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The program explores where our water comes from, who uses
it and for what purpose,
and what people are doing to sustain
Nebraska's water for the future.
Repeats on Thursday, June 21, at 9 pm CT on NET1 and
NET-HD,
and on Wednesday, June 27, at 11 am and 4 pm CT on NET2.
For most of us, when we turn
on our faucet we don't even think about where our tap water comes from -
we just know clean, clear water is there whenever we need it. But what do
we really know about our water?
The hour-long special begins with the exploration of Nebraska’s fresh
water resources. Near Roscoe, Nebraska a portion of the geologic
formation that makes up the Ogallala Aquifer lies exposed at the surface
and we learn how the water below the ground is connected to the water
flowing in our rivers. We trek to the headwaters of the North Platte
River high in the Colorado Rockies then follow the flow of this historic
river through three states to discover how it helped settle the
west. And in the Sand Hills, we shadow three researchers as
they continue to gather more information about how an ancient mega-drought
turned the vast grass covered dunefield into a barren desert.
 We learn about
Nebraska water use through a visit with a fifth generation farmer to see
how irrigation transformed farming in central Nebraska; a tour of Gerald
Gentlemen Power Station reveals how water plays an essential role in
producing electricity and how the ongoing drought threatened Nebraska’s
largest coal-fired power plant; in Omaha, we learn how the Metropolitan
Utilities District is meeting the water demand of a growing population;
and then back on the river we see how water diversion is effecting
endangered species along the lower Platte River.
 The program concludes with stories on what some
Nebraskans are doing to protect this vital resource, including a family
owned business that has built their success on progressive environmental
practices; a grassroots environmental organization that is responsible for
the removing 341 tons of trash from the Missouri River; and, a community
based organization that works with public schools to teach children water
and environmental awareness.
The program features interviews with:
Jim Goeke, Research
Hydrogeologist, University of Nebraska
Dave Loope, Ph.D., Geologist,
University of Nebraska
Jim Swinehart Ph.D., Geologist, University of
Nebraska
Joe Mason, Ph.D., Geographer, University of Wisconsin
John
Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation
Ann Bleed,
Director, Nebraska Dept of Natural Resources
Vernon and Mike
Nelson, Family Farmers, Holdrege
Tom Downey, Owner/Driller,
Downey Drilling
Frank Kwapnioski, Water Resources Advisor, NPPD
Tom
Wurtz, President, Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District
Joel Jorgensen,
Non-game Bird Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Renae
Held, Tern and Plover Partnership, University of Nebraska
Robert
Kuzelka, Professor Emeritus Director of Environmental Studies, University
of Nebraska
Marc LeBaron, CEO, Lincoln Industries (formerly Lincoln
Plating)
David Stouss, Boardmember, Missouri River Relief
Joseph
Osborn, Volunteer, Missouri River Relief
Lindsay Rogers, Naturalist,
Omaha's Fontenelle Nature Association
Margie Reed, Principal, Western
Hills Magnet Center, Omaha
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