NU Water-Related Research in Brief: Information for Nebraska's Water Resources Decision-Makers

Introduction

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 Nebraska’s water resources.

This booklet, presented by the UNL Water Center, the WRRI, and the Rural Initiative, highlights the work of University of Nebraska water faculty members and makes their expertise on relevant water issues easily accessible. The future of water resources in Nebraska depends on the ability of Nebraska’s decision makers to make the best decisions for their constituents and the state. Connecting decision makers with University of Nebraska water researchers will do just that.

This booklet is currently being updated and expanded. To share your recommendations about what should be included on this site, please contact:

Rachael Herpel
Water Education and Outreach Specialist
Water Center / School of Natural Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
914 Hardin Hall
3310 Holdrege Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0979

Phone: 402-472-4977 (direct)
Fax: 402-472-3610
Email Rachael

This Introduction, and the PDF files listed below, are also available in a Zip File (5MB).

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Papers, by Topic (all in PDF format)

Groundwater / Surface Water

• Toxic Algae in Nebraska Lakes (updated August 2008): Tadd Barrow, Assistant Extension Educator, School of Natural Resources, UNL.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Program (posted January 2009): 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.
  • Figure 1: Three-state Platte River Basin.
• 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.
• Water Management in Nebraska (updated 09/17/08), a diagram by Robert Kuzelka, School of Natural Resources, 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, School of Natural Resources, UNL.