Public asked to conserve water in lower Platte River basin, which includes Omaha, Lincoln areas

The many-braided channels of the Platte River. (Cody Wagner/Audubon)

LINCOLN — Drought conditions in eastern Nebraska are prompting recommendations to proactively conserve water when irrigating lawns, washing clothes and even brushing your teeth.

The City of Lincoln last week instituted voluntary conservation steps, including alternating which days residents should water lawns and gardens.

That hasn't happened yet in Omaha and surrounding communities, but it's likely to happen, according to John Winkler, the general manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District.

"Why not do it now, because it's coming," Winkler said Tuesday. "The more we can conserve now, the better."

A large swath of east-central Nebraska, from Geneva northward to near South Sioux City, is listed as in "exceptional drought" in the current U.S. drought monitor map.

The year 2022 was the fourth driest on record in Nebraska, with most of the state receiving less than 70% of normal precipitation.

Winkler said he's never seen reservoirs so low in his NRD, which covers most of eastern Nebraska.

Despite some recent rains, the eastern part of Nebraska is still running behind on precipitation this year. Nearly 70% of the entire state is labeled as being in exceptional, extreme or severe drought.

That prompted the Lower Platte River Consortium this week to encourage the public to take proactive steps to conserve water.

Among the water conservation steps encouraged by the federal Environmental Protection Agency:

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by Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner June 6, 2023

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Senior Reporter Paul Hammel has covered the Nebraska Legislature and Nebraska state government for decades. A native of Ralston, Nebraska, he is vice president of the John G. Neihardt Foundation, a member of the Nebraska Hop Growers and a volunteer caretaker of Irvingdale Park in Lincoln.