Advisory Panel Helps Set Course of State Water Research

WRAP Members: Click on the following link to access Panel documents. If you need the login, contact Rachael Herpel. WRAP Members Only

WRAP Meeting, September 29, 2010

Why organize a WRAP?
Recognizing the critical importance of water to the environmental and economic well-being of our State, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has had an ongoing commitment to excellence in water resources research, education and outreach for decades. In 2006 the state was facing increasing pressure to address serious water issues as a result of interstate compacts and agreements, state statutes, continuing drought and other factors. With these factors converging, the Water Resources Advisory Panel (WRAP), was created in 2006 to better connect the University with the wisdom of outside experts and those who often rely on NU water-related research, education and outreach to make decisions impacting Nebraska’s water resources.

What is the WRAP?
Fifteen individuals representing a cross section of the Nebraska water decision-making community serve on the WRAP to provide guidance to the University of Nebraska on state water research needs, education, and outreach programs. The WRAP is convened by Dr. Ronnie Green, the NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Prem Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development. The WRAP meets three times a year – in January, April, and September.

Who are the current WRAP members? (when known, link is provided to individual's organization)

• Mr. Frank Albrecht, Environmental Services, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
• Mr. Brian Barels, Water Resources Manager, Nebraska Public Power District
• Mr. Mark Brohman, Executive Director, Nebraska Environmental Trust
• Senator Tom Carlson, District 38, Agriculture Committee Chair, Nebraska Legislature
• Mr. Eugene Glock, Cedar Bell Farms
• Dr. Jerry Kenny, Executive Director, Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program
• Ms. Marian Langan, Director, Audubon Nebraska
• Senator Chris Langemeier, District 23, Natural Resources Committee Chair, Nebraska Legislature
• Mr. Mike Linder, Director, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
• Mr. Jerry Obrist, Chief Engineer, City of Lincoln Water System
• Mr. Lee Orton, Executive Director, Nebraska Well Drillers Association
• Mr. Jay Rempe, Director of State Governmental Relations, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
• Dr. Jim Schneider, Deputy Director, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
• Mr. Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, Upper Niobrara-White Natural Resources District
• Mr. Dayle Williamson, Office of Senator Ben Nelson

Also working closely with the WRAP are Ron Yoder, Associate Vice Chancellor, IANR; Alan Moeller, Assistant Vice Chancellor, IANR; and the Director of the Water Center. Rachael Herpel, Water Education/Outreach Specialist, serves as the liaison and coordinator for Panel activities and for water faculty activities associated with the WRAP.

What the WRAP and the NU Water Faculty have achieved:

Research Priorities - In 2006 the WRAP initiated a comprehensive survey of the state's water research needs and developed a state water research priorities list. The WRAP updated and re-ranked this list in 2009; these results were then communicated to faculty.

Specific Projects – Three projects were developed in direct response to the WRAP’s top priorities:

• Riparian Vegetation Impacts on Water Quantity, Quality, and Stream Ecology. The first year of this project was funded internally by the NU Rural Initiative and IANR. Subsequent funding has been provided by the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Additional information is available on the project website. 
• Measurement of evapotranspiration, plant physiology, and other surface energy fluxes in relation to tillage practices. Substantial IANR funding for equipment, on top of NUs in-kind funding, enabled this research to get underway. Subsequent funding has been provided by the Nebraska Environmental Trust. More information about this project is available on Dr. Suat Irmak's website.
• The Center Pivot Water Conservation Project was developed in part to address the education and outreach needs identified during the process. Funding has been provided by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska's Center Pivot Manufacturers - Lindsay Corporation, Reinke Manufacturing, T-L Irrigation Co., and Valley Irrigation. Additional information is available on the project website.

Additional Project Support – The NU Water-Related Research Database was used to identify how faculty's current and completed research applies to each topic (click here to see these reports). Often in high priority areas, faculty members are already working closely with state agencies and other Nebraska partners to secure local, state and federal funds to implement collaborative projects. Where gaps still remain, collaborative efforts are underway to fill those gaps.

Moving Forward – Significant progress has been made with cooperation from many people, both within the University and from across the state, to better understand state water issues and to collaborate to address water research needs. A remarkable precedent has been set where projects receiving internal NU funds go on to secure state and other funds on a 6 to 1 ratio. The University and the WRAP have built on this success and will continue to work together to address current and future water issues facing Nebraska.

Contact Information – To contact the University about the WRAP, please call or e-mail:

Ronald E. Yoder, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Vice Chancellor
University of Nebraska
ryoder2@unl.edu

Suat Irmak, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Interim Director of UNL Water Center
sirmak2@unl.edu

Rachael Herpel
Water Education/Outreach Specialist
University of Nebraska Water Center
Phone: 402-472-4977
rherpel2@unl.edu 

Water Current Articles

Article title is linked to a PDF of the article. The date in parentheses is linked to the entire issue (also in PDF) of the Water Current.

• WRAP Meeting Brief, Rachael Herpel (Fall 2011)
• WRAP Meets at Water for Food Conference in May, Rachael Herpel (Spring 2011)
• WRAP Gets January Updates, Rachael Herpel (Winter 2011)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Sets Course for 2010, Rachael Herpel (Winter 2010)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Ranks Research Priorities, Spurs Proposal Development, Rachael Herpel (Fall 2009)
• WRAP Update, Rachael Herpel (Summer 2009)
• WRAP Exploring Critical Issues, Rachael Herpel (Spring 2009)
• UNL Faculty Provide Updates to the Water Resources Advisory Panel, Rachael Herpel (Winter 2009)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Updates Priorities, Rachael Herpel (Fall 2008)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Expands; Members to Reconvene in September, Rachael Herpel (Summer 2008)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Holds October Progress Meeting, Jessica Harder and Steve Ress (Fall 2007)
• Water Resources Advisory Panel Update, Jessica Harder (Summer 2007)
• WRAP Group Comes to Campus! From the Director, Kyle D. Hoagland (Spring 2007)
• UNL Faculty Respond to Advisory Panel State Research Priorities, Jessica Harder (Fall 2006)
• UNL Forms Public Water Resources Advisory Panel (Summer 2006)