Planning for Reservoir Shoreline Development in Nebraska

Comprehensive second home development controls for reservoir shoreline areas in Nebraska do not exist at the state level, and regulations at the local level have often been created after problems have become critical.In addition, many existing local controls on shoreline residential development are not strictly enforced. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to: Identify the extent and potential demand of second home development near Nebraska’s reservoirs; Identify existing environmental and land use problems associated with such development; Identify shoreline development regulations which exist at the federal, state, and local level which affect residential development in Nebraska; Identify existing problems in the scope and enforcement of residential shoreline regulations in Nebraska; Present recommendations to improve the orderly development of second homes in shoreline areas of reservoirs in the state. This thesis only examined residential development near reservoirs which have a surface area greater than 150 acres.Residential shoreline development along rivers, streams, natural lakes, and gravel pits was not considered although it is expected that the results of this study would be applicable to other types of shoreline areas in the state. The inventory of existing residential development was accomplished by obtaining information from county assessors and public power and utility districts.In addition, data were obtained from county comprehensive plans and regional water and sewer plans.Information regarding environmental and land use problems is presented and was compiled from the above sources, along with interviews with officials of the Nebraska Department of Health and USDA Soil Conservation Service District Conservationists. Identification of existing shoreline regulations in Nebraska and other Midwest states was accomplished through telephone interviews and literature research. The time span of this work was from July 1981 through April 1982. Advisor: Charles Y. Deknate