What you need to know
Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions
The Current Environmental Issue is always selected by the host of the North American competition. in 2020 Nebraska will be the host. Nebraska is fortunate to sit atop the Ogallala aquifer, one of the largest unconfined aquifers in the world. This natural resource provides drinking water for most of the state and has enabled Nebraska to lead the country as the #1 irrigated state, helping to sustain agriculture as the states leading industry. Managing and protecting this resource is the responsibility of Nebraska’s unique local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). While NRDs have maintained groundwater levels near pre-development levels, competing uses and variable supplies have placed additional management requirements on locally elected policy makers.
Key Topics:
1. Understanding how groundwater and surface water systems function.
Additional study materials for the above topics can be found here.
The Current Environmental Issue is always selected by the host of the North American competition. in 2020 Nebraska will be the host. Nebraska is fortunate to sit atop the Ogallala aquifer, one of the largest unconfined aquifers in the world. This natural resource provides drinking water for most of the state and has enabled Nebraska to lead the country as the #1 irrigated state, helping to sustain agriculture as the states leading industry. Managing and protecting this resource is the responsibility of Nebraska’s unique local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). While NRDs have maintained groundwater levels near pre-development levels, competing uses and variable supplies have placed additional management requirements on locally elected policy makers.
Key Topics:
1. Understanding how groundwater and surface water systems function.
- Objective 1. Knowledge of hydrologic cycle
- Objective 2. Knowledge of groundwater and surface water interactions
- Objective 3. How human activities effect groundwater and surface water
- Objective 1. Understanding the connection between groundwater and surface water and how they affect each other
- Objective 1. Knowledge of water quality impacts such as agriculture practices, urban development, nitrates, toxic algae, etc.
- Objective 2. Understand the indicators of water health, including physical, chemical and biological properties and its role in the hydrological system.
- Objective 1. Knowledge of water quantity impacts such as agriculture practices, urban development, groundwater levels
- Objective 2. Understanding of stream gauges and groundwater maps.
- Objective 1. Understand the importance of moving toward sustainable practices to protect water quality and quantity.
- Objective 2. Understand best management practices that improve water quality and quantity such as improved agriculture practices, urban planning and water efficiency.
- Objective 3. Understand the role of technology: flow meters, observation wells, Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) (drones, GIS, etc.), precision agriculture, etc.
- Objective 1. Knowledge of various conservation agencies including Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, and how partners work together for conservation success.
- Objective 2. Understanding Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts structure and what makes it unique from other conservation districts in the U.S.
- Objective 1. Describe the social, economic and political impacts of regulating water quality and quantity.
- Objective 2. Understand the delicate balance behind decision making – funding projects, social responsibility, regulatory authority.
Additional study materials for the above topics can be found here.
2020 National NCF - Envirothon Competition
Lincoln, Nebraska
July 26 - August 1, 2020
https://www.envirothon.org/
Lincoln, Nebraska
July 26 - August 1, 2020
https://www.envirothon.org/
