Water Center and Water News
Faculty Reports and Comments related to Keystone XL Pipeline
Latest USGS Report on Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer Now Available
January 25 Spring Water Lecture
David Maidment will present "The Future of HydroInformatics for Managing Water" Download the abstract and more information for this lecture
Missouri River Water Tour Planning Progresses
Plans are progressing for this summer's Water and Natural Resources Tour that will visit some of last year's flooded areas of the Missouri River basin July 17-19.
Weber's Research Gets Water Center Impact Award
A research project aimed at studying the movement of uranium-bearing minerals in groundwater with an eye toward improving water quality has been selected the winner of the Nebraska Water Center's first "Impact Award" which also nominates it for the National Institutes of Water Resources (NIWR) national impact award.
Reuse of Municipal Wastewater Has Significant Potential to Augment Future U.S. Drinking Water Supplies
With recent advances in technology and design, treating municipal wastewater and reusing it for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and other applications could significantly increase the nation's total available water resources, particularly in coastal areas facing water shortages, says a new report from the National Research Council.
Water-Related Activities and Photos
The 2011 Water and Natural Resources Tour visited the Loup, Niobrara and Snake River basins in north central Nebraska
Snake River Falls near Valentine
Western Nebraska’s Wildcat Hills
Courthouse and Jailhouse rocks in western Nebraska
Drop tubes on a typical center pivot irrigation system throw-off a rainbow effect
About half of Nebraska's row crops are under some form of irrigation.
The Republican River near Alma, Nebraska
A winter view of the Republican River near Red Cloud, Nebraska
The Platte River near Ashland, Nebraska
Windmills, that once powered irrigation wells, dot Nebraska's landscape
Picturesque Smith Falls on the Niobrara River
Those attending a UNL Extension field days event watch an innovative instream mulcher at work on the Platte River.
Separations chemist Dave Cassada draws a water sample at the UNL Water Sciences Laboratory.
Earth Systems Scientist Dave Gosselin of UNL's School of Natural Resources, checks a water sample.
The simple beginnings of large-scale irrigation in drought-stricken central Nebraska in the 1930's. Rapid booms in irrigation, driven by expanding technology, were seen again in the 1950's, 1970's and beyond.
Environmental Engineer Wayne Woldt speaks at a Water Center-sponsored faculty retreat.
Outreach Specialist Rachael Herpel speaks to a visiting student group at UNL
Students from the Aurora Schools study a Nebraska Water Map.
Water Resources Advisory Panel meeting on September 29, 2010. The Water Center coordinates WRAP.
Students demonstrate Professor Wayne Woldt’s “Water Machine.”
Rachael Herpel demonstrates groundwater concepts at "Sunday with a Scientist," Morrill Hall (03/21/10).
An outcropping of the Ogallala Aquifer can be seen on the banks of the Niobrara River near Valentine
A possible change of ownership of the scenic Snake River Falls will be discussed during this summer's water and natural tour of north central Nebraska.
Water rushing over the spillway of Pathfinder Dam in central Wyoming
Water rushes through Gavin's Point Dam, near Yankton, South Dakota, during the great Missouri River flood of 2011.
Snow still waiting to melt at Beartooth Pass in Montana in June 2011, water from which will eventually wind-up in the Missouri River.
Omaha's skyline from a swollen Missouri River in July 2011
More News
Links to Images of Recent Flooding and Flood Damage on the Missouri River
The following links to recent flood and flood damage photos of the Missouri River basin were provided via John Wilson, UNL Extension Educator in Tekamah, Burt County, Nebraska.
Extension Offers Flood Resources Website
A new University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension website at
http://flood.unl.edu/ gathers news and
information to help Nebraskans deal with the 2011 flood.
Featured Video
Featured Faculty and Staff
Over 170 UNL faculty and staff work on water-related issues. They are in many units; and work collaboratively across disciplines, including the public and private sector, to address real-world water problems facing Nebraska, the U.S. and the world. We are pleased to feature:
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John Gilley is an agricultural engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor (100% research appointment) in the UNL’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering since September 1982 | Learn more about John. |
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Tala Awada is an associate professor in the UNL School of Natural Resources, where she has been an SNR faculty member for the nine years. Her areas of research interest include grassland/forest ecology, plant ecophysiology, water relations and gas exchange | Learn more about Tala. |
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Cody Knutson is a research assistant professor, water resources scientist and leader of the NDMC Planning and Social Science Program at UNL. NDMC is part of UNL’s School of Natural Resources. Knutson has been an NDMC faculty member since 2004 and was previously a professional staff member since 1997 | Learn more about Cody. |
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Chris Thompson is a research economist in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agricultural Economics and has been with the department for three years. | Learn more about Chris. |
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Martha Shulski directs the High Plains Regional Climate Center at the UNL and is an assistant professor of applied climate science in UNL’s School of Natural Resources since August 2009 | Learn more about Martha. |
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Greg Kruger joined University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an assistant professor and cropping systems specialist in UNL’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte early this year. | Learn more about Greg |
Featured Research
The Water Center helps facilitate, fund and publish a wide variety of water and water-related research involving NU researchers from many scientific disciplines. We are pleased to feature:
Information and Events
Water Center FYI
- New Videos!
Featuring UNL faculty on a variety of water-related issues - All Featured Faculty/Staff
- Water Center Fact Sheet
- Top Ten Water Challenges
Water Current
Upcoming Events
Spring Lecture Series
Registration open for the 2012 North American Invasive Plant Ecology and Management Short Course.
Missouri River Learning Adventures Offered through OLLI and Water Center
(Please note that the January OLLI course, #305, is already full. Course instructor Bob Kuzelka is maintaining a waiting list, please contact him for availability)
