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Water Information
 Look for May, 2013 "Did You Know" tips at links below |
- Agricultural Irrigation
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- Watersheds
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Everyone lives in a watershed. A watershed is the land area that contributes water to a location, usually a stream, pond, lake or river. Everything that we do on the surface of our watershed impacts the water quality of our streams, wetlands, ponds, lakes and rivers. What happens in one locality affects other downstream areas.
Protecting our water resources requires looking at water quality issues from a watershed perspective. Watershed planning and management consists of coordinated activities aimed at controlling, enhancing or restoring watershed functions.
Runoff pollution is the primary source of water quality problems in our lakes, ponds and streams. It can come from many different sources in a watershed. Water quality protection practices, or best management practices (BMPs), are systems, activities and structures that are constructed or practiced to prevent runoff pollution.
Impaired lakes, streams and rivers are a concern throughout the state of Nebraska. Explore how the University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducts research and Extension programming to address watershed issues in several focused watersheds in the state.
Did You Know?
The U.S. EPA released the results of the first comprehensive survey looking at the health of thousands of stream and river miles across the country, finding that more than half – 55 percent – are in poor condition for aquatic life. The 2008-2009 National Rivers and Stream Assessment reflects the most recent data available, and is part of EPA’s expanded effort to monitor waterways in the U.S. and gather scientific data on the condition of the Nation’s water resources. Findings of the assessment include: Twenty-seven percent of the nation’s rivers and streams have excessive levels of nitrogen, and 40 percent have high levels of phosphorus; High bacteria levels were found in 9 percent of stream and river miles making those waters potentially unsafe. More information can be found at this website: www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys