June 25-27, 2013 has tentatively been chosen as the dates for the 2013 Water and Natural Resources tour jointly conducted and sponsored by the University of Nebraska's Nebraska Water Center, the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.
The Nebraska Water Center (NWC) is part of NU's Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute.
This year's tour, like many before it, was held over three days in July, but the 2013 dates have been moved up about three weeks, into late June, to take advantage of the probability of cooler temperatures.
"July dates have always worked well in terms of people being able to get away for the tour, but we're hoping late June is a better alternative in terms of cooler weather. Temperatures for this year's tour in July were pretty brutal," tour co-organizer Steve Ress of the NWC said.
The 2013 tour will stay in Nebraska, where it will examine the present and future management of surface and groundwater resources.
"The tour will encompass several watersheds and Natural Resource Districts, though we have not completely fleshed-out a tentative route, speakers or topics yet. We currently envision one overnight in the Columbus area and one overnight in either the Kearney or Alma areas," Ress said.
"The tour's organizing committee has met and has some initial thoughts about possible stops, topics, speakers and co-sponsors for the coming tour, but no definite itinerary yet."
Co-organizers will make the initial tour planning and set-up trip sometime in January 2013, with a follow-on trip planned for March or April.
"If you would like to help co-sponsor the tour, or have ideas for speakers or topics in the Lincoln, Columbus, Kearney or Alma areas, send an email to sress1@unl.edu and let me know," Ress said.
Longer term planning is to possibly take the tour out of state in 2014 or 2015 with organizers discussing possibilities in Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee and other locations.
Tour organizers are Ress, Jeff Buettner of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Jennie Nollette of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce and retired UNL senior lecturer Mike Jess, who hosts the tour.