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Nebraska Director of Natural Resources
| Nebraska Director of Natural Resources | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $220,002 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $124,698,505 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Nebraska Revised Statutes 61-205 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Nebraska Director of Natural Resources
Jesse Bradley | |
| Other Nebraska Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Director • Insurance Director • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Board of Regents | |
The Nebraska Director of Natural Resources is a state executive position in the Nebraska state government. The director is a nonpartisan appointee of the governor.
The director serves as head of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for the areas of groundwater, surface water, floodplain management, dam safety, natural resources planning, and integrated water management.[1]
Current officeholder
The acting Nebraska Director of Natural Resources is Jesse Bradley (nonpartisan). Bradley assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The department of natural resources is established in the Nebraska Revised Statutes.[2]
Nebraska Revised Statutes 61-205:
| The Department of Natural Resources shall exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned to the Department of Water Resources prior to July 1, 2000. The Department of Natural Resources shall exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned to the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission prior to July 1, 2000, except as otherwise specifically provided. |
Qualifications
Qualifications for the director of natural resources are outlined in the revised state statutes. The director has to:[3]
- Be qualified by training and business experience to manage and supervise the Department of Natural Resources
- Be a professional engineer as provided in the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act
- Have had at least five years' experience in a position of responsibility in irrigation work.
Appointments
The Nebraska Director of Natural Resources is appointed by the Governor of Nebraska, with the consent of a majority of the Nebraska State Legislature.[2]
Vacancies
As established by Article IV, Section 1 of the Nebraska Constitution, in the event of a vacancy, the governor fills the office by appointment.[4]
Duties
- See Energy policy in Nebraska for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.
The director oversees the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. The duties of the department as outlined in the revised state statutes are:
- Offer assistance as appropriate to the supervisors or directors of any subdivision of government with responsibilities in the area of natural resources conservation, development, and use in the carrying out of any of their powers and programs
- Keep the supervisors or directors of each such subdivision informed of the activities and experience of all other such subdivisions and facilitate cooperation and an interchange of advice and experience between such subdivisions
- Coordinate the programs of such subdivisions so far as this may be done by advice and consultation
- Secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States, any of its agencies, and agencies of this state in the work of such subdivisions
- Disseminate information throughout the state concerning the activities and programs of such subdivisions
- Plan, develop, and promote the implementation of a comprehensive program of resource development, conservation, and utilization for the soil and water resources of this state in cooperation with other local, state, and federal agencies and organizations
- When necessary for the proper administration of the functions of the department, rent or lease space outside the State Capitol
- Assist such local governmental organizations as villages, cities, counties, and natural resources districts in securing, planning, and developing information on flood plains to be used in developing regulations and ordinances on proper use of these flood plains.[2]
Divisions
As of January 27, 2021, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources contains the following divisions:
- Dam Safety
- Groundwater
- Water Planning
- Floodplain Management
- Surface Water
- Water Administration[5]
State budget
- See also: Nebraska state budget and finances
The budget for the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was $124,698,505.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $220,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $173,401, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $151,919, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $151,919, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $149,968, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $148,483, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $145,003, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary of $117,772, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the director earned a salary of $116,444, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $113,882.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Nebraska Director of Natural Resources has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4676
Phone: 402-471-2363
Fax: 402-471-2900
See also
| Nebraska | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Nebraska Director of Natural Resources, "About the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revised Nebraska Statutes, "61-206 Department of Natural Resources," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "61-201 Director of natural resources; qualifications," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska State Legislature, "Nebraska State Constitution," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Director of Natural Resources, "About the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska.gov, "Agency Operations / State Aid / Construction Summary by Fund Type," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
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