ABSTRACTIn order to regulate the use of ground water, State agencies and local government, together with local public participation, have developed a management policy which is now being implemented in Nebraska. A water‐resource agency, a geological survey, and a local, multi‐county governmental unit are combined with several other governmental units to investigate water problems and guide a variety of vested interests toward a common goal of efficient water‐resource management. The key government document delegating the authority and guiding the agencies is the Nebraska Ground Water Management Act of 1975. This Act specifies a procedure whereby local residents concerned about misuse and depletion of their ground‐water supplies can request that official hearings be held, water‐supply evaluations be made, and consideration be given by the Nebraska Department of Water Resources to establish what is called a “control area.” Designation of a control area allows development and enforcement of methods to deal with the water‐resource problem within that area. The management alternatives provided for by this Act include well spacing, rotation of pumping, allocation of water, and moratoriums on drilling. The Act does not, however, address conjunctive use of surface water and ground water, guidelines for management policies, and rights to artificially stor
展开▼
