building. |
| April 1974 | Water Center becomes one of six divisions of the University's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) |
| July 1975 | Dr. M. Wayne Hall becomes second full-time director. Center moves to Agriculture Hall with other IANR units. |
| June 1977 | Water Center changes name to Nebraska Water Resources Center (NWRC). |
| September 1980 | Dr. William L. Powers becomes the Center's third director. |
| July 1984 | Water Center merges with Conservation and Survey Division and returns to Nebraska Hall. |
| July 1988 | Dr. Roger Gold is appointed interim director and then the director of the Water Center. The Center moves back to Natural Resources Hall. |
| July 1990 | Dr. Bob G. Volk appointed as Water Center director and the Water Sciences Laboratory is created. |
| July 1992 | Water Center and Environmental Programs are merged with Dr. Edward F. Vitzhum as coordinator of Environmental Programs. |
| March 1999 | Dr. Edward F. Vitzhum is appointed interim Water Center director. |
| July 2000 | Dr. Kyle D. Hoagland appointed director of the Water Center. |
| January 2002 | Dr. Kyle Hoagland becomes acting, then interim director of the School of Natural Resource Sciences (SNRS) and Michael Jess becomes acting director of the Water Center. |
| July 2003 | Water Center joins with the School of Natural Resources, and Dr. Kyle Hoagland returns as director. |
| July 2006 | Water Center moves to its current location in Hardin Hall, along with other programs in the School of Natural Resources. |
