The Nebraska Water Center (NWC) with Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (CNPPID) hosted the 49th annual Water and Natural Resources Tour in June 2023, featuring discussions about water issues and projects in northeastern Nebraska. The tour is an excellent opportunity for industry experts — especially those involved in research, policymaking or natural resources — to continue to foster a deeper understanding of water and its beneficial uses.
The Water and Natural Resources Tour was first held in 1975. The tours are designed to enhance understanding and appreciation for water management in Nebraska and beyond, providing an educational experience for anyone interested in natural resource management
“The 2023 Water Tour provided the perfect mix of education, recreation and networking,” said Ann Briggs, public relations and engagement coordinator for the Nebraska Water Center. “The lessons learned about water management in northeast Nebraska were more powerful because we were able to experience the landscape and meet the people who work and live in this part of the state.
The tour included multiple stops each day and attendees learned about riverfront development, nitrate and sedimentation issues, wildlife and fisheries efforts, demonstration farms, water-powered manufacturing processes and more.
A tour favorite was Lewis and Clark Lake. One attendee said, “the lake was very inspiring in regard to water management and the sedimentation problems that they have as a water facility.”
The tour at Lewis and Clark Lake was sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Guides hosted attendees on a boat ride while discussing current issues the lake faces and the history of building the lake. Lewis and Clark Lake has faced several challenges since Spencer Dam broke in a flood that occurred in 2019. Since then, there has been an increase of sedimentation flowing from the Niobrara and Missouri rivers. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is also combating invasive species in the lake while trying to increase surrounding wildlife populations.
Another attendee enjoyed listening to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission representative explain their efforts of preserving the shoreline and encouraging plant growth in the lake.
Attendees also visited the Bazile demonstration farm. The Bazile Groundwater Management Area works with Nebraska Extension and four local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) to test how different farming and fertilization techniques affect the nitrate concentration in the groundwater. This partnership began in 2013 and continues as an educational program for stabilizing nitrate levels.
The stops that highlighted the work of extension were the best parts of the tour, and the knowledge and passion from the representative from the Bazile area was very helpful, an attendee said.
All the tour stops included necessary elements in showing the importance of water in production, recreation, power and manufacturing and in ensuring Nebraska wildlife will have healthy habitats in the future.
Tour sponsors included the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, HDR, JEO Consulting Group, Reinke Irrigation, Lower Elkhorn NRD and Upper Elkhorn NRD.
NWC and CNPPID are planning their 50th water tour in fall 2023 to continue showcasing water projects happening through the state and bringing greater understanding to the intricacies of water management in Nebraska, while helping to train future water researchers.
