Back-to-back one-day water symposium and water law conference will be at Lincoln's NU College of Law March 19 and 20.
"On March 19 our focus will be research, practices and policy related to sustainability of the High Plains aquifer for food production and water supply, while the following day's events focus on Nebraska water law for practicing attorneys and other water law professionals," said Chittaranjan Ray, director of the Nebraska Water Center, which is part of the University of Nebraska’s Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute.
Cosponsoring the annual events are NU's College of Law, U.S. Geological Survey Nebraska Water Science Center, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute and the Natural Resources Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association.
"We have very strong agendas and great speakers for both events and hope those interested will register for both events," Ray said.
March 19's speakers all focus on some aspect of sustainability and use of the High Plains, or Ogallala, aquifer which underlies approximately 174,000 square miles in portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
Jim Butler of the Kansas Geological Survey will talk about a first order approach for assessing prospects for sustainability of the aquifer in western Kansas; UNL's Jesse Korus will follow with a presentation on the geology and hydrology of the aquifer and Steve Peterson of the USGS Nebraska Water Science Center will discuss modeling water flow in the northern part of the aquifer.
Other symposium speakers include Nebraska and Texas producers Roric Paulmann of the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance and Glenn Schur of the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, along with researcher Anthony Kendal of Michigan State University.
Four local studies of the aquifer will be presented in the afternoon by Steve Sibray of UNL's Conservation and Survey Division; Lyndon Vogt of the Central Platte Natural Resources District; Nick Brozovic of the Daugherty Water for Food Institute; and Nathan Schaepe of the USGS Nebraska Water Science Center.
A panel discussion on use and sustainability of the High Plains Aquifer into the future concludes the day's agenda.
The following day's presenters will cover the latest in regulatory and statutory changes in Nebraska water law, focusing on litigation and new developments directly impacting water law locally and regionally.
This includes federal impacts on water law, such as water quality efforts under the Clean Water Act in places like Florida, the Chesapeake Bay region or the Mississippi River watershed that could impact Nebraska.
"Clean Water Act jurisdictional rules will also be covered, along with Endangered Species Act impacts," said organizer Anthony Schutz of NU's College of Law.
Conference keynote speaker is Ann O'Connell, assistant to the Solicitor General of the United States.
"She specializes in original actions before the U.S. Supreme Court and will discuss the U.S. position in such actions and how her office develops those positions," Schutz said.
Innovations and developments in integrated management will be discussed by Jasper Fanning of the Upper Republican NRD and Jim Schneider of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and then a panel will discuss subjects related to NRD administration concerning handling claims and disputes before them, Schutz said.
A session on ethics in the water law arena by The Honorable James E Doyle IV, Judge of the District Court, 11th Judicial District, Nebraska concludes the conference.
Though the water conference focuses on information of interest to practicing attorneys, it is open to all. NU College of Law and the Natural Resources Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association are cosponsoring this event.
Continuing legal education credits are available for Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado.
Information on both events, including detailed agendas and online registration, is at watercenter.unl.edu. Registering for either day is $175. A discounted rate of $290 applies if registering for both days. Registration increases by $50 per event after Feb. 19. Online registration is at http://go.unl.edu/cic.
More information can be found on both events at watercenter.unl.edu. Direct questions to Tricia Liedle at 402-472-3305 or pliedle@nebraska.edu.
— Steven Ress, Nebraska Water Center