Surface Water Administration
2005 Water Administration
2005 Surface Water Hearing Schedule
Apportionments 2005
Surface Water Statutes
Surface Water Rules

Surface Water Information
Expected Irrigation Deliveries 2005
Comparison of Storage in Reservoirs 2005
Surface Water Forms
Moratoriums on New Surface Water Rights
Map: Mortoriums on Surface Appropriations, March 2001
Water Rights Adjudication Brochure (April 2003)

Surface Water Data
Surface Water Rights Data Retrieval
Hydrographic Report and Station List (2004)
Stream Gaging Stations
DNR Stream Gaging Stations
DNR Republican River Stream Gaging Stations in down stream order.

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.