Heinemann Column

Gov. Heinemann

February 22, 2013
Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
Water is Nebraska’s most precious natural resource and during the last few years we have experienced both extreme flooding and prolonged drought. I would like to share with you the work of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and their dedication to the sustainable use and proper management of our water and related land resources.
The Department’s staff of over 100 is directed by Brian Dunnigan and has major responsibilities for regulating the use of the waters of our streams (also referred to as surface water administration), directing interstate compacts and decrees, conducting a stream gaging program, implementing floodplain management programs, inspecting dams and reviewing plans for dam safety, administering state water resources funds, and general water planning activities. The Department maintains field offices in Bridgeport, Cambridge, Ord, Norfolk, and Lincoln that provide a local point of contact for many water right holders.
Nebraska has issued approximately 8,200 surface water use and reservoir storage permits. They are issued for a variety of uses, including irrigation, municipal uses, power generation, and manufacturing. The Department is responsible for administering these water rights ensuring that the oldest rights receive their water first in times of shortage.
The Departmental efforts that have been high profile in recent years have been those dealing with interstate compacts and decrees. The Department has specific responsibilities related to the Blue River Compact, the North Platte Decree, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the Republican River Compact, the South Platte Compact, and Upper Niobrara Compact. The Department is committed to meeting those responsibilities.
When the Department determines that a river basin or a portion of a river basin has water uses and supplies that are not balanced, the Department works with the local natural resources district (NRD) to develop plans that address the uses of surface water and groundwater. These integrated management plans can also be voluntarily initiated by an NRD. The plans are designed to sustain a balance between water uses and supplies to maintain the economic viability and social and environmental health, safety, and welfare of the basin. The actions required in those plans are also consistent with Nebraska meeting its interstate obligations.
In support of integrated water management and other state water activities, the Department conducts various planning, engineering, water use and hydrologic studies, and modeling. The Department also maintains extensive natural resources data on its website and is developing a sophisticated, new tool called INSIGHT, an Integrated Network of Scientific Information and GeoHydrologic Tools. This tool will provide the citizens of Nebraska with a wide array of information on water supplies and water uses throughout Nebraska. INSIGHT will be a unique tool and a model to follow amongst the western states. Nebraska’s future depends on our efficient management of our water and land resources.