John Boellstorff, NGS Vice-President

Aug 8-9, 2024

(Alternate/Rain Date: Aug 19-20, 2024)

Geology and Natural Resources Management of South-Central Nebraska

Presented by:

Paul Hanson, Shane Tucker, and Doug Hallum,

along with other presenters from USDA-Ag Research Service, EA Engineering, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Central Platte NRD

Program Background

This field trip will provide a general overview of the geology of south-central Nebraska, illustrate flood control and water quality challenges unique to the Platte Valley near Grand Island, illustrate how the stratigraphic framework impacts the hydrogeology of the Republican River and its relationship to the High Plains Aquifer and the Platte River watershed, and examine and discuss the geology of Cretaceous to recent strata to provide an understanding of lithostratigraphy in the region. The recent strata we will see has implications to the chrono stratigraphic framework of the mid continent over about the past 10 million years, and research has had a substantial impact on our understanding of the geologic history of North America including climate change.  It draws from research on glacial and associated deposits in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas, and on dating of Cenozoic volcanic ashes in Nebraska and Kansas, along with other work.  The program includes an auto tour with six stops on Day 1 and five stops on Day 2, and will include 12 hours of content. An application to the Water Well Standards Board is being finalized and will be submitted this week requesting 12 continuing education units that will be evaluated at their August 14 board meeting.

Leaders

Dr. Paul Hanson is a Professor in UNL's School of Natural Resources, and is Director of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit. He is associated with the geography/GIScience faculty and the geology and soils faculty. Professor Hanson’s main research interests are studying the responses of river, hillslope, and eolian (wind-deposited) systems to climate change. His research goals include studying the evolution of the Platte River system, the responses of rivers and dune systems to climate change in the recent past, and the causes for stream incision on the western Great Plains and the central Rocky Mountains.

Shane Tucker earned a B.S. and M.S. in geology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He studied under the direction of Dr. Mike Voorhies focusing on the geology and paleontology of a six million-year old site within the Niobrara River Valley. He serves as Nebraska's Highway Paleontologist and directs the state's Highway Paleontology Program, a cooperative effort between the University of Nebraska State Museum and Nebraska Department of Transportation. He evaluates proposed highway projects for potential impact to paleontological resources, monitors active road construction, and collects fossils threatened by construction. Since highway construction takes place all over the state, Tucker is likely to encounter all types and ages of fossils. Rather than specializing in one group of animals, he must be familiar with everything he may find, so his knowledge is broad. He has been studying the paleontology and geology of Nebraska since 1995.

Doug Hallum is a Hydrogeologist in the University of Nebraska – Lincoln School of Natural Resources, Conservation and Survey Division at the West-Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte, Nebraska. He is the current President of the Nebraska Geological Society and is a licensed professional geologist in Nebraska (license G-0323), he serves on the Nebraska Board of Geologists and the Nebraska Information and Technology Commission’s GIS Council and serves as liaison between the Nebraska Geological Society and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), as well as the MidContinent Section societies of AAPG. He is a field geologist and is registered as a water well monitoring technician and well drilling supervisor. He was involved in the design and construction of the COHYST 2010 water accounting model used for Integrated Water Management in the Platte River watershed and conducts observational research relating to stream/groundwater interaction.

Tentative Schedule (all times Central)

Day 1 (August 8, 6 CEUs)

8:00                        Start at Sinclair gas station, 102 16th Ave, Franklin, NE. Trip orientation, logistics and safety meeting (15 min).

8:30 (1 hr)            Niobrara Chalk outcrop

9:45 (1 hr)            CenCon of Kansas Quarry

11:15 (1 hr)          NCK Quarry

12:30 (1 hr)          Pleistocene Roadcut

14:00                    Lunch - Red Cloud, NE (1 hour)

15:15 (1 hr)          Cowles Pit

16:45 (1 hr)          Guide Rock Diversion Dam

17:45                   Travel to Superior, NE for supper and lodging.

Day 2 (August 9, 6 CEUs)

7:00 am                Start at Casey’s, 420 E 3rd St, Superior, NE 68978: Overview of Day 2. Safety Meeting. (15 minutes)

8:00 (1 hr)            DeWeese Pit

9:30 (1 hr)            Clay Center

10:45 (1 hr)          Meat Animal Research Center

12:15                     Lunch in Hastings (1 hour)

13:30 (1.5 hr)      Hastings Superfund Site

15:45 (1.5 hr)      Upper Prairie Silver Moores Flood Risk Reduction Project and Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant

17:15                     Travel home

Field trip registrants will each receive a hardcopy of the field guide  we are developing (to be published in the fall), and a free high-visibility vest.