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6-1991

Water Current, Volume 23, June 1991

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"Water Current, Volume 23, June 1991" (1991). Water Current Newsletter. 184. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/water_currentnews/184

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Water Center, The at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Water Current Newsletter by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. NGF Awards Received Water-Related Action in the 1991 by Spaldings at Banquet

The Nebraska Groundwater Foundation Session of the Nebraska Legislature a nonprofit educational foundation ' by Bob Kuzelka These entities were created in 1984 upon celebrated its sixth anniversary in 'March Assistant Director, Water Center the recommendations of a special task with several activities during Nebraska force created by Governor Kerrey. Losing 105 bills and six resolutions mentioning Groundwater Week to promote them, especially the Water Management appreciation of Nebraska's groundwater. water have been introduced in the first Board, leaves some questions about how Among them was the annual awards session of the 92nd Nebraska future water policy in the state will be banquet that gave special recognition of Legislature. Fewer than that number established. In the next issue of Water relate directly to water policy and many contributions to groundwater Current there will be an indepth article on conservation. The Maurice Kremer fewer will pass and actually set water this legislation. Groundwater Achievement Award for policy for the State of Nebraska. The other two enacted bills are LB 277 1991 went to Ralph Marlette, a which allows permits for release of water hydrologist and researcher. He taught for instream recreation or fish and wildlife civil engineering at the University of purposes and LB 278 which causes the 'Jebraska-Lincoln for 39 years . The applicant to pay for public notice costs in Iydraulics, groundwater hydrology, and certain types of Department of Water river engineering were included in his 92nd Resources hearings. class offerings. His former engineering students staff Legislature Legislative Framework consulting firms , academic institutions The one adopted resolution, LR 27, is and government agencies in natural confirmation by the Legislature that state At this writing, three water-related bills resources." Professor Marlette , a man actions to date constitute a "legislative have gone through all the steps to whose legacy lies in his ability to not only framework" for Nebraska waterways and become law three months after the educate , but inspire ," was chosen by water resources. Such confirmation may legislature adjourns, projected to be in NGF to receive its highest honor, the be of use in the considerations by the early June. Maurice Kremer Groundwater Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The most interesting of these three Achievement Award . in relicensing Lake McConaughy and enacted bills is LB 772 which eliminates Special Merit Awards related facilities. the Water Management Board and the Four other water policy-related bills Special Merit Awards were received by Water Management Fund and repeals have made it out of committee and may Mary Exner Spalding of the UNL the Water Project Revenue Bonding Act. have some chance of passage. Three Conservation and Survey Division, and have been designated priority bills. Such Roy Spalding, associate director of the Another special merit recipient was designation helps their chance of Water Center. Congressman Doug Bereuter, for his becoming law this session. Mary Spalding was cited for "an leadership that has enabled small Priority Bill 511 originally was to increased understanding about the Nebraska communities to have new authorize counties to zone protectively process of contamination and levels of groundwater supplies when their wells along rivers of their choice . After concern about groundwater protection became contaminated. statewide." Her nitrate levels research in During Nebraska Groundwater Week u:F (see page 7) the Platte Valley was an "excellent the Groundwater Foundation promotes' examp le" of this. activiiies, including the awards banquet, Roy Spalding was chosen because of in appreciation of Nebraska's A LOOK INSIDE his research that has contributed to groundwater heritage. This nonprofit Page 3: News to Use 'oundwater quality knowledge. educational foundation is dedicated to xamples of his recent research include educating Nebraskans about Page 4: Water Conference the Burlington Chemigation Project , groundwater and sponsors Nebraska Awards Vadose Zone Studies, and the Groundwater Week that includes a Management System Evaluation Area Childrens' Water Festival for fourth fifth Page 8: Irrigation Tour (MSEA). and sixth graders.o " FROM THE DIRECTOR Water: Roy Spalding. Agronomy Department and the Water Center. I have written before conceming the There's Good News and Bad News importance of the Nebraska Research The last few months have produced good Missouri United Chamber of Commerce Initiative and its positive effects on news and bad news relative to water­ in Niobrara several weeks ago and gladly research related to water programs in related issues in Nebraska. made the trip to that beautiful part of the Nebraska. Now that no expansion of First the good news. I attended a state. The Niobrara River itself is well funds appear available for the Initiative, highly successful Children's Groundwater worth seeing ; however, we are going to have to work doubly Festival at Central Community College in the interactions with the hard to find ways to support water­ Grand Island. This third annual Festival community leaders was related research. brought approximately 3,000 fourth, fifth the highlight of the trip. Your comments are always welcom e.O and sixth graders from across the state It is good to discuss to Grand Island to learn about our state's the concerns of the water resources in a fun, yet meaningful, communities relative to Bob Volk Receives Award way. Sponsored by the Nebraska preserving their water When Berlie Schmidt spoke to the May Groundwater Foundation and supported quality. 1 Water Resources Seminar (see story, BobG. Volk by many citizens, the Festival points out More good news was page 6) he presented Water Center how we can impact our future leaders on recently learned in that UNL faculty were Director Bob Volk a special certificate of the importance of protecting our water successful in a national competition for appreciation. Schmidt, of the resources . If asked, get involved-the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Service day was long, but fun! water quality grants. We had three (CSRS), U.S. Department of This year's Nebraska Water winners this year and in times of Agriculture, (USDA) said, "Dr. Volk Conference, held in Kearney for the first decreasing budgets the funds will help provided a great contribution while he time, focused on the river systems in research programs. Titles and Principal was in Washington , D.C. with the Water Nebraska, and through an excellent Investigators of the winning proposals Quality Special Research Grant series of presentations gave the are: program. " audience an overview of our rivers and Movement of Agricultural Chemicals 1. The award read : some details on problems and research Beneath Conservation Tilled-Furrow "The United States Department of now underway. The conference Irrigated Land: Dean Eisenhauer, Agriculture Cooperative State Research concluded with a lively discussion on Biological Systems Engineer ing Service proudly presents to Bob Volk uses of the Platte and Niobrara Rivers. 2. Quantifying Nitrate Leaching Under this certificate of appreciation for Special thanks go to Les Sheffield and Continuous Corn Versus a Corn­ outstand ing contributions, particularly Bob Kuzelka for organizing the Soybean Rotation : Gary Hergert , the Water Quality Special Research conference and attracting the outstanding Agronomy Department Grant Program , July 1990. Signed: set of presenters . 3. Measurement of Injected Herbicide John Patrick Jordan , administrator, I was asked to give a talk to the Upper Mobility and Persistence in Ground Cooperative State Research Service ." Volk, who became Water Center Water Topics Included in New Acquisitions director August 1, 1990, came to the Center from Washington, D.C., where he had been on a temporary , one-year The Nebraska Water Sciences Research Demanding Clean Food and Water: assignment with CSRS, USDA. He had Initiative funding has provided the Water The Fight for a Basic Human Right. Joan been agronomy department chairman at Center funds to enhance library holdings Goldstein. the University of Missouri before his that include books and journals on water­ (see page 7) Washington, D.C. assignment. related topics. U Acquisitions received between July 1, 1990 and May 1,1991 include: Carolina Aquaculture News. June 1991 Vol. 23 No.2 Aquaculture Advisory Service. C02 and Climate Change: Impacts on Water Center Agriculture : Assessing the Response of Agriculture to the Direct Effects of Bob Yolk Mark Burbach Director Increased C02 and Climate Change. Field Manager Compiled and Edited by M. J. Salinger et Roy Spalding Cindy LeGrande al. Associate Director Office Manager Cost-Benefit Analysis of Irrigation and Drought Proofing. K. Puttaswamaiah. Bob Kuzelka Audrey Schardt Practical Handbook of Ground-Water Assistant Director Editorial Assistant Monitoring. Edited by David M. Nielsen. Pat Larsen Jean Klasna Biomarkers of Environmental WriterlEditor Bookkeeper Contamination. Edited by John F. McCarthy, Lee R. Shugart. 103 Natural Resources Hall Coastal Alert: Ecosystems, Energy, Lincoln, NE 68583-0844 University of Nebraska Phone: 402-472-3305 and Offshore Oil Drilling. Dwight Holing; Foreword by Ted Danson. 2 All Wells in Basin Should Be Regulated News to Use by Brad Rundquist, demonstrate their theory. The model The following are announcements, that UNL Conservation and Survey Division showed that groundwater- level decline may be of interest. patterns are similar regardless of the • Special Supplement "Facts and Figures The way some areas of groundwater location of the wells. about Nebraska Rivers," a special decline are managed in Nebraska should Davis spoke during the second supplement for the 1991 Nebraska change because management of such concurrent session of the conference, Water Conference, is available in a areas does not address the whole which focused on computer applications limited supply from the Conservation groundwater basin , according to a to groundwater. Two general sessions and Survey Division, University of University of Nebraska-Lincoln were held, one on governmental roles in Nebraska-Lincoln. Ray Bentall, author groundwater researcher. groundwater and another on chemical of the supplement, is professor Ralph K. Davis, speaking to about 150 aspects of groundwater, as well as four emeritus at the Conservation and groundwater scientists and policy experts concurrent sessions. The other Survey Division where he has reviewed during the 35th annual fall Midwest concurrent sessions focused on and edited many publications on Groundwater Conference held in Lincoln , geophysical applications to groundwater, geology and water resources as a said because groundwater basins act as geographic-information-system/remote­ geohydrologist. Sixteen pages of a unit, management efforts should be sensing applications to groundwater and narrative, 10 tables, and 26 plates, are aimed at the entire basin, not just the the impact of climatic change on included in this book from the Division areas experiencing the most decline. groundwater. Speakers came from 10 at 113 Nebraska Hall, UNL, Lincoln, Davis, former manager of the Big Bend Midwestern states and from Washington, NE 68588-0517; phone: (402) 472­ Groundwater Management District in D.C. Kansas and a graduate student with the 3471. UNL geology department, said that Keynoter From CRS • Technical Report on Drought "Drought typically, management agencies erect an Jeffrey A. Zinn, a specialist in natural Management and Planning," edited by artificial boundary around areas of resources policy with the Congressional Donald A. Wilhite, Deborah A. Wood, significant decline and regulate the wells Research Service in Washington, D.C., and Paul A. Kay, (lDIC Technical only within that enclosed zone. gave the keynote address. Report Series 91-1, 1191), is available But he said research that he and In exploring, " Is there a federal for $20 from the International Drought Darryll T. Pederson, research groundwater policy? " Zinn said there is Information Center, 241 L.W. Chase hydrogeologist with the Conservation and no explicit federal groundwater policy at Hall, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583-0728, Survey Division, Institute of Agriculture present and that there shouldn't be. (402) 472-3679. This book includes 30 and Natural Resources, and UNL 'There is already coordination on papers by scientists and policy makers professor of geology, have conducted many levels ," he said. "This is an era of who attended a drought management over the past several years has shown cooperation, and a new coordination and planning seminar in Denver in that wells outside the zones affect mechanism would be more disruptive 1990. decline within the zone as well. than helpful. " • Demonstration Model Groundwater "Regulating part of the basin helps," Zinn also outlined some of the 51 bills Flow Demonstration Models are Davis said, "but it won't solve the relating to groundwater that were in available from the Biological Sytems problem. All the wells in a basin that is Congress, particularly the new farm bill. Engineering Department, UNL. This experiencing decline should be Gale Hutton, speaking about state and model is used to demonstrate regulated. " local government agencies' roles in groundwater movement. Several Pederson and Davis based their groundwater, said the primary physical and chemical groundwater opinion on the circular- island concept, responsibility for groundwater protection concepts are demonstrated by the which states that groundwater decline will should be vested at the state and local model that is accompanied by a first be experienced in the center of an levels. manual that demonstrates 28 concepts. island, regardless of the locations of the Hutton , chief of the Water Quality Contact DeLynn R. Hay, 234 L.W. wells. Division of the Nebraska Department of Chase Hall, Biological Systems Engineering, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583­ Researchers Modify Concept- Environmental Control, said the state's responsibility should be to develop 0726; phone (402) 472-1625 for more They modified that concept to apply to comprehensive groundwater- protection information.o areas of Nebraska and Kansas that are programs, to design and more stringently experiencing groundwater-level declines. manage areas of high importance and The center of the island, they said, vulnerability to pollution and to develop corresponds to regional groundwater and coordinate mechanisms to make the divides, or the areas located between most of state and local partnership in regional rivers. Therefore, they said, the groundwater-protection strategies. areas showing the greatest decline The federal government should work to Register for the 1991 should be along the divides. develop new and innovative best Nebraska Irrigation Tour Areas in southwestern Nebraska and management practices, develop with form on Page 11. the Big Blue River Basin show radial sampling, production, and analysis patterns of decline, with the greatest protocols and work to create a national (See story on Page 8.) decline along the divides and the least repository of groundwater information, he along the rivers. said. Davis also presented data generated (see page 8) by a computer model used to U 3 Center Pivot Industry in Five Nebraska firms that manufacture Les Sheffield, secretary of the Nebr' about 90 percent of the center pivots in the Water Conference Council, said that U.S., received 1991 Progress Awards at there have been about 75 to 80 different the 20th annual Nebraska Water Confer­ U.S. firms located in several states which at ence Council awards banquet held in one time or another since 1953 have Kearney recently. Two persons received manufactured center pivot irrigation awards for recognition of service. systems, today only eight U.S. firms have an appreciable share of the total market. Sheffield said, "According to a reliable source in the industry, the five major Nebraska center pivot firms also account for about 95 percent of the center pivot irrigation systems which are exported." He reminisced that the industry dates back only to 1953 when the late Frank Zybach, the inventor obtained his patent in July, 1952, joined with A. E. Trow­ bridge, an automobile dealer in Columbus, to produce center pivots in a rented machine shop. Zybach lacked the capital needed for production, so in 1953, he sold 49 percent of the patent rights to Trowbridge for $50,000. The president of a small short-line manufacturing firm at Valley, Robert B. Daugherty, after hearing about Zybach's invention, negotiated an agreement in 1954 with Zybach and Trowbridge for manufacturing and sales rights that provided for royalty payments for each center pivot that was sold. "Most irrigation farmers in t 1950s and 1960s believed that you had to have flat land with good deep soils to irrigate crops successfully, because that was the way it had been done for centuries," Sheffield said. Awards "And then, in the late 1960s, The Nebraska center pivotfirms that received several innovative farmers and Progress Awards and special awards recipients land owners in Holt County, are: (Top to Bottom) Lindsay Mfg. Co., Lindsay, Nebraska bought pivot NE., Robert Snoozy, vice president ofmarketing; systems for very sandy, shallow soils that were Reinke Mfg. Co., Deshler, Ron Schardt, chairman; considered marginal crop­ T-L Irrigation Co., Hastings, LeRoy Thom , presi­ land, not suitable for irriga­ dent; Pioneer Irrigation Award, William E. Splinter, tion and this new concept of interim vice chancellorfor research and graduate irrigation first began to be studies dean at the University ofNebraska-Lincoln; accepted." Lockwood Corporation, Gering, G. Dean Edwards, In Holt County in 1988 vice president ofsales and marketing; Valmont there were 1,972 pivot Irrigation, Valley, James Eiting, vice president of systems and Nebraska marketing; past chair ofNebraska Water Conference had 27,617. Now Council , Frank Dragoun, general manager, Central Nebraska has more than any other Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, state in the U.S., Holdrege . Sheffield reported. (Photos by Mark Ashman, Kearney State College),

The annual Nebraska Water Conferences are co-sponsored by the Institute ofAgriculture and Natural ) Resources, University ofNebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Water Center, and the Nebraska Water Conference Council.

4 Nebraska Recognized with Awards / "Ithough, Sheffield said, some rather Splinter, who was raised on an irrigated identified from space. What was being > U.S. firms entered the center pivot farm just west of North Platte, said 3-day observed is perhaps the most significant i ustry, either by acquiring a firm already 24-hour per day irrigation runs from the mechanical innovation in agriculture since manufacturing pivots, or starting from local irrigation district that delivered water to the replacement of draft animals by the scratch, only a few have succeeded and the family farm were not unusual. tractor." survived. Among these firms were Beatrice "Despite all the manual labor favorable Splinter has served as a consultant in Foods, Carborundum Corporation, FMC crop yields were made possible by several foreign countries including the Corp., and Butler Manufacturing Co. irrigation. People's Republic of China, the Soviet "I never lost my appreciation for what Union, Southern Rhodesia , India, Australia, Irrigation Researcher, Teacher, irrigation means to both the viability of Israel and Morocco. Administrator Receives Award farming and also to the economy of He was chair of the UNL Department of Nebraska," Splinter said. Agricultural Engineering from 1968 to 1988; A native of North Platte who learned how In one of the over 100 articles Splinter from 1984 to 1988 he was the George to irrigate with a shovel to control irrigation has authored, Splinter wrote in the June, Holmes Distinguished Professor. From water flows was awarded the 1991 Pioneer 1976, Scientific American, "Traveling in 1972 to 1977, he chaired the Nebraska Irrigation Award by the Nebraska Water orbit around the earth at an altitude of some Water Conference Council's Conference Conference Council at its annual awards 270 miles, the Skylab astronauts rotated Planning Committee. banquet. their spacecraft to establish a bearing on Vince Dreeszen, UNL Conservation and William E. Splinter, interim vice chancellor one of their principal check points: a cluster Survey Division , and chair of the for research and dean of graduate studies of several hundred round green spots, each nominations and awards committee of the at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, half a mile in diameter, arrayed in an Nebraska Water Conference Council, . received the award for his "exemplary orderly pattern on the earth's surface below presented the awards for the Council and leadership of irrigation-related research, them. the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural teaching and extension programs while "What they were viewing was a dense Resources. chair of the UNL Department of concentration of circular irrigated fields in Agricultural Engineering." north-central Nebraska, a pattern easily

Water, Quality Research Site in Nebraska Differs chepers says the Nebraska needs. And we need to evaluate the groundwater has been contaminated Management System Evaluation Area impact of of different systems on from long-term use of agicultural (MSEA) at Shelton is different from the groundwater. "It takes a whole cadre of chemicals. "The concentrations of ag others in the President's Initiative on people to do these things," he said. chemicals in the groundwater represent a Enhancing Water Quality in Iowa, composite of past and present MSEA Sites Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio. agricultural practices," Ellis said. He said He spoke at the 1991 Water "If you take a look at all five MSEA the primary benefit from the MSEA Resources Seminar Series. Schepers, sites in general, they have a few things project will be the establishment of a soil scientist, USDA-ARS, at the in common: the corn-soybean rotation, reliable hydrogeologic basis for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln agronomy evaluation of groundwater, and the socio­ evaluation of the effectiveness of department, said, "Soil, irrigation economic impacts of alternative different water and chemical application methods and cropping systems makes management systems, or the reasons techniques. the Nebraska site unique." He said the why people do things. Each site has a Another scientist at the seminar series, goal of the Nebraska MSEA project is to different climate, different soils, and Bill Larson, research coordinator for all develop new practices that are different irrigation," Schepers said. MSEA sites, and a soil scientitist at the economically feasible and the producers Another Nebraska presenter, Mike University of Minnesota, reported that all will voluntarily adopt to reduce Ellis, of the United States Geological groundwater pollution. "If they were all Survey, said central Nebraska rr:F (see page 6) the same we wouldn't need five sites," Schepers said."Our strategy here is to say 'well, let's come up with some Water Quality Problems'? cropping systems and put these good management practices on the land'." . Recognize Them Easily &Reliably One of the most difficult challenges With the USDA SoilConservation Service's facing irrigated corn producers is to Water QualityIndicators Guide: Tofax your credit cardorder ­ determine the appropriate fertilizer Surface Waters (202)275-2529. nitogen (N) application rate, especially No chemicaltesting required Specify WATER QUALITY (' f 'dering the possibility for N losses by Learn More Than 100Management Practices to INDICATORS GUIDE: I ng and volatilization before the crop SURFACE WATERS and stock Eliminate Problems! can utilize the fertilizer. Schepers said number 001-000-04560-1. Please Send a check for$8to: Superintendent ofDocuments include your name, address, and the problem facing producers everywhere U.S. Government Printing Office telephone number. VISA ®and is basically one of synchronizing soil N Washington, IX: 204D2. MasteICard®accepled. availability from all N sources with crop N 5 (Water Quality p. 5) U More Emphasis on Water Quality Research - Federal Official

MSEA sites will be compared : farm Nebraska is a key state for studying Evaluation Area (MSEA) at Shelton in the management systems between sites, impacts of agriculture on water quality, a Central Platte Valley, one of five sites in movement of contaminants into the U. S. Department of Agriculture soil the United States, is important to "put all groundwater of each site, high-medium­ scientist said. the pieces of best management practices and low-input systems. All MSEA sites "Particularly agriculture impacts as together." are a part of the Presidential Initiative they relate to agricultural chemicals ­ Schmidt spoke May 1 to the final that began in 1990 and will continue for fertilizers, herbicides and other pesticides session of the 1991 Water Resources about five years with federal funding of in our groundwater," Berlie Schmidt, of Seminar Series, sponsored by the Water about $45 million. the Cooperative State Research Service Center at the University of Nebraska­ Additional seminar presenters were (CSRS), Washington , DC, said. He said Lincoln, and coordinated by Roy from other MSEA sites. "Farm it is very suitable that substantial water Spalding, associate director of the Water Management Impacts on Ground and research be in Nebraska since the state Center. Surface Water Quality," sponsored by is so dependent on the aquifer system Looking ahead to future federal the Water Center, and coordinated by and irrigation systems for agriculture. government partnerships with state Roy Spalding, associate director of the "And it's suitable that Nebraska be a Agricultural Experiment Stations, land­ Center, was the 1991 series and is key state in terms of water quality grant universities and water quality presented each spring semester for class research programs," Schmidt said. He research, Schmidt said the CSRS credit and is open to the public.o said the Management Systems program has increased funding $2 million a year for water research since President Bush's 1989 inauguration address. The I \ .,..,II. President pledged federal support for research on water quality and Congress is "supportive." J6 ' :" " Agency Cooperation An example of cooperation between all ~ I ---+----I----- agencies is two major categories of 0\. .\ .\ President Bush's Water Quality Initiative ~l. that hopefully will answer the question: ./1 " \ .:,.". Which farming practices can be profitable ...... ;..L!--+-U .I ·O . ~ ~ ~ . ~ -:_":-;. :: and still not threaten groundwate r quality? Schmidt pinpointed the Nebraska ~.d:.=-..p~~r-:...--+--+:~:-if---H-:-----;--+--:~". : ~l ~ '_/~->--' ~ t"~,='~=Y~: " ~" ....._-,- MSEA site as pivotal to putting the i · ::> t ::r: puzzle pieces together. ;:l "There 's hardly an academic discipline that doesn't have a place when putting individual pieces of this puzzle together," Schmidt said. "Although the USDA was named the lead agency by the President to coordinate research for solving problems that are caused by agricultural production on groundwater and surface water quality, other agencies are cooperating. And states are coming together in a common effort to help solve groundwater pollution problems." He said the USDA put together a research plan that included both priority component research , and a I 2 demonstration of agricultural systems' ! t MI L ES impact on groundwater quality, especially as potential pollutants, as they move down through the soil toward the aquifers. Another component of this research includes identification of families of agrichemicals that leach toward aquifers and confirming which management practices increase or decrease vertical movement of these chemicals . '" Study area and location of principal research sites for Nebraska MSEA. ''The second part of the research plan 0'" (see page 7) 6 (Water-Related p. 1) U ------

numerous amendments, it now gives the SPAs has been bracketed until January second session of the 92nd Nebraska Natural Resources Commission the 1992. Legislature which begins in January of power to identify the river and methods A wide range of other water-related 1992. of protection. This bill has advanced to bills and resolutions are still in committee The next issue of Water Current will the select file. and will probably see no further action carry a summary of water-related actions this session. If they are not killed, they by the Nebraska Legislature in the In Select File will carry over for possible action in the current session.o Also in the select file is Priority Bill 413 which clarifies criminal penalty provisions in the Environmenta l Protection Act. In the general file is Priority Bill 338 which would provide cost share funds for (More Emphasis p. 6) U ------groundwater quality projects undertaken by natural resources districts (NRD). is called the Midwest Initiative - a long­ and Agricultural Experiment Stations Not a priority bill, but still advancing, is term, multi-agency program, and a pilot cooperate in this research. In 1991, from LB 51 which is in final reading. It would project to pull all components of research 250 grant proposals, only 44 water establish consisten cy in the procedures together to see how a total farming quality grants will be funded and three of for handling groundwater quality system operates and affects nutrients these will be awarded to Nebraska. problems in Special Ground Water and pesticides getting into groundwater," "We have to put a research program Protection Areas (SPA) and Ground Schmidt explained. together to provide ways for producers to Water Management Areas. make a profit in agriculture , but to Other bills include LB 212 which Water Quality Research prevent the groundwater from being authorizes a study of conjunctive and In 1990 CSRS funded 46 research contaminated," Schmidt said. "We need integrated use of ground and surface grants in water quality, a program which a systems approach for this. That's really water. Such a study will likely be done by began in 1989 with 23 grants. He said what the Midwest Water Quality Initiative the Legislature's Natural Resources CSRS, Agricultural Research Service, is all about."0 Commission during the interim with, or without the bill's passage. A bill which repeals NRDs' special taxing authority in

(Water Topics p. 2) U ------

Dream: Analytical Groundwater Flow George, Bermuda Islands). River POllution: An Ecological Programs. Bernadine Bonn, Stewart Management Systems to Reduce Perspective. S. M. Haslam; Illustrated by Rounds. Impact of Nitrates. Edited by J. C. Y. Bower. Drinking Water Microbiology: Progress Germon: Assisted by S. Dupain. Structure and Function of Biofilms: and Recent Developments. Gordon A. Microbial Water Stress Physiology: Report of the Dahlem Workshop on McFeters, Editor. Principles and Perspectives. A. D. Brown. structure and Function of Biofilms, Berlin, Ground Water in Eastern, Central, and Microwave Remote Sensing for 1988, November 27-December 2. W. G. Southern Africa. United Nations. Dept. of Oceanographic and Marine Weather Characklis and P. A. Wilderer, Editors. Technical Cooperation for Development. Forecast Models. Edited by Robin A. Dahlem Workshop on Structure and Hazardous Waste Minimization Vaughan. Function of Biofilms (1988: Berlin, Handbook. Thomas E. Higgins. NATO Advanced Study Institute on Germany). Large-Scale Regional Water Microwave Remote Sensing for Underground Storage Systems: Leak Resources Planning: The North Atlantic Oceanographic and Marine Weather­ Detection and Monitoring. Todd G. Regional Study. By David C. Major and Forecast Modules (1988: Dundee, Schwendeman , H. Kendall Wilcox; Harry E. Schwarz. Scotland). Vaughan, R. A. (Robin Foreword by Rudolph C. White. The Long-Range Atmospheric Antony). Watershed 89: Transport of Natural and Contaminant Organic Acids in Aquatic Ecosystems : The Future for Water Quality in Substances : [Proceedings of the NATO Report of the Oahlem Workshop on Europe: Proceedings of the IAWPRC Advanced Research Workshop on the Organic Acids in Aquatic Ecosystems. Conference . Held in Guldford , U.K., 17­ Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Berlin 1989, May 7-12. E. M. Perdue and 20 April 1989. Editors D. Wheeler, M. Natural and Contaminant Substances E. T. Gjessing , Editors; Rapporteurs , W. Richardson, and J. Bridges. IWAPRC from Continent to Ocean and Continent H. Glaze et al. Dahlem Workshop on Conference (1989: Guildford, England). to Continent. St. Georges, Bermuda, Organic Acids in Aquatic Ecosystems Wheeler, D., Richardson, Mervyn, January 10-17, 1988). Edited by Anthony (1989: Berlin, Germany). Bridges, J.International Association on r H. Knap. The Rains Model of Acidification: Water Pollution Research and Control. E. NATO Advanced Research Workshop Science and Strategies in Eurooe. Edited Price on the Long-Range Atmospheric by Joseph Alcamo, Roderick Shaw, and Climate Dynamics. Vol. 5 (1990) only. Transport of Natural and Contaminant Leen Hordijk; with Support from National Environmental Impact Assessment Substances from Continent to Ocean and Environmental Protection Board, Sweden Review.0 Continent to Continent (1988: Saint et al. 7 (All Wells p. 3) ~ _

"Somebody has got to grab the bull by implement best management practices exchange of ideas between state­ the horns and assure that we have total and education programs to deal with the supported groundwater professionals coordination between all the different problem. working in Midwestern states. This year's arms of federal government that now After three years of studies, Ehrman Midwest Groundwater Conference was have some involvement in groundwater," said he was able to make several sponsored by the Conservation and he said. "My big fear is that if we're not observations concerning the SPA Survey Division, the University of awfully careful with all the actors, we're program. Nebraska Water Center, and the going to start stuttering; we're going to He said the program has been Agriculture Research Division, all of the have some redundancy." successful in improving relations between IANR; the UNL Department of Geology; the state and NRDs and making the the Nebraska Groundwater Foundation; Special Protection Areas people of Nebraska more aware of and the Nebraska district office of the In the same session, Dick Ehrman of groundwater-quality problems. Water Resources Division of the U.S. the Nebraska Department of But, he said, current levels of funding Geological Survey. Environmental Control talked about the for the program do not allow for The conference rotates among the status of Nebraska's Special Protection improvement of the program, such as the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Areas. implementation of better study Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, The NDEC can declare an SPA if its techniques. He also said the funding in Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, studies of an area, done upon the scarcely-populated NRDs and the one­ Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and KentuckY.D request a local governmental agency, year time frame for SPA studies are show that nonpoint-source pollution inadequate. (Editors note: Although this exists or is likely. If an SPA is declared, The Midwest Groundwater Conference conference was last fall, we ran out of the local natural resources district must was set up in 1956 to promote the . space in the last Water Current.) Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska Irrigation Tour Destinations

Management of the North and South diverted downstream in the North Platte following lunch at scenic Miracle Mile Platte Rivers in Wyoming, Colorado and River; near Kortes Dam in Wyoming; Nebraska is the focus for the 20th annual -Interstate Canal Diversion Dam in -Lake Granby Pumping Plant that is Nebraska Irrigation Tour July 22-26, Wyoming; operated 10 stories underground by according to the tour director. -Narration about Laramie River Power Northern Colorado Water Conservancy Les Sheffield, University of Nebraska Plant at Wheatland; District at Loveland, Colo.; and Extension farm management specialist, -Guernsey Dam and Reservoir near -Rocky Mountain National Park with said, "We believe the 1991 tour will be Guernsey, Wyo.; travel over scenic Trail Ridge Drive to the best tour ever because of the intense -Glendo Dam and Reservoir in Loveland, Colo. Bus narration will be interest in water-use of these two rivers Wyoming; about water diverted from the Western in the three states." -Bus narration while traveling in the Slope to the eastern Slope, or He said it's all new tour stops and the Glenrock, Wyo., area about Wyoming­ agricultural vs urban water use. information provided on the tours will be Nebraska dispute over water supply in Sheffield said this year's two tour "timely." the North Platte River; buses are limited to 80 persons with The tour goes all the way to the -Alcova Dam and Reservoir and registrations on a first-come first-served Alva B. Adams Tunnel and pumping plant Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir; (see page 9) where water is lifted over the Continental -Seminoe Dam and Reservoir U Divide to the East Slope of the Rocky Mountains with stops on the way that include: 1991 IRRIGATION TOUR ROUTE - A luncheon presentation on "Current , G I . n d ~ ~------~ Status of FERC Relicensing of Hydro ••rvau I ", I Plants" at the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte; -Lake McConaughy and Kingsley Dam and hydro plant; -Lake Minatare and Lake Alice with narration about conflicts with Wyoming ," I over the water supply; N I - Tri-State Diversion Dam, Farmers I Irrigation District, Scottsbluff; -Bus narration of the Mitchell Canal ~ Denver r------Diversion structure on the Wyoming­ 20 40 60 W,ln Nebraska state line about National Guard ,I I mobilization in the 1930s after water was 8 (Colorado, Wyoming p. 8) U Nearly 4,500 Chem igation Applicators Certified in Two Years

basis. Registrations are due July 10 with Crop producer response and acceptance renewals ." So inspection programs vary a variety of options included. Buses will to mandatory certification of chemigation considerably among Natural Resource stop along the route to pick up applicators have been excellent, Districts (NRDs) , he said. participants and others may drive the according to state chemigation program For example, the Upper Republican specialists. NRD inspected nearly all renewals while route. Dayle E. Williamson, Nebraska Natural Training sessions for chemigators have the Upper Niobrara-White didn't inspect Resources Commission, is the tour been conducted by the Univers ity of renewals, but plans to inspect each chairman. These tours are sponsored by Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service . system every other year. the Nebraska Water Conference Council , In 1987, 90 training sessions were held Equipment problems have been noted , the Univers ity of Nebraska Water Center, and 4,193 chemigators were certif ied. according to Buttermore. and the UNL Institute of Agriculture and In 1988 at 16 sessions, 291 "Chemical injection check valves have chemigators were additionally certified. A been the biggest problem," Buttermore Natural Resou rces. 50-question test follows the three -hour said. He said that at a September See registration form on page 11. training with certification issued by the confe rence of NRDs , concern was Call Sheffield at (402) 472-1773 for Nebraska DEC. expressed that 90 percent of the systems more tnformat ion.F] "Ninety-four percent of those taking the inspected by the Upper Republican NRD test have been certified for the four-year had equipment problems. The injection Projects Funded Here certificate period, " Larry Schulze, UNL check valve was often "fouled or not extension specialist-pesticide training, working properly and had to be cleaned , With USGS Grants said. repaired or replaced. " "N early all chem igation has been with Another problem reported is the failure The Water Cente r has announced center pivot irrigation systems," Gary of the low pressure drain to close. awards for five research projects under Buttermore, Nebraska Department of However, specific records haven 't been the USGS, section 104, annual funding . Environmental Control (DEC) , said. He kept from inspections to document Projects begin June 1, 1991 with a said more than a fourth of the 27,000 equipment problems. proposed completions date of May 31, center pivots in Nebraska in 1987 According to the 1988 renewal permit 1992. Research and scientists are as received permits . applications, fertilizer and 33 different follows: "There were a large number of new pesticides were applied in 1987. Roughly "Identification and Assessment of permits in 1988," he said, "due to 8 percent of the 7.9 million irrigated Alternatives for Management of Reservoir changes in farmed acres because of acres, or 647,000 acres, were Sedimentation," Rollin H. Hotchkiss; farm programs, a gene ral increase in chemigated in Nebraska, the Nebraska "Anticholinesterase Insecticides in compliance and crop changes. " Department of Agricu lture estimates. Groundwater: Immunologic Since LB 284, the Chemigation Act of Buttermore cautions that these figures Consequences," George P. Casale; 1986, became effect ive Jan. 1, 1986, all are the chemigators' best estimates of "Characterization of Anisotropy of chemigators must be certif ied and their applications by chem igation in 1987 and Hydraulic Conductivity in a Shallow irrigation systems must be inspected by are "simply a general idea of Unconfined Aquife r under Irrigation by Natural Resources District for permits . chemigation use." Pumping Test and Geophysical In 1987 there were 7,164 permits Although a few violators have been Methods," Vitaly Zlotnik; issued; in 1988, 1,501 new chem igation discovered by aerial observation, "Biochemical Determ inants of renewals, Buttermore reported. previously permitted systems, spotting Pyrethroid Toxicity to Selected Aquatic Each chemigation system must be equipment from the road and observing Insects, " Blair D. Siegfried; and inspected before a new permit can be chemical deliveries, inspection stickers "Blocked End Furrow Irrigation issued. provided by DEC assists some chemical Management Techniques ," Joel "However," he said, "there is no Cahoon .El specific requirement for inspection of a:F (see page 10) York Recharge Project Dedicated by Dignitaries and Guests The first of 21 projects in the U.S. of the The High Plains Ogallala Aquifer study important element of that emphasis, he High Plains Water Recharge showed that with no modification, said. demonstration project was dedicated May groundwater practices in the area will The three recharge methods tested in 3. This demonstration project legislation expand and groundwater levels will the York Groundwater Recharge of 1983 was introduced by First District continue to decline. Irrigation pumping for Demonstration Project are : Rep. Doug Bereuter. the past 34 years in the Big Blue basin Seepage from a reservoir with 310 The $1.93 million research project and has caused a 5 foot water level decline acre-feet of permanent storage; recreational area has been operating below the predevelopment water levels in Seepage from two spreading basins ; since January and was open to the this 1.73 million irrigated acres area , the and I' cP ublic March 1. The area will serve as a study showed. Direct injection into the aquifer through esearch center to recharge surface Bereuter said,"Groundwater an injection well, after the water has water into the aquifer beneath and will management is a key of the new focus been treated to drinking water quality at also be a natural educational field toward water conservation, water quality 100 gallons a minute.o laboratory for area students, according to and environmental protection." Learning Bereuter. how to recharge the groundwater is an 9 More News from the Fall NATO Workshop Nitrate-Groundwater Contamination a Complicated Issue

(Courtesy of UNL Information Office) or mathematical models that could be The scientists acknowledged that as There's an old story that, in the used to answer this question, Dourson these countries increased use of ecological picture, if you pull something said studies have shown that increased agricultural fertilizers and other here, then ultimately you affect bacterial contamination seems to chemicals, nitrate levels in their water something somewhere else. increase the probability of nitrate-related supplies also increased. However, they Zoltan Kerekes, director of water deaths when contamination is above the also noted that greater agricultural quality for Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities accepted standard . Medical scientists at production was helping to reduce a District, used this explanation to explain the workshop explained that this could be greater risk in these countries-hunger. the complexity of nitrate-groundwater because stomachs which are distressed "We need to put together the little contamination, which is a concern by higher levels of bacteria produce more pieces of knowledqe to add to the great worldwide. nitrates from the same amount of nitrates amount of uncertainty ," said Andras Kerekes was among the participants than do stomachs without the higher Bardossy, the West Germany scientist and observers at the North Atlantic levels of bacteria. who had presented the decision-making Treaty Organization (NATO) Advanced Mathematical and other decision model which included uncertainty as a Research Workshop on Nitrate making models are used at all levels of factor to be considered .F] Contamination of Groundwater, organized dealing with the nitrate contamination by the Water Center. issue, from the standards set by the Its purpose was to bring together 46 Environmental Protection Agency to what Vitamin C a Safeguard reseachers from 17 NATO and non­ type of treatment system should be used NATO countries , to present and discuss to remove nitrates from water supplies. Against Nitrate-Related Cancer their work regarding nitrate contamination Chemical precipitation , distillation , ion­ (Courtesy of UNL Information Office) exchange, reverse osmosis, of groundwater. The concern over nitrate Sidney Mirvish of the University of electrodialysis, and biological contamination stems from the fact that Nebraska's Eppley Institute for Cancer denitrification were among the processes nitrates have been linked with infant Research wasn't the first person to say methemoglobinemia, which depletes the explained. that orange juice was good for you, but infants' oxygen supply, and the possible Natural Methods 18 years ago he headed a group which formation of potent carcinogens in the Also presented were natural means of offered evidence that the vitamin C it digestive tract. removing nitrates, including the use of contains can inhibit certain kinds of Uniform Standards non agricultural (and thus non- fertilized) cancer. In the final panel discussion, the plantings in areas adjacent to stream and Mirvish presented a paper at the North scientists informally concurred that the 10 river banks. Louis Schipper, with the Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) parts per million (or 50 milligrams per Forest Research Institute in Rotorua, Advanced Research Workshop where he liter) standard adopted by the U.S. and New Zealand, said the conversion of detailed his methods for establishing the most countries worldwide is a valid nitrate to nitrogen gases by denitrification scope of vitamin C as a cancer inhibitor. standard for the safe nitrate has been shown to be highly active in "Consumption of fresh fruits and concentration level in water. riparian (river-bank) zone organic soils. vegetables, especially those with high In the meantime, decision makers have Utilizing the renovative capacity of these vitamin C levels, is negatively correlated to rely on formulas which incorporate soils has tended to reduce nonpoint with the incidence of cancer of the available information with mathematical source nitrate pollution of streams and stomach, esophagus, mouth, larynx and and decision-making models, including a lakes. cervix," Mirvish said. "This suggests that model which considers the geophysical , U.S. communities facing nitrate these cancers are caused by N-nitroso human, and control systems as well as a contamination above the accepted level compounds and that their formation is model which incorporates uncertainties . are required by EPA rules to provide inhibited by vitamin C." Michael Dourson, with the U.S. bottled water to infants under six months Vitamin C Safeguard Environmental Protection Agency in of age and to comply with other Vitamin C could be a safeguard Cincinnati, Ohio, defined a model based guidelines, explained Tim Amsden with against cancer and other diseases EPA's Region 7 office in Kansas City, on an acceptable Reference Dose (RfD) associated with nitrate contamination of and the No Observed Adverse Effect Kansas. One of those guidelines is to ground water, according to a British Level (NOAEL). study how nitrate contamination could be scientist speaking at the workshop . S. controlled at the site of a private well or While there have been no good studies Leach of the PHLS-Centre for Applied municipal well. Microbiology and Research, Porton Guidelines Reviewed (Nearly 4,500 p. 9) U Down, Salisbury, England, said he has While such guidelines indicate a well­ also found vitamin C to be a safeguard dealers as they will not deliver to non­ structured system, it is one which is against certain kinds of cancer. permitted chemigators. continually being reviewed, EPA officials "We have shown that vitamin C is a In the past two years, five chemigation indicated. European scientists potent inhibitor," Leach said. "Thus the system accidents have been reported. commended the U.S. for its continued intake of this dietary constituent will be "However, none have resulted in review of acceptable nitrate levels. likely to protect against nitrosation contamination of the water source," The growth of the nitrate problem in reactions that result in N-nitroso Buttermore said.D developing countries was also discussed. compounds ." 10 Tour Reply Form For 1991 Nebraska Irrigation Tour Return Form To: To Western Nebraska, Eastern Wyoming and Colorado Les Sheffield July 22-26, 1991 304-B Filley Hall Sponsored By University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0922 The Nebraska Water Conference Council University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources The University of Nebraska Water Center (Call 402-472-1773 or 402-472-1742 if you need information)

D I plan to participate in the 1991 Nebraska Irrigation Tour D I will ride on the buses and I will get on the bus at _ and I will get off the bus at _ D No, I will drive my own car and meet the Tour at _ and I will leave the Tour at _

Please Check All Appropriate Boxes Below (Costs are on Per Person Basis): D Registration Fee to cover mailing costs, name tags, etc. $ 10.00 D Chartered Bus Fee (To cover Bus Charter Costs) $180.00 Lodging Accommodations (Per Person Rates) Single King Double D Mon., July 22, Scottsbluff Inn, Scottsbluff $ 45.50 $ 30.00 $ 28.00 $_.­ D Tues., July 23, Holiday Inn, Casper, WY $ 37.00 $ 25.00 $ 21.00 $_.­ D Wed., July 24, The Inn, Silver Creek, CO $ 50.00 $ 40.00 $ 47.00 $_.­ D Thur., July 25, Ramkota Inn, Greeley, CO $ 50.00 $ 30.00 $ 30.00 $_.-

$182.50 $125.00 $_.-

Subtotal, Meals During Tour. $129.00 SUMMARY OF COSTS: D Full Tour, Ride on Buses, Single Room 1 Person $502.00 D Full Tour, Ride on Buses, King Bed Room, 2 Persons, ea. $444.50 D Full Tour, Ride on Buses, 2 Persons, 2 Beds $445,59 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Nebraska Water Conference Council Enclosed is my check payable to the Nebr. Water Conf. Council for $_.- Name: Mailing Address: _ Title: Firm or Agency: _ Town: State: Zip Code: _ Office Phone: ( ) Res. Phone: ( _ Remarks or Special Requests: (Non smoking room etc.) _

11 WAT£~ NON-PROFIT ORG. 103 Natural Resources Hall U.S. POSTAGE University of Nebraska PAID lincoln, NE 68583-0844 Lincoln, Nebr. Permit No. 46

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