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2026 Nebraska Water Conference: The State of Water in Nebraska
October 15 and 16, 2026
East Campus Union, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
The 2026 Nebraska Water Conference will be held October 15 and 16. We’ll gather at the East Campus Union on the University of Nebraska - Lincoln campus to discuss The State of Water in Nebraska. This conference will provide news and updates from state agencies, natural resources districts, cities, researchers, and the private sector to share news and current efforts in Nebraska’s water use and management.
The draft agenda for the conference is linked above. Several sessions are pending approval for continuing education credit hours.
This conference is sponsored by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UNL’s Agricultural Research Division, HDR, Central Platte Natural Resources District, Nebraska Corn Board, and UNMC’s Water, Climate and Health Program.
Conference Registration
Registration is now open for the 2026 Nebraska Water Conference. Registration includes all sessions and meals, parking on campus, and the Thursday evening reception.
- Regular registration: $375
- Faculty registration: $150
- Student registration: $50
Register for the conference by visiting go.unl.edu/2026WC.
Registration will be open through September 30, 2026.
Student Poster Competition
Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to attend the 2026 Nebraska Water Conference and participate in the research poster competition.
The research poster competition will be held on Thursday, October 15. Research posters that relate to one of the following conference themes are encouraged to present:
- Groundwater quality and management
- Water use in agriculture
- Urban water planning
- Emerging contaminants
- Water use in data centers
- Education and outreach
Participants will present their posters to a panel of judges as well as attendees. The judges will select the top posters to receive a monetary prize.
Awards
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $300
- Third Place: $200
- Fourth and fifth place: $100 each
The poster competition announcement and rules can be found at the links below.
Students can register for the conference at a reduced rate of $50. The conference registration and poster competition submission can be found at go.unl.edu/2026WC.
For questions about the poster competition, contact Tricia Liedle at 402-472-3305 or pliedle@nebraska.edu.
If you have questions about this event, contact Ann Briggs at annbriggs@nebraska.edu.