Water resources for the classroom or other activities
Water is vital to Nebraska. In fact, groundwater provides approximately 85 percent of the water used for human consumption in Nebraska.
About 65% of the High Plains Aquifer (also called the Ogallala Aquifer) lies beneath Nebraska and is estimated to contain about two billion acre-feet of water (an acre-foot being enough water to cover one acre of land with a foot of water, or about 326,000 gallons of water). This is equal to about 25 years of the state's average annual stream-flow or about 700 times the average amount of water in its surface water reservoirs.
Groundwater supplies drinking water for 51% of the total U.S. population and 99% of the rural population. (Nebraska Groundwater Foundation)
Groundwater helps grow our food: 64% of groundwater is used for irrigation to grow crops. (Nebraska Groundwater Foundation)
Agricultural producers are continuously improving their irrigation management of crops.
Did You Know?
Nebraska has nearly 2,000 natural lakes in the Sandhills.
Nebraska has more than 5,000 wetlands, including many saline sites, and over 1,000 reservoirs and sandpit lakes.
Nebraska ranks 10th nationally in number of stream miles, including its major river systems, and ranks 16th nationally in total wetland acres.
Source: Nebraska Water Center
Resources
Nebraska Irrigation and Water Management Curriculum
Agricultural Water Management Teaching Resources
Nebraska Water Center Publications