The Surface Water Unit collects physical, chemical, and biological water quality samples from streams and lakes, implements surface water improvement projects, and prepares surface water quality reports. Several monitoring programs collect stream and lake samples throughout the state; however, most monitoring is focused in two or three river basins each year in conjunction with a rotating basin monitoring strategy. Targeting resources in this manner improves the NDEQ's ability to identify and remediate water quality problems and allows resources to be focused where they can produce the greatest environmental results. During a five-year cycle, all 13 river basins in the state are intensively monitored. Monitoring data are used to document existing water quality conditions, assess the support of beneficial uses (such as aquatic life, recreation, and public drinking water supply), and prioritize water quality problems. The current five-year rotating basin monitoring cycle is:
2007 --- Big Blue, Little Blue and Republican river basins
2008 --- Loup, Niobrara, and White River-Hat Creek river basins;
2009 --- Lower Platte and Nemaha river basins;
2010 --- Elkhorn and Missouri Tributaries river basins; and
2011 --- Middle Platte, North Platte and South Platte river basins.
2012 --- Big Blue, Little Blue and Repulican river basins.
2013 --- Loup, Niobrara and White River Hat Creek river basins.
In 2001, NDEQ completed a comprehensive study on water quality monitoring in response to LB 1234, and began implementing comprehensive, integrated surface water monitoring programs throughout the state by working with additional monitoring partners to collect water samples. These programs use contractual and voluntary monitoring relationships to collect samples, which has significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of NDEQ's statewide monitoring networks. Current monitoring partners include: Natural Resources Districts; Nebraska Public Power District; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Nebraska Game and Park Commission; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Kansas State University; Central District Health Department; and U.S. Geological Survey.
The Basin Rotation Monitoring Program targets two to three river basins each year for intensive monitoring. The river basins are sampled weekly from April through September for a variety of physical, chemical, and biological constituents to document existing water quality conditions, identify water quality problems, identify pollutant(s) of concern and their sources, and estimate pollutant loadings.
Lake Monitoring for Bacteria and Toxic Algae -- Lake beaches and recreation-designated streams were sampled weekly for E. coli bacteria to assess the suitability of water quality for primary contact recreation activities such as swimming, skiing, tubing, rafting, and canoeing. In addition to the lake beach bacteria monitoring, in 2005, toxic algae (microcystin) sampling was added and the network was established at major public beaches across the State. The bacteria and toxic algae information is updated weekly and posted on our web site at:
Ambient Stream Monitoring Program — This program has a network of 98 fixed stations located on mainstem and tributary streams across the state. The primary objectives are to provide information on the status and trends of water quality in streams within each of the state's 13 river basins and link assessments of status and trends with natural and human factors that affect water quality. Fifty-eight of the 98 sites are located on mainstem streams. Ecoregion and land use considerations were used in selecting many of the stream locations. This network was expanded from 42 sites in 2001 to its current total of 98 sites in 2002. In 2004, sampling frequency was increased from monthly to bimonthly (twice a month) from April through September to better represent water quality conditions during runoff events. Monthly sampling is conducted from October through March.
Fish Tissue Monitoring Program — Fish tissue samples are collected annually from streams and lakes across Nebraska for analysis of toxic pollutants. This information is used to assess toxic pollutant trends, identify potential problem areas, and to issue fish consumption advisories. Advisories are based on an average consumption rate of eight ounces of fish per week for an average-sized adult over a 71-year lifetime that would result in an additional risk of one in 10,000 for cancer or other health problems. An immediate health risk is unlikely from an occasional meal of fish from waters where fish consumption advisories have been issued; however, in order to reduce health risks that may result from long-term consumption, it is recommended that eating fish from advisory waters not exceed an average of eight ounces of fish per week. The primary contaminants of concern in Nebraska fish are PCBs, mercury and dieldrin.
Stream Biological Monitoring Program — This program is used to evaluate the health of aquatic life populations and involves a unique randomized sample design that allows water quality status and trend assessments to be determined with a known level of confidence. Sampling is conducted in conjunction with the basin rotation monitoring strategy. For more information, go to Nebraska Stream Classifications for the 2004-2005 Stream Biological Monitoring Program.
Lake Monitoring Program — Lake monitoring is currently conducted on 47 lakes across the state. Monitoring involves the collection of monthly water samples from May through September. These data are used to document existing water quality conditions, evaluate long-term trends, design watershed and lake restoration/protection projects, and evaluate project effectiveness. Monitoring focuses on nutrients, sediment, pesticides, heavy metals, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, and water clarity.
Fish Kill and Citizen Complaint Investigations — The agency responds to numerous fish kills and citizen complaints annually. Most fish kills are attributed to low dissolved oxygen levels, low flows, temperature stress, disease/parasites, or illegal discharges. On-site investigations are conducted, as needed, to document existing water quality conditions, surface water quality standards violations, and identify pollution sources and responsible parties.
Integrated Report — Beginning in 2004, and every two years thereafter, states are required to prepare a biennial water quality report called the Integrated Report, which is a combination of the Section 305(b) and Section 303(d) reporting requirements of the Clean Water Act. The Integrated Report provides a comprehensive summary of the status and trends of surface water quality in Nebraska and includes a list of impaired surface waters that do not support their assigned beneficial uses. Click here to view the most recent Integrated Reports.
Nebraska Surface Water Quality Monitoring Report — A reader-friendly version of the Integrated Report called the Nebraska Surface Water Quality Monitoring Report was developed in 2006. Future enhancements to this report will include more comprehensive trend assessments and in-depth examinations of surface water quality issues and special studies.