The Nebraska Water Center hosted the Platte River Basin Conference in October 2022 in Kearney, Nebraska. One-hundred and fifty attendees from four states attended in-person and 30 joined virtually, representing academia, nonprofits, governmental agencies, industries, tribal nations and others. Titled “Braided Paths: Science, Policy, and Culture”, this conference aimed to bring together the range of viewpoints needed to find solutions to grand challenges throughout the Platte River Basin.
In an effort to broaden the discussion and challenge the pre-existing assumptions of attendees, the conference provided a variety of programming and experiences. Panel discussions featured perspectives on living and working in the Platte River Basin from tribal nations and farming families, as well as implications for future management of the Platte from regulators, researchers, and resource users and managers.
More than 20 breakout talks were presented, with topics including cranes and other wildlife, water science and engineering, social science and policy, and more. These presentations provided attendees with a wide range of research and applications for work within the Platte River Basin.
The Platte River Basin Conference also provided opportunities for diverse, interactive experiences. Conference attendees had the opportunity to attend a special screening of the film “Shells of Wisdom: Lessons from Ajijaak,” featuring a live Q&A with filmmaker Ginew Benton. At the Audubon Nebraska’s Rowe Sanctuary, participants enjoyed an evening of food, fun and photography lessons from artist Joshua Redwine and the Platte Basin Timelapse team.
The Platte River Basin Conference provided a space for people with varying interests and backgrounds to come together to discuss their shared resources. By featuring a diverse selection of topics and speakers, participants left the conference with a greater appreciation of the river basin and a broader perspective on how we can work together towards solutions across the basin.
The 2023 Nebraska Water Conference
The 2023 Nebraska Water Conference will be held October 3-4, 2023 in Omaha with a focus on the management of water resources in urban Nebraska, looking to learn from the past in order to prepare for the future.
As Nebraska’s metro areas continue to grow, unique management strategies will be necessary to provide enough resources to support urban growth today while planning for tomorrow. This interdisciplinary conference will feature experts in urban water and natural resources planning, the hydrology of eastern Nebraska, current natural resource challenges faced by Lincoln and Omaha, and the future of water management in eastern Nebraska. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit some of the unique water projects recently completed in Omaha.
