Nebraska overhauls oversight of water, energy

By EPN Staff

Legislation that took effect July 1 in Nebraska combined the state’s natural resources and environment and energy agencies into a single department charged with comprehensive oversight of related policies.

Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Jesse Bradley, interim director for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE), to lead the newly created Department of Water, Energy and Environment.   

Why it matters

The legislation merging the DNR and DEE has been promoted as a way to slash red tape, reduce costs and enhance the state’s focus on water issues, including water quality and quantity.

“Water is our life blood, and our pot of gold is the Ogallala Aquifer,” said Gov. Pillen. “In Nebraska, we irrigate millions of acres – more than any other state in the nation. When you couple that with the advancements in cattle production and the other industries that are becoming part of our bioeconomy, that’s what makes this merger a timely development – one that is important for future generations.”

The merger also represents a significant reorganization of state energy and environmental activities; DNR had 112 employees and a budget of $104 million, while DEE had 252 employees and a budget of $99 million. An exact accounting of the anticipated savings of taxpayer funds associated with the merger is unclear.

The bigger picture

The overhaul is distinctive for Nebraska, which is ranked No. 1 among states for irrigation, with 9.1 million acres irrigated. The state’s agricultural industry is a major economic engine, and it’s also a major source of water consumption, accounting for 91% of Nebraska’s total water use.

Those activities – and related state policies – have implications for neighboring states – including South Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, among other states – that also rely on the massive groundwater resources provided by the Ogallala Aquifer.

The aquifer, according to one report, provides about 40% of the groundwater used in U.S. agricultural activities.

Additional context

The agency’s new leader is no stranger to the work. Bradley has been with department since 2006 when he was a water management analyst. He became the head of the Water Planning Division in 2012 and was promoted to deputy director in 2014. He served as interim director in 2020 and again in 2024.

Bradley is a licensed professional geologist in Nebraska and holds degrees in hydrogeology and environmental geology.

The Nebraska State Irrigation Association, Sierra Club and Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts association opposed the merger, arguing a single agency would make the department less – not more – responsive.