Statewide Map: Nitrates, Impaired Lakes and Streams
The map above shows information about two separate, unrelated water quality issues:
Impaired lakes and streams -- Black bold lines and triangles on the map indicate river segments and lakes that are considered impaired, indicating that the intended use has not been met due to water quality problems. Many of the problems are related to bacteria, but other problems exist as well. Dissolved oxygen, nutrients, mercury, selenium, sediments and atrazine are among the most common.
Nitrates -- Red dots indicate wells with nitrate contamination greater than the drinking water limit of 10 parts per million (ppm). Nebraska’s 23 local Natural Resources Districts use the groundwater quality data to make management decisions aimed at reducing groundwater contamination, which is mainly from nonpoint (diffuse) sources such as long term use of fertilizer and ag chemicals.
For more information about what the designated uses of these water bodies are, and a complete listing of impaired waters, please refer to theWater Quality Monitoring Report.