Water & Environment Programming

We provide research-based programs and educational materials to help you understand the value of Nebraska’s natural resources and the value of good stewardship to ensure sustainability of those resources.  More information.

Water & Environment News

Nepal and Tibet: International Trip An Eye-Opening Experience
By Sharon Skipton, UNL Water Quality Educator

My husband and I were two of 12 people who participated in an expedition to the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal and Tibet last September. The trip was not work-related; it was a very special, once-in-a-lifetime anniversary celebration. However, it proved to be an eye-opening experience as it related to my work at UNL.

My areas of focus at UNL include drinking water systems and wastewater treatment systems. As related to those focus areas, this trip was very educational. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 3 million people die each year from water borne disease. According to the United Nations, 2.5 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation or toilets. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored a competition to discover a new toilet design that could be used in developing nations. When I teach, I often share this information. Now I’ve seen it in person.

Continued...

Landscape Drought Damage- Repair and Replace
By Sarah Browning, UNL Extension Horticulture Educator

Last summer’s hot, dry conditions were brutal to many of our landscapes, leaving us with dead patches in the lawn, dead shrubs, and dead trees. So far, a dry winter has continued the trend, and predictions for Summer 2013 are more of the same.

So, what can we do to repair last summer’s damage, and prevent additional problems this summer?

Assessing the Damage
We expect plants that are not well-adapted to Nebraska's dry, windy conditions to develop damage during drought. This includes plants such arborvitae, poorly sited yews, and broadleaf evergreens like holly. Arborvitae can become tolerant to average dry conditions 1) if they are planted in shade, and 2) once they are well established. Yews can tolerate normal dry conditions if they are located in afternoon shade. But last summer's drought was way beyond normal dryness, and many plants that did not receive supplemental irrigation have died.

Continued...

Upcoming Gardening Webinars

Join us for an exciting Webinar series, Gardening At Lunch, right from your desk at work or home. This series includes eight informative one-hour sessions covering the topics of household insects, weed identification, fall gardening, pruning, tree hazard assessment, early spring vegetable gardening, tree diseases, and outdoor insects.

The cost of the series is $10.00 per program or $60.00 for the entire series, you must pre-register at http://marketplace.unl.edu/extension.

For more information contact Natalia Bjorklund in Dodge County at (402) 727-2775 or email nbjorklund3@unl.edu; or contact Nicole Stoner in Gage County at (402) 223-1384 or email nstoner2@unl.edu.

Environmental Management for Wildlife and Plant Diversity

Our educational programs encourage locally based partnerships and application of research-based information for addressing issues related to management of eco-systems to sustain diversity of animal and plant species.

• Center for Grassland Studies
• Urban Lakes, UNL Extension in Douglas/Sarpy Counties
• Wildlife Damage Management, eXtension.org

Pesticide Management

Use our educational programs to know more about integrated pest management (IPM), recycling agricultural pesticide containers, and proper pesticide handling, storage and application techniques.

• Pesticide Safety Education Programs
     • Pesticide Container Recycling Program
• Weed Science
• High Plains Integrated Pest Management Guide
  Western Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Western South Dakota
• Nutrient and Pesticide Management, Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative
  Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri

Bioenergy - Renewable Alternatives

UNL Extension targets bioenergy opportunities for Nebraska, utilization of feed co-products from ethanol production, and sustainable cropping systems to supply a bio-energy industry.

• Bioenergy, UNL Extension Ethanol and Biodiesel Workgroup
• Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences

Now Available

NebGuide G2186
Stormwater Management: Disconnecting Downspouts and Impervious Surfaces

This NebGuide provides an overview of several methods to eliminate direct connections between downspouts and/or impervious surfaces and munic­ipal storm drain systems to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and pollutants that leave a property

Published by University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Check It Out

Harvesting Rain, April 2, 2013
Methods of rain harvesting include using rain barrels, cisterns, rain gardens and bioretention gardens. Kelly Feehan, UNL Extension Educator

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Musk Thistle in Drought, April 5, 2013
A series of studies on musk thistles shows weather can be a significant influence on this noxious weed. Steve Young, UNL Extension Weed Ecologist

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Spring Turf Care, March 14, 2013
Last summer was one of the driest on record and many lawns across Nebraska died during the drought. Zac Reicher, UNL Extension Turf Specialist.

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