Join us on February 4th for the next Spring Seminar of 2026. This in-person seminar will feature Bonnie Keeler from the Minnesota Water Resources Center.
When: Wednesday, February 4th from 3:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m.
Where:901 Hardin Hall, UNL's East Campus
Title: How to assess the efficiency and equity of water quality policies and programs: From ecosystem services to environmental justice.
Abstract: In the pursuit of more efficient and equitable management of water resources, decision makers need models and approaches that assess, value, and communicate the impacts of changes in water quality at local to regional scales. In this talk, Keeler will review over a decade of interdisciplinary research that aims to inform the prioritization of water quality investments, evaluate the benefits and costs of water quality policies, and understand the distribution of water quality impacts among affected communities. Integrating methods from environmental economics, ecosystem services valuation, surveys, community science, and geospatial analyses, Keeler will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches. Cases include monetization of the impacts of N pollution, mapping water-related ecosystem services, assessing disparities in exposure to environmental contaminants, and evaluating visitor perceptions of changes in lake and river water quality. Drawing on applications in Minnesota and the Mississippi River corridor, Keeler will invite a critical discussion of how to best integrate a variety of research methods to inform policy analysis and more strategic water quality management.
If you are not located in Lincoln and would like to attend virtually, email annbriggs@nebraska.edu to request a zoom link.