Statewide Digital Data Bases for GIS/Mapping
Introduction
The Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies (CALMIT), and the Conservation and Survey Division (CSD), are engaged in assembling statewide spatial databases. All statewide GIS data bases are in a common map projection. The download files are in ARC/INFO export format. For additional information, contact: Les Howard, phone 402-472-9192. The following databases are complete, edge-matched (where warranted) and edited to remove obvious errors.
To see what coverages are available, scroll through this web page; or click on a link from the following list to go directly to a specific coverage.
Disclaimer
CSD/CALMIT has produced these products using what is thought to be the most reliable information available or reproduced the material as provided. The detail and precision of the interpretations made are according to accepted professional standards and are dependent upon the techniques, hardware, and/or software utilized.
Projection Information
| All statewide GIS databases are in a common map projection. | |
|---|---|
Projection |
Lambert |
Units |
Meters |
Datum |
NAD27 |
| Parameters | |
40 00 00 |
southern latitude |
43 00 00 |
northern latitude |
-100 00 00 |
center longitude |
0 0 0 |
origin of projection |
0.0 |
false northing |
0.0 |
false easting |
Further Information/Questions
For further information about these datasets, contact Les Howard, 402-472-9192. Note that some datasets have specific contacts listed.
Geology |
|
| Active Mineral Operations | |
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Prepared from the CSD mineral inventory data base. Features include: several dozen items about each operation, including mineral production by years, and cumulative totals. The location is derived from the legal description, using an approximation to the nearest 10 acres. There are about 1,800 records. |
| Metadata | Mineral Operations metadata |
| Download Data | mineral.e00 | PQM_Directory.xls |
| Download Image | mineral.jpg |
| Aeromagnetics | |
 |
Mineral exploration activities included measuring variations in local magnetic field using aerial surveys. Data was examined, generalized and mapped by CDS geologists. Digitized from a CSD 1985 published map. |
| Metadata | Aeromagnetics metadata |
| Download Data | magnetic.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Bedrock Geology | |
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A digitized version of the bedrock geology of Nebraska. Primary source is a 1:250,000 series of geologic bedrock maps for eastern and southern Nebraska. Published in the early 1970s, a large portion of the area has been super seeded, but not published. The remainder of the state has been published at 1:1,000,000 in 1986, but current mapping is being done on the surface geology, rather than bedrock geology. Updates are planned on a county by county basis. |
| Metadata | Bedrock Geology metadata |
| Download Data | bedrock.e00 |
| Download Image | bedrock.jpg |
| Bouguer Gravity | |
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Mineral exploration activities included measuring gravity variations using the Bouguer scale. These values were mapped by CSD geologists from a series of data sites, roughly one per township, for eastern and southern Nebraska. Data for the Panhandle and Sand Hills was collected by USGS using a four KM aerial survey. Digitized from a CSD 1982 published map. |
| Metadata | Bouguer Gravity metadata |
| Download Data | gravity.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Deep Well Oil/Gas Exploration Wells | |
 |
Prepared from CSD Deep Well Inventory data base. Features include elevation of significant geologic formation surfaces, well production status and several dozen other items. The location is derived from the legal description, using an approximation to the nearest 5 acres. There are over 18,000 records in the data base. |
| Metadata | Deepwell metadata |
| Download Data | deepwell.e00 |
| Download Image | deepwell.jpg |
| Earthquakes | |
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Processed from CSD Earthquake Inventory database. Features include: date, time, latitude, longitude, Modified Mercali intensity, generalized location, estimated affected area, estimated depth. |
| Metadata | Earthquakes metadata |
| Download Data | eqpoints.e00 |
| Download Image | earthquakes.jpg |
| Geodetics | |
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Geodetic marker sites. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | geodetic.e00 |
| Download Image | geodetic.jpg |
| Landslides | |
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A compilation of the visible landslides across Nebraska. Most are associated with roadway construction and design, and visible from a public roadway. Part of a study with the Nebraska Dept. of Roads. Also see Landslide Potential. |
| Metadata | Landslide metadata |
| Download Data | slidept.e00 |
| Download Image | landslides.jpg |
| Precambrian Rocks, Configuration of Precambrian Rocks in Nebraska | |
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The Configuration of Precambrian bedrock across Nebraska has been interpreted by CSD geologists using data from deep well oil and gas exploration wells, and other sources. The tops of the various sedimentary rock formations were picked by CSD geologists for more than 19,000 deep wells. When the drillers hits metamorphic rock, that was interpreted as the precambrian rocks of extreme age. Digitized from CSD Maps. |
| Metadata | Configuration of Precambrian Rocks metadata |
| Download Data | precamc.e00 |
| Download Image | precamc.jpg |
| Precambrian Rocks, Depth to Precambrian Rocks in Nebraska | |
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The depth of the precambrian rock across Nebraska has been interpreted by CSD geologists using data from deep well oil and gas exploration wells, and other sources. The down-hole depths of the various sedimentary rock formations were picked by CSD geologists for more than 19,000 deep wells. When the drillers hit metamorphic rock, that was interpreted as the precambrian rocks of extreme age. Digitized from CSD Maps. |
| Metadata | Depth to Precambrian Rocks metadata |
| Download Data | precamd.e00 |
| Download Image | precamd.jpg |
| Samples (rock cuttings and cores) | |
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CSD has the statutory requirement to catalog and store any mineral cores extracted by mineral exploration activities. These include core samples collected by private firms in their efforts to locate oil and gas reserves. CSD has been collecting, cataloguing, and storing samples for decades. Approximately 15,000 geologic samples. |
| Metadata | Samples metadata |
| Download Data | samples.e00 |
| Download Image | samples.jpg |
| Test Hole Database | |
 |
GIS Files
Database (zipped file, database in MS-Access) On-Line Database |
| Till | |
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Digitized from CSD maps by the USGS. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | till.e00 |
| Download Image | till.jpg |
Water |
|
| Center Pivot Irrigation Systems | |
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Prepared from CSD Center Pivot Inventory data base. Data are derived from manually interpreted Landsat Thematic Mapper images. Each year pivots are identified and missing/abandoned pivots are noted. Features include: the legal description, years observed since 1972, Natural Resource District, and county. There are about 33,000 records (most recent year is 1988). |
| Metadata | Center Pivot metadata |
| Download Data | pivots.e00 |
| Download Image | pivots88.jpg |
| Configuration of the Base of the Principal Aquifer, 1979 | |
 |
The Configuration of the Base of the Principal Aquifer data consists of two separate layers: the contours layer (baseaq, which depicts the elevation of the base of the aquifer, and the polygons layer (absent), which depicts those areas where the principal aquifer is very thin, or absent. The GIS layer was developed by scanning the original, hand-drawn mylar quadrangles, converting the scanned contours into vectors and "tagging" each vector with the appropriate elevation. Similarly, the polygons depicting those areas where the principal aquifer is either very thin or absent were scanned and converted into polygons. Each of the individual quadrangles were then checked against the original maps for accuracy and appended to create a single, statewide layer. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | Base_aquifer.zip |
| Download Image | baseaq79.jpg |
| Configuration of the Water Table, 1979 | |
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Configuration of the Water Table was prepared in 1980 to serve as a predevelopment baseline for future water use information. It represents the elevation of the top of the saturated zone of the principal aquifer. The data was hand-contoured by CSD geologists using water-level measurements, CSD test-hole logs and water well registrations. The contours are interpretive, done to a standard within one-half of the mapped interval. Digitized from eleven 1979 USGS 1x2 degree quadrangles. |
| Metadata | Configuration of Water Table metatable |
| Download Data | wtable.e00 |
| Download Image | wtable79.jpg |
| Configuration of the Water Table, 1995 | |
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This statewide water-table coverage reflects more recent, accurate and comprehensive water-level data. The data was compiled primarily from spring 1995 water-level data. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | watertable95.e00 |
| Download Image | wtable95 |
| Depth-to-Water (generalized) | |
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Polygons of generalized-depth-water from ground surface. Prepared by creating two surfaces. The elevation from DEM data, and the elevation of the water table from digitized mapping. The two surfaces are subtracted, forming a derived depth-to-water surface. |
| Metadata | Depth-to-Water metdata |
| Download Data | dtwater.e00 |
| Download Image | dtwater.jpg |
| Groundwater-Level Changes, Spring 2005 to Spring 2006 | |
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Groundwater-level Changes in Nebraska from Spring 2005 to Spring 2006. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | |
| Download Image | Download Map (jpg, 8 mb) |
| Groundwater-Level Changes, Predevelopment - 2006 | |
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Groundwater-level Changes in Nebraska from Predevelopment to Spring 2006. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | |
| Download Image | Download Map (jpg, 9 mb) |
| Groundwater-Level Changes During Drought, Spring 2000 to Spring 2006 | |
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Groundwater-level Changes in Nebraska from Spring 2000 to Spring 2006. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | |
| Download Image | Download Map (jpg, 10 mb) |
| Groundwater Management Areas | |
| A compilation of the ground water management areas defined by various natural resource districts. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | gwma.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Groundwater Pollution Hazard (DRASTIC) - Raster Data | |
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Index polygons of pollution potential. Based on an ERDAS study that utilized seven layers of spatial data to build an index value for the potential of groundwater pollution from a surface contaminant. The seven layers are Depth to water, Recharge rate, Aquifer characteristics, Soils, Topography, Impact of vadose zone and hydraulic Conductivity. |
| Metadata | DRASTIC metadata |
| Download Data | drastic.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Groundwater Regions | |
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Part of the hydrogeologic study done by CSD and others was to classify the various areas of Nebraska by geologic structure as affecting groundwater quantity and quality. Digitized from 1:1,000,000 map produced by CSD. |
| Metadata | Groundwater Regions metadata |
| Download Data | gwregion.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Hydrology | |
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Prepared from USGS 1:100,000 DLG data. Features include the first two major/minor pairs of attributes. Some "density" problems are apparent where one area will have very detailed digitizing of all water courses, and another area will have only the major features shown. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | hydro.e00 |
| Download Image | hydro.jpg |
| Lakes | |
| A simplification from the STATSGO data base. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | lakes.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Registered Wells | |
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USGS Water Resources Division data. Features include well size, depth, pumping information, and latitude and longitude. Current to 1995. There are about 98,000 records in the databases. |
| Metadata | Registered Wells metadata |
| Download Data | regwells.e00 |
| Download Image | Regwells95.jpg |
| Specific Yield of the Principal Aquifer, 2005 | |
| To obtain the Arc/Info GIS Shape Files, please contact Les Howard, 402-472-9192, or email lhoward3@unl.edu. |
Maps (jpg)
Transmissivity of the Principal Aquifer, 2005, is also available. |
| Streams | |
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Major streams draining a mapped watershed (see watersheds). |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | streams.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Streams - Simplified | |
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Prepared from USGS 1:100,000 DLG data. Reclassified as permanent streams |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | simpstrm.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Thickness of the Principal Aquifer | |
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A series of contour lines showing the estimated thickness of the saturated sediments that serve as the source aquifer for domestic and irrigation wells. It was digitized from eleven 1980 USGS 1x2 degree quadrangles and has been used as the 'normal' thickness of the aquifer. |
| Metadata | Thickness metadata |
| Download Data | wtthick.e00 |
| Download Image | wtthick.jpg |
| Transmissivity of the Principal Aquifer, 2005 | |
| To obtain the Arc/Info GIS Shape Files, please contact Les Howard, 402-472-9192, or email lhoward3@unl.edu. |
Maps (jpg)
|
| Water Levels, Rise and Decline | |
| This file was interpreted by USGS water scientists to show areas of rise and decline of the ground water table in 1994. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | wlev96pol.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Water Levels, Sampling Locations | |
| This file has the sampling locations used for the 1994 water levels report (see Water Levels, Rise and Decline, above). | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | wlev96pt.e00 |
| Download Image | |
Soils |
|
| Parent Materials | |
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|
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | parentmaterial.e00 |
| Download Image | parmat.jpg |
| Soils [Soil Keys for Map] | |
| Derived from USDA/NRCS 1:250,000 STATSGO data. Features include the soil unit association name and area (2,500 separate polygons). While the STATSGO data are in USGS DLG format, the data do not necessarily conform to USGS mapping standards. The original source materials were CSD soils maps published in 1984, and reworked by NRCS. Several association units were added by NCRS to facilitate matching data across state boundaries. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | soils.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Soils Classifications | |
| A simplification of STATSGO soils for slopes and texture. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | soilclas.e00 |
| Download Image | |
Land Use Land Cover |
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| Native Vegetation | |
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From a mylar 1:1,000,000 map published by CSD in 1993. Used to determine the number of acres of each vegetation type across Nebraska. |
| Metadata | Vegetation metadata |
| Download Data | native.e00 |
| Download Image | Native.jpg |
General |
|
| County Base | |
| Digitized from the 1:100,000 map series produced by the Nebraska Department of Roads. Features include: county boundaries and extensive annotations. | |
| Metadata | County Base metadata |
| Download Data | outline.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| County Centroids | |
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|
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | |
| Download Image | centroids.jpg |
| Natural Resource Districts | |
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From the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | nrds.e00 |
| Download Image | nrds.jpg |
| Range and Township | |
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Range and township boundaries across Nebraska were derived from 1:24,000 section boundaries. |
| Metadata | Range-Township metadata |
| Download Data | rtwp.e00 |
| Download Image | rtwptics.jpg |
| Roads | |
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Prepared from USGS 1:100,000 DLG data. Features include: the first two major/minor pairs of attributes associated with each road/street/trail, and length. There are about 342,000 records. Data are current to the early 1980's. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | roads.e00 |
| Download Image | roads.jpg |
| Roads - Simplified | |
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Same as "Roads" above, but only showing Major Nebraska Roads. |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | simproad.e00 |
| Download Image | majroads.jpg |
| Sections | |
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Digitized from 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles by the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. Features include: county, township, range, and section number, and latitude and longitude. There are about 82,000 sections. |
| Metadata | Sections metadata |
| Download Data | sections.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| State Outline | |
| Assembled from 1:100,000 county bases. Nominal 1:24,000 precision. | |
| Metadata | |
| Download Data | neborder.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| Topographic Regions | |
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Digitized from a 1:1,000,000 CSD map. |
| Metadata | Topographic Regions metadata |
| Download Data | toporeg.e00 |
| Download Image | toporeg.jpg |
| Towns | |
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All cities and towns in the state. Data includes 590 towns and villages, population in 1980 and 1990, hospital, and county seat. Unincorporated towns have zero population. |
| Metadata | Towns metadata |
| Download Data | towns.e00 |
| Download Image | towns.jpg |
| USGS 1:24,000 Quadrangles | |
| Features include: 24K name, 100k name, and 250k name. Mapping and automating status fields are included, but are mostly blank. This cover is the tic-base for digitizing quadrangle maps. Over 1,300 tics are present, coded by row-column. | |
| Metadata | 1:24,000 Quadrangles metadata |
| Download Data | quad024.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| USGS 1:100,000 Quadrangles | |
| Derived from 7.5 minute quadrangle data. | |
| Metadata | 1:100,000 Quadrangles metadata |
| Download Data | quad100.e00 |
| Download Image | |
| USGS 1:250,000 Quadrangles | |
| Derived from 7.5 minute quadrangle data. | |
| Metadata | 1:250,000 Quadrangles metadata |
| Download Data | quad250.e00 |
| Download Image | |
