Nebraska State Climatologist Al Dutcher will be one of the speakers Thursday in Alliance at the 13th annual Water Issues Meeting, hosted by the Upper Niobrara-White Natural Resources District. The meeting is open to everyone and runs from 9:30-3:30 at the Alliance American Legion.

NRD general manager Lyndon Vogt says Dutcher will talk about the weather outlook…especially moisture…for the coming year, while Brandy Fleer of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources will speak about a project she’s starting to wrap up that will give the NRD new data for water management decisions.

Gary Stone, who Vogt says it partnering with all 3 NRDs in the Panhandle on future water management issues, will talk about integrated water management in extreme conditions, while Vogt and other NRD staffers will give updates on cost-share and other programs as well as water-related bills now in the Nebraska legislature.

There was a Monday registration deadline for the meeting so that the NRD could order enough lunches for everyone, but Vogt thinks there’ll probably be enough so that no one should not come because of the meal.