NU Water-Related Research in Brief: Information for Nebraska's Water Resources Decision-Makers
(The following Introduction is also available in PDF format.)
Introduction
Dear Nebraska Decision-Maker,
Water, as we all know, has become a defining issue for our state. Because of the complex problems associated with supplying both agricultural uses and the growing needs of municipalities in the state, as well as the need to address interstate legal obligations and concerns for endangered wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain them, decision-makers like you need the best information available to assist you in making the critical decisions that will impact our future.
The University of Nebraska and its Water Resources Research Initiative (WRRI) has top- notch scientists, economists, engineers and legal minds working on water issues, such as groundwater and surface water interactions, declining aquifers, water quality, drought mitigation, water management tools, economic impacts associated with water management activities and the legal structures which govern our water resources.
This booklet, presented to you by the UNL Water Center, the WRRI, and the Rural Intitiative highlights the work of University of Nebraska water faculty members, and puts their expertise on relevant water issues at your fingertips. I hope this information will serve as a useful reference for you during the 2007 legislative session, as well as in years to come.
The future of water resources in Nebraska depends on your ability to make the best decisions for your constituents and the state. We anticipate this connection with University of Nebraska water researchers will help you do just that.
Sincerely,
Jessica Harder, J.D.
Water Outreach Associate
UNL Water Center/Rural Initiative
School of Natural Resources
Email the Water Center
Papers, by Topic (in PDF format)
Groundwater / Surface Water
- Toxic Algae in Nebraska Lakes: Tadd Barrow, Assistant Extension Educator, School of Natural Resources, UNL.
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Program: Mark E. Burbach, PhD Assistant Geoscientist, School of Natural Resources, UNL.
- Surface Water and Groundwater Relationships in Nebraska: James Goeke, Research Hydrogeologist, School of Natural Resources/Conservation and Survey Division, UNL.
- Groundwater Recharge: F. Edwin Harvey, Associate Professor, School of Natural Resources, UNL.
- Water Use in Agricultural Watersheds: Derrel Martin, Professor (Irrigation and Water Resources Engineer), Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering, UNL.
- Nitrate in Ground Water: Daniel Snow, Assistant Professor, Director, Water Sciences Laboratory, NU.
Law Policy
- The Republican, the Platte and Pumpkin Creek: Current Nebraska Water Policy Issues: J. David Aiken, Professor of Agricultural Economics (Water Law Specialist), UNL.
- Figure 1: Map of Three-state Republican River Basin (courtesy of DNR).
- South Platte River Compact and U.S. Supreme Court Decree for North Platte River: J. Michael Jess, P.E., Senior Lecturer, School of Natural Resources, UNL.
- Water as Property: Sandra B. Zellmer, Professor UNL College of Law and Jessica Harder, J.D., Water Outreach Associate, Water Center, UNL.
- Instream Flow Legislation: Sandra B. Zellmer, Professor, College of Law, UNL.
- The Public Interest Test for Water Appropriations: Sandra B. Zellmer, Professor, College of Law, UNL.
Economics
- Water Optimizer: A Tool for Decision Support and Policy Analysis: Developed by Derrel L. Martin, Professor of Soil and Water Engineering in the Dept of Biological Systems Engineering, and Raymond J. Supalla, Professor of Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UNL.
- The Cost of Reducing Irrigation: Raymond J Supalla, Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL
- Economics of Management Options for Lake McConaughy: Raymond J. Supalla, Professor, and Thomas V. Buell, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UNL.
Drought
- A Long-term Perspective on Drought in the Great Plains and West: Sherilyn C. Fritz, Department of Geosciences and School of Biological Sciences, UNL.
- No-till Cropping Systems for Stretching Limited Irrigation Supplies: Gary W. Hergert, Professor of Agronomy-Horticulture, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, UNL, Scottsbluff, NE.
- Information About Drought: Donald Wilhite, Director, National Drought Mitigation Center, UNL.
