Modeling Surface Water and Groundwater Interactions in the Nebraska Sandhills

Abstract:

The Nebraska Sandhills are a large semi-arid stabilized dune field in north-central Nebraska. The region overlays the northern part of the High Plains Aquifer and serves as an important region of recharge for the aquifer. Depth to water across the northern Sandhills ranges from less than a foot to nearly 225 feet. Managing the water resources in the region is the role of the state’s Natural Resources Districts (NRD). Groundwater levels are monitored by biannual measurements at 199 locations across the district. These measurements are taken in late March (before the irrigation season begins for the year) and late September through mid-October (after irrigation is done for the year) from a mixture of dedicated monitoring wells and irrigation wells. This poster will present the interactions between stream level degradation and water table elevation in this agricultural region. The results of this project will be used to aid the NRD in their management decisions by showing potential results of allowing new irrigated acres or placing an allocation cap on local producers.