Every Nebraskan knows the value of water. It sustains our communities, nourishes our farms and is key for our economic prosperity. Protecting it isn’t just good practice — it’s our shared responsibility for Nebraska’s future.
That’s why the University of Nebraska, as part of its land-grant mission, is so deeply engaged in water research, education and outreach. Through the Nebraska Water Center, our faculty and students are working alongside producers, natural resources districts, businesses, scientists and communities to ensure that every drop is used wisely.
The Water Center, part of NU’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, pursues wide-ranging work that has major benefits for Nebraska: lower agricultural input costs, stronger yields, healthier land and cleaner water for generations to come. Producers partner with us on new strategies for irrigation efficiency. Students receive our training to test wells in rural communities. NU scientists track how water moves through soil and how components travel underground, then work with NRDs on water management strategies.
Each effort points toward the same goal — helping Nebraskans better understand our state’s water conditions and make informed decisions about this vital resource.
The Water Sciences Laboratory in Lincoln is at the heart of this mission. There, scientists analyze thousands of samples every year for a wide range of water-related components and indicators, providing advanced testing that scientists, producers and resource managers depend on.
Marie Krausnick, assistant general manager for the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, notes that her NRD’s collaborative work with NU allows researchers to talk with farmers and find answers about how much nitrate is getting into the water and how long the water takes to travel through the area. These NU partnerships strengthen our crop production and our producers’ bottom line at the same time they enhance Nebraska water quality.
And the work doesn’t stop there. From monitoring toxic algal blooms in our state’s recreational lakes to studying the ties between groundwater and the Platte River, our Water Sciences Laboratory is tackling challenges that affect us all. The collaborative solutions developed here ripple outward — strengthening communities, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring Nebraska agriculture remains productive for the future.
In all, the laboratory “provides Nebraska producers and water resource managers with advanced technology and solutions to help maintain our state’s most strategic natural resource,” explains Daniel Snow, research professor and director of laboratory services for the Nebraska Water Center.
