The Nebraska Water Center Foundation

What’s the issue of the century? Water!

“With essentially no new water being created and ever more users and demand for this finite resource, it is essential for our future that we understand it as best we can.”

That’s a quote from one of Nebraska’s foremost water experts, Jim Goeke of North Platte.

For nearly four decades the University of Nebraska professor has traversed the state talking about misconceptions about water and groundwater in particular.

It’s the reason Goeke, a research hydrologist and professor in the Conservation and Survey Division in the UNL School of Natural Resources, has been named chairman of the Education Committee of the Nebraska Water Center Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation was established by “The Friends of Big Mac,” a group that spearheaded construction of the Lake McConaughy Water/Visitor Interpretive Center with the express purpose of providing water education for students and adults and providing for the upkeep and updating of exhibits at the center.

“It’s been my dream from the start for the building to be an educational center,” according to retired Ogallala farmer Tom Plummer who was the genesis for both the Water/Visitor Center and the Foundation.

Plummer and his group already have established a $100,000 endowment to assist the education committee.

The foundation received a $25,000 matching grant from the Cooper Foundation of Lincoln to support the educational programming.

Because of the importance of water to the state, the Keith County Board of Commissioners, spurred by the Cooper Foundation offer, voted unanimously to provide the matching $25,000 over a five-year period from county inheritance taxes—involving no property taxes.

“The educational potential of the water center can help all Nebraskans to be more aware of what we take so much for granted,” Goeke said.

“Surface water is easy [to understand] because it’s so readily accessible, but groundwater, so much out of sight and out of mind, is more an act of faith. Loren Eiseley said, ‘If there’s magic on this planet, it’s contained in water.’ This certainly applies to groundwater and all the misconceptions about it.

“The water center can be a force in removing many of these misconceptions for as many visitors as possible.

“We’re all connected by our dependence on water and yet we take it almost completely for granted.”

It doesn’t hurt, Goeke said, that the water center is within a few short miles of the treasure trove of groundwater in Nebraska and is yet located at a site where groundwater is hard to obtain and also close to the immense storage of Lake McConaughy and the connection between surface and groundwater.

The Water Center Foundation’s education committee has already commenced an ambitious program that started last year.

Committee cochairman Nancy Armstrong, who is curriculum coordinator for the Ogallala Public Schools, said the educational opportunities through the water center will be ongoing and will provide hands-on opportunities not available in the classroom.

“We’ll be able to provide hands-on, scientific inquiry work through learning stations and be able to bring in experts to speak to the students,” she added.

She said short-range plans include

* A speaker series with presentations on hydrogeology, groundwater/surface water, water quality, water quantity, climate change, water policy and other water issues pertaining to the importance of water.

* Hands-on activities on subjects such as waterfowl, endangered birds, migration, birds of prey, wetland habitats, hydropower, wildlife, fish and health.

* Training for teachers statewide who are working on science initiatives, developing a cadre of people, agencies and organizations that can be used as resources.

* Creating a Web site that contains information about water and environmental education, water resources and events at the water center.

Long-range plans include continuing a speaker series on such subjects as water quality, water quantity, water policy and other issues; programs and workshops on topics such as outdoor photography and bird-watching; activities for visitors to the water center; and creating education packets for visitors including information on water quality, water quantity and the uses of water. The packets would also include Web site resources and water-conservation tips.

Activities for students include field trips, water kits, and a kids fishing clinic that includes information on water safety; “Water Expos” on water quality, well drilling, soil filters and hydrogeology, and a water trailer that shows movement of water.

The fishing clinic scheduled June 7 this year for up to 75 youngsters will have five skills stations. The event has 14 sponsoring partners ranging from the Nebraska Walleye Association to the Big Mac Sports Club, Ogallala Optimists, Cabela’s, Wimmer’s Meats, Game and Parks Commission, The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, among others.

No one is born with an understanding of all the aspects of the water cycle, education committee chairman Goeke observes. But he says it is essential for our future that we understand it the best we can and that “the water center can and will be a vehicle to better understanding.”

He adds, “Today we should all ask ourselves, ‘How are we going to live here in 100 years?’ With what we know today, we have a good start to providing for our future, and education and awareness of the water cycle through the efforts of the water center is the vehicle to assure our future. What better [vehicle] could we invest our resources and energy in, particularly when you consider the uniqueness of the water resources in the home of the Great American Desert.”

The Water Center Education Committee, in addition to Goeke, includes vice chairman Brooke Levey, UNL Extension Educator and coordinator for Project Learning Tree and Water Education for Teachers (WET), and secretary Sam Bevard, office manager for Game and Parks at the Visitor/Water Center.

Committee core team cochairmen, in addition to Nancy Armstrong, include Doug Anderson of Ogallala, Keith-Arthur-Perkins County UNL Extension Educator; Brenda Aufdenkamp of North Platte, UNL Extension Educator; Nate Nielsen, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District engineer at Kingsley Dam; Darrol Eichner, Ogallala, Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologist; Ann Dimmitt of North Platte, Twin Platte Natural Resources District; Emily Munter, Game and Parks Commission Wildlife Division; Diane Luscher, Nebraska Public Power District; Ken Schilz, agricultural representative; Jennifer Wemhoff, Nebraska Groundwater Foundation; and Dixie DeTuerk, Ogallala Public Schools.

Directors of the Nebraska Water Center Foundation include Plummer, chairman; Jack Pollock, vice chairman; Chad Adams, treasurer; Tyrel Grafford, superintendent of the Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, secretary; and Jim Goeke.

Those wanting to contribute to the foundation to assist with educational programming or to help with the maintenance and updating of the interpretive exhibits can send donations to the Nebraska Water Center Foundation in care of Chad Adams, P.O. Box 720, Ogallala, NE 69153.

Lake McConaughy Visitor/Water Interpretive Center

The multiple uses of water

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