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The powerful partnerships behind the Western Water Use Management Model
The Western Water Use Management Model (WWUMM) is the result of a powerful, long-standing partnership between the North Platte Natural Resources District (NPNRD), the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), and key state and technical partners. Together, they have built a world-class tool that provides a data-driven scientific approach to manage the aquifers beneath the southern Nebraska Panhandle.
For more than a decade, the North Platte Natural Resources District and the South Platte Natural Resources District have worked side-by-side to develop and refine the WWUMM. Recognizing that the aquifers do not follow political boundaries, these two districts made the visionary decision to pool their resources, data, and expertise to create a single, unified, high-resolution ground water model that serves both their management needs.
This partnership has produced one of the most sophisticated water management tools in the western United States — a model that accurately simulates the complex interactions between ground water, surface water, irrigation, climate, and geology across more than 11,000 square miles of the Nebraska Panhandle.
The success of the WWUMM stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when neighboring districts set aside jurisdictional lines to focus on the shared resource beneath their feet.
Thad Kuntz, Professional Geologist, has been with the WWUMM since its very beginning. When the project was first conceived, Thad served as a joint employee of both the North Platte NRD and South Platte NRD. His unique position allowed him to bridge the two districts and provide continuous technical leadership as the model evolved from concept to one of the most advanced ground water modeling platforms in the region.
Since 2012, through his firm, Adaptive Resources, Inc., Thad has continued to guide the model’s modernization — incorporating MODFLOW 6, high-resolution LiDAR topography, updated base of aquifer mapping, and integration with the Enhanced Soil and Crop (ESC) model. His deep institutional knowledge and commitment to scientific excellence have been indispensable to the project’s success.
The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) — formerly the Department of Natural Resources — has been an integral partner in the success of the WWUMM. Their technical expertise, regulatory insight, and long-term commitment to science-based water management have helped ensure the model meets both local NRD needs and broader state objectives.
Their ongoing collaboration has strengthened the scientific foundation of the model and its value to all stakeholders across the Panhandle.
The Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund, administered by the Natural Resources Commission, has been a critical supporter of the WWUMM. This investment has enabled major advancements including the transition to MODFLOW 6, incorporation of new LiDAR data, improved aquifer mapping, and extended calibration through 2025.
Without the vision and support of the Water Sustainability Fund and the Natural Resources Commission, the current high-resolution, highly accurate WWUMM would not have been possible.
The WWUMM stands as a testament to what can be achieved when districts, state agencies, technical experts, and dedicated funding partners work together with a shared vision for science-based water management.
We are deeply grateful to all our partners for their continued commitment to the WWUMM and to the long-term health of Nebraska’s ground water resources.