Demonstrate & adapt remote sensing technology to produce consumptive water use maps for the Nebraska Panhandle

The goal of the project is accurately quantify net consumptive water use (CWU) for different crops and range land vegetation by processing LANDSAT images for the Nebraska panhandle. These CWU maps will be used to estimate net water use by irrigated crops during the 1997, 2002 and 2005 growing seasons. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will apply the METRIC approach to generate CWU maps. The University of Idaho will lead the METRIC processing component, produce CWU maps and provide training to UNL. UNL will receive hands-on training to produce CWU maps independent of UI. UNL will develop the capability to interpret CWU maps for water balances and develop crop curves for specific crops and to delineate irrigated and non-irrigated acres for the reference years. Accurate net water use information generated for 1997, 2002, and 2005 will provide the NRCS with the tools they need to conjunctively manage ground and surface water as mandated by Nebraska Law LB962.