What this tracks
This dataset identifies Nebraska waterways that fail to meet water quality standards under the Clean Water Act, along with their specific pollutants and restoration plans.
Why it matters to you
If you fish in the Big Blue River, this data tells you whether it’s safe to eat your catch (the “Aquatic_Life” field shows contamination risks). Farmers can check the “Agriculture_Water_Supply” field to see if irrigation water meets safety standards. Homebuyers near affected streams (like those marked “I” for impaired) might reconsider properties relying on well water.
How to read this data
Waterbody_Name — Official name of the stream (e.g., “Big Blue River”).
Aquatic_Life — “I” means impaired (unsafe for fish/wildlife), “S” means threatened. Sample shows “I” due to atrazine and aluminum.
Impairments_Causes — Lists pollutants (e.g., “E. coli”) and affected seasons (e.g., “May-June Atrazine”).
Try it yourself
Search your local river’s name in the dataset to see if it has active contamination warnings before fishing or swimming.