Susan Lackey

Susan Lackey

  • Contact Information
  • My Story
  • Publications
  • Background
  • Interests
  • Grants

Contact Information

TitleResearch Hydrogeologist
Faculty RankAssociate Geoscientist
Address
56639 853 Road
Winside NE
68790

Off Campus
Phone
  • office: 402-649-1538
E-mailslackey1@unl.edu
VitaeDownload file

 

My Story

My name is Sue, how do you do! I am a hydrogeologist with the Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources, UNL. My office is in Norfolk, Nebraska.

My main research emphasis is the groundwater flow system in northeast and north-central Nebraska. This includes determining the subsurface geology, as well as collecting and analyzing water level and water chemistry data. Since the state legislature enacted statutes related to the integrated management of groundwater and surface water in 2004, my research efforts have also focused on defining the interaction of our groundwater and surface water resources.

I am also part of the technical team for the Nebraska Grout Task force. As part of this team, I help design the research studies, document work plans, write project reports and present study results. The main focus of these studies is the protection of groundwater quality, by developing and testing water well sealing grouts.

Working with Water Well Contractor to more accurately define aquifer materials and develop optimum well design.
Working with Water Well Contractor to more accurately define aquifer materials and develop optimum well design.

My public service work provides agencies, industry and landowners with data and analysis on geology; groundwater quantity and quality; and groundwater and surface water interaction. This information is used to make decisions on groundwater management, protection, and development.

I hold a Nebraska Professional Geologist license and a Water Well and Pump Installers Contractors license. I belong to the National Ground Water Association and the Nebraska Well Drillers Association, and serve on the Nebraska Well Drillers Licensing Board.

I was raised in Pennsylvania and graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines with a bachelor's in geological engineering in 1982. I spent four years as a construction engineer for the South Dakota Department of Transportation, prior to becoming a project scientist and manager for a New Hampshire based groundwater consulting firm. There I managed water supply projects in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia and California. In 1991, I accepted this position with the Conservation and Survey Division, UNL, also known as the Nebraska Geological Survey.

Feature Stories

Selected Publications

Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel R.M., Westrop, J.P., 2025, Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2024. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 93, 24 pp.Online
Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel, R.M., Shrestha, N., Westrop, J.P., 2023, Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2023. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 92, 24 pp.Online
Lackey, S.O., Cameron, K.A., and Marxsen, M.J., 2023, Hydrogeologic Field Trip of Northeast Nebraska, Guidebook No. 39, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, , Conservation and Survey Division, 24 p. Online
Report 2022 (WSP-91). University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 91, 18 pp.Online
Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Howard, L.M., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel R.M., 2021, Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2021. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 90, 25 pp.Online
Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Howard, L.M., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel R.M., 2020, Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2020. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 88, 24 pp.Online
Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Howard, L.M., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel R.M. 2020. Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2019. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 87, 28 p.Online
Cameron, K., Lackey, S. 2019. Hydrogeologic Framework of Eastern Nebraska- Recent Deeper (early cretaceous to cenomanian) Exploration (0016-7592 ed., vol. 51). Boulder, CO: The Geological Society of America.
Young, A.R., Burbach, M.E., Howard, L.M., Waszgis M.M., Lackey, S.O., Joeckel R.M. 2019. Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2018. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Nebraska Water Survey Paper 86, 24 p.Online
Divine, D. P., Joeckel, R. M., Olafsen Lackey, S. (2018). Characterizing the aquifer properties of the Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in eastern Nebraska. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (vol. 50). Boulder, CO: Geological Society of AOnline
Hallum, D., Lackey, S. and Sibray, S. 2018 Results of Test-Hole Drilling for Observation Well Planning in the Lower Loup Natural Resources District, Spring 2017; Conservation & Survey Division. pp. 52Online
Hallum, Douglas and Susan Lackey. 2017. Results of Test-Hole Drilling for Observation Well Planning in the Upper Loup Natural Resources District, Fall 2016. North Platte, NE: Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska - Lincoln. PP. 33Online
Divine, D. P., R. M. Joeckel and S. Lackey (2016). Aquifers of Nebraska I: The Codell aquifer in northeastern Nebraska, Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska, Bulletin 7 (New Series), 21 p.Online
Olafsen-Lackey, S. 2011. Annual Inflow of Water to Nebraska and Annual Outflow of Water From Nebraska, 1950 - 2010. U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Dept. of Natural Resources.Online
Olafsen Lackey. S. and X.H. Chen, 2010. Streambed Hydrology Tests in the Lower Elkhorn River and Tributaries, Nebraska, 51 p.
Chen, X.H., and S. Lackey, 2009. Streambed Hydrology Tests in the Upper Elkhorn River between Stuart and Neligh, Nebraska, 26 p.
Divine, D. P., R. M. Joeckel, J. T. Korus, P. R. Hanson and S. Lackey (2009). Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA): Introduction to a hydrogeological study, Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska, Bulletin 1 (New Series), Online
Divine, D.P., Joeckel, R.M., Korus, J.T., Hanson, P.R., Olafsen Lackey, S., 2009, Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA): Introduction to a Hydrogeologic Study, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division Bulletin 1 (New Online
Olafsen Lackey, Sue and Les Howard. 2009. Pilot Study: The Nature and Thickness of the Unsaturated Zone And Delineation of Confined Aquifers. Cooperative Agreement Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Conservation and Survey Division. pp. 13.Online
Song, J.X., X. H. Chen, C. Cheng, D.M. Wang, S. Lackey, and Z. Xu, 2009. Feasibility of grain-size analysis methods for determination of vertical hydraulic conductivity. Journal of Hydrology 375 (3-4), 428-438,Online
Olafsen-Lackey, S., Smith, F.A., Diffendal, R.f., 2003. Holt County Test Hole Logs. Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska. pp. 110.Online
Diffendal, R.F. Jr., Olafsen Lackey, S., Hallum, D.R., 2021, Geology and Hydrogeology of Northeastern Nebraska: Geology, Water Management and Geological Hazards, Nebraska Geological Society Field Trip 2021, Guidebook No. 38, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, 32pOnline

Background

Education

DegreeMajorInstitutionYear Awarded
Bachelor of ScienceGeological EngineeringSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology1982

 

Affiliations

 

SNR Program Areas

  • Environmental Science

Areas of Interest/Expertise

  • Geology
  • Groundwater Quantity and Quality
  • Aquifer Protection
  • Aquifer Testing
  • Well Construction
  • Interaction of Groundwater and Surface Water
  • Hydrology
  • Hydrogeology

Grants

Currently this page only displays grants that were awarded on 1/1/ 2009 to the present. If a grant was awarded prior to 1/1/ 2009 and is still active, it will not be displayed on this page.

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Agreement
Starting Date10/31/2024

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2026
Funding Level$60,000.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleMiddle Niobrara NRD Coop Agreement (Additional Funding)
Starting Date04/25/2022

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2023
Funding Level$9,655.00
Funding AgencyMiddle Niobrara NRD

 

Grant TitleENWRA Groundwater Recharge Mapping and Focus Area Assessments
Starting Date04/07/2022

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2024
Funding Level$89,000.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte South NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Ageement (Additional Funding)
Starting Date03/22/2022

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2014
Funding Level$24,000.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clarck NRD

 

Grant TitleMiddle Niobrara NRD Coop Agreement
Starting Date03/26/2021

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2022
Funding Level$13,200.00
Funding AgencyMiddle Niobrara NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Ageement
Starting Date02/02/2021

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2021
Funding Level$33,835.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Coop Agreement (Additional Funding)
Starting Date02/05/2020

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2021
Funding Level$20,000.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleMiddle Niobrara NRD Coop Agreement
Starting Date08/02/2019

Investigator(s)

Ending Date08/01/2021
Funding Level$37,000.00
Funding AgencyMiddle Niobrara NRD

 

Grant TitleLower Niobrara NRD Coop Agreement
Starting Date08/01/2019

Investigator(s)

Ending Date08/07/2022
Funding Level$38,200.00
Funding AgencyLower Niobrara NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Agreement (additional funding)
Starting Date05/23/2019

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2021
Funding Level$61,600.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleDeveloping Hydrogeologic Databases to Assist in Water Resources Management (Additional Funding)
Starting Date11/16/2018

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2021
Funding Level$5,600.00
Funding AgencyLower Elkhorn Natural Resource District

 

Grant TitleTest Hole Drilling and Monitoring - Lower Platte North NRD (Additional)
Starting Date08/01/2018

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/30/2020
Funding Level$50,000.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Agreement (additional funding)
Starting Date03/16/2018

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2021
Funding Level$55,000.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleTest Hole Drilling and Monitoring - Lower Platte North NRD (Additional)
Starting Date09/07/2017

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/30/2020
Funding Level$136,700.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD

 

Grant TitlePapio-Missouri River NRD - 3 Year Drilling Program
Starting Date06/05/2017

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/04/2020
Funding Level$78,100.00
Funding AgencyPapio-Missouri River NRD

 

Grant TitleTest Hole Drilling and Monitoring (Additional Funding)
Starting Date03/18/2016

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/30/2017
Funding Level$44,600.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Agreement (additional funding)
Starting Date02/01/2016

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2018
Funding Level$19,900.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleTest Hole Logging and Monitoring Well Design Program for the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
Starting Date09/11/2015

Investigator(s)

Ending Date09/10/2016
Funding Level$3,500.00
Funding AgencyPapio-Missouri River Natural Resources District

 

Grant TitleLower Platte North Test Hole Drilling and Monitoring
Starting Date06/24/2015

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/23/2016
Funding Level$32,000.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis and Clark NRD Cooperative Agreement (additional funding)
Starting Date05/21/2015

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/30/2015
Funding Level$86,000.00
Funding AgencyLewis and Clark NRD

 

Grant TitleLewis & Clark Natural Resources District Cooperative Agreement (additional funding)
Starting Date05/21/2014

Investigator(s)

Ending Date05/20/2015
Funding Level$86,000.00
Funding AgencyNebraska Environmental Trust

 

Grant TitleDeveloping Hydrogeologic Databases (additional funding)
Starting Date10/01/2013

Investigator(s)

Ending Date12/31/2015
Funding Level$79,500.00
Funding AgencyLower Elkhorn NRD

 

Grant TitleNE Annular Seal Task Force Cedar Bluffs
Starting Date11/01/2012

Investigator(s)

Ending Date10/31/2013
Funding Level$25,000.00
Funding AgencyDepartment of Health and Human Services

 

Grant TitleStream Aquifier Relationships in the Elkhorn River Basin
Starting Date03/11/2011

Investigator(s)

Ending Date06/30/2013
Funding Level$58,648.00
Funding AgencyLower Elkhorn NRD

 

Grant TitleEastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment Study, Ashland, Firth, and Oakland Bulletins
Starting Date07/01/2009

Investigator(s)

Ending Date07/01/2011
Funding Level$84,500.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD

 

Grant TitleEastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment
Starting Date08/01/2008

Investigator(s)

Ending Date07/01/2010
Funding Level$17,080.00
Funding AgencyLower Platte North NRD