Surface Water Administration
2007 Water Rights: Notices of Hearings
2007 Water Administration
2007 Surface Water Hearing Schedule
Apportionments 2007
Surface Water Statutes
Surface Water Rules
Small Structure - Drawdown Waiver

Surface Water Information
Areas Where Flowmeters Are Required in Nebraska (August 2007)
Net Irrigation Requirement Map (May 2006)
Surface Water Forms
Moratoriums on New Surface Water Rights
Map: Mortoriums on Surface Appropriations, June 2007
Water Rights Adjudication Brochure (April 2003)
Nebraska Surface Water and Groundwater Use - 2000
Nebraska Surface Water and Groundwater Use - 1995

Surface Water Data
Surface Water Rights Data Retrieval
Hydrographic Report and Station List (2006)
DNR Stream Gaging

The Department has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to surface water, rights for storage, irrigation, power, manufacturing, instream flows and other beneficial uses. This includes the distribution of available supply during times of water shortages and adjudication of established water rights. Any person who wishes to divert and use the waters of a natural stream or lake must first get a permit or water right from the Department. In water short areas of the state, the process for receiving a permit may include a formal hearing. These hearings are subject to review by the Nebraska Court of Appeals.

Holders of water rights must use the water in accordance with the provisions written on the permit. Failure to so use the water will result in the Department conducting a hearing to cancel or annul the permit. This process is called an "adjudication" and is subject to review by the Nebraska Court of Appeals.

SURFACE WATER PROGRAM
During the last biennium (2001-2002 calendar years), DNR received 170 applications for new water appropriations, 155 applications or petitions for modification of existing water rights; held 81 adjudication hearings and 13 miscellaneous hearings; and cancelled 159 appropriations in full or in part. Currently there is a large backlog of applications and maps that need to be processed.