Water Center History Books Available

Copies of the History of the UNL Water Center From 1964-2008 are available first-come, first-served while limited quantities remain.

This first-ever comprehensive history of the UNL Water Center dates from its inception as a program within the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Conservation and Survey Division to the present.

Copies of the book were available at last month’s Fifth Annual Water Law, Policy and Science Conference in April and have been sent to Water Center constituents, state senators, Nebraska’s Congressional delegation and others.

The book was largely researched and written by former Water Center administrative assistant Karen Stork, who later retired from UNL’s Conservation and Survey Division.

"Karen (Stork) did months of digging for information, writing, editing, reviewing hundreds of photographs and had personal contact with every living past director of the center,” said UNL Water Center director Kyle Hoagland, who commissioned Water Center communications coordinator Steve Ress and Stork to co-author the book last year.

"Karen was the real force in keeping this project focused and moving along,” said Ress. “She did the vast majority of the research and writing and I don’t think there is anyone else who could have captured both the history and the essence of the center over the last 40-plus years.”

Sections of the book examine the early years of the Water Center, as well as the decades of the 1970’s, 1980s, and 1990’s and into the 21st century. Chapters also detail the Water Center’s accomplishments in water resources planning and management, public service, drought management, hiring of water-related faculty, the Water Sciences Laboratory and special projects and programs such as conferences, water tours and seminars, the Burlington Northern study and many others. Recollections of past directors, in their own words, are included as separate chapters.

"The book highlights the center’s contributions to Nebraska and the nation over the last 40-plus years, documenting why the now-established network of state water institutes was created and the unique accomplishments of our UNL Water Center from its beginnings,” Stork said.

For a free copy, while they are available, contact the UNL Water Center at (402) 472-3305 or email sress1@unl.edu.