Program Details
Water
Farmers, ranchers, urban residents, industries, recreationists, livestock and wildlife all depend on Nebraska's most precious natural resource – water. Water is vital to life. Thanks largely to the High Plains Aquifer, Nebraska has more groundwater than any other state. Two thirds of the High Plains Aquifer’s total water storage is in Nebraska. The Ogallala Aquifer is part of the High Plains Aquifer that spans eight states and covers 175,000 square miles. If poured over the surface of the state, the water in those aquifers would have a depth of 37.9 feet (11.6 meters).
Above ground, the state is laced with nearly 80,000 miles of flowing rivers and streams. Nebraska's major river basins include the Missouri, Platte, Niobrara, Loup, Republican, Elkhorn, Nemaha and Blue.
Though it is plentiful and usable, Nebraska's water is neither infinite nor immune from pollution. Irrigators, cities and villages, industries and wildlife all compete for this precious resource. Contamination may come from sediment, farming chemicals, urban runoff and industrial sources.
Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) have local leadership responsibilities for protecting groundwater from overuse and pollution. Each district also has a plan to protect groundwater. State law has given districts a variety of regulatory tools to deal with contamination, shortages or user conflicts.
NRDs encourage stewardship by providing financial assistance to landowners for irrigation water management and best management practices to protect water. NRDs are not just water protectors, in some cases they are providers. A number of NRDs operate drinking water systems for rural customers and small communities.
