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1966 Blue Book

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gation, Highways and Drainage. In 1919, this board became the Department of Public Works with two bureaus, the Bureau of Roads and Bridges and the Bureau of Irrigation, Water Power and Drainage, and one division, the Motor Vehicle Records Division. In 1933, the name was changed from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Roads and Irrigation. The 1957 Legislature changed the name to Department of Roads and established the Departments of Motor Vehicles and Water Resources, thereby removing these two activities from the Department of Roads. The Nebraska Safety Patrol became a part of the department in 1937. Since that year, nearly every session of the Legislature has increased or (hanged the duties of the department.

     The 1953 Legislature created the State Highway Commission to act in an advisory capacity to the State Engineer in the establishment of broad policies for carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the department. The commission consists of seven members appointed by the Governor with the approval of the majority of all the members of the Legislature. Members serve for a six-year term. They are appointed from the seven districts created by law. Members receive twenty dollars a day while engaged in the business of the commission and are reimbursed for expenses. The commission, in order to keep the public informed of the policies, conditions, and activities of the Department of Roads, holds highway hearings throughout the state.

     The department carried on a very active improvement program during the last two years. Expenditures for all highway purposes, excluding the Safety Patrol, will amount to about $72,900,000 a year. This is a sizable reduction from the $78,000,000 a year spent in 1963 and 1964, but is still considerably above the $68,000,000 yearly expenditures for 1961 and 1962.

     The principal reason that highway expenditures had been cut back in the last two years is because the "backlog" of federal aid funds had been used up. This backlog of federal funds had accumulated during the first years of the Interstate program when there was insufficient state revenues to match the federal apportionments. During previous years work volumes in excess of the annual revenue had been contracted, thus using up this reserve of federal funds. The department is now current in using federal funds, and hence only amounts equal to the yearly revenue can be programmed each year.

     The State Engineer is head of the Department of Roads, which includes the Bureau of Highways and the Law Enforcement and Safety Patrol. He is an ex-officio member of the State Highway Commission. He is a member of the State Building Commission, of the State Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors, of the Board of Appraisers for School and Educational Lands, of the Advisory Committee to the Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and of the Historical Land Mark Council. He is also the Consulting Engineer for the State Capitol Building.

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Design Division

     The Design Division consists of the following sections: Bridge, Interstate, Urban, Primary and State Secondary Roads, Secondary Roads, Prequalification and Lettings, Program Estimates and Funds, Traffic Engineering, and Roadside Improvement. Each of these sections has a qualified engineer in charge with a staff of experienced engineers and younger men in training.

     This division prepares plans, specifications, and estimates for construction projects under the direction of the Design Engineer, who coordinates the widespread activities toward scheduled lettings under a greatly increased annual program. In order to produce plans at the accelerated pace, it has been necessary to adopt all possible manpowersaving devices, augment present forces with new recruits, i.e., new engineers when possible to hire them, or good non-engineers who are able to develop through the department's training methods.

     This division relies on electronic computers for more and more of the calculations necessary in design. Aerial photographs and photogrammetry are being used on an increasing scale. The department has a twin-engined Cessna aeroplane for photo work, has its own camera, photogrammetric plotting equipment, and several trained men to plot topographic maps and cross sections from the department's aerial photos.

     Other recent changes are: Enlargement of the Roadside Improvement Section to implement roadside beautification programs, plan rest areas, and assist all interested groups in roadside improvement projects. The assignment of a special engineer to review all urban plans; a revision of specifications and special provisions; and assignment of an engineer to assist in plans reviews, to study relocation and drainage problems, and to make comparative cost estimates for alternate lines.

     This division is responsible for the general supervision and direction of all state highway construction activities from the time the contract is awarded until all work is completed and final estimate quantities computed and approved for payment. These activities include the Interstate system, primary, urban and secondary systems and numerous highway and street construction projects of the State System which are financed jointly with local and federal-aid funds.

     The functions of this division are directed by the Construction Engineer with the aid of the Assistant Construction Engineer. Construction activities in each of the field divisions are further directly supervised by the Division Engineer with the assistance of the Assistant Division Engineer and Division Construction Engineer. Project Engineers and aides are assigned to supervise and direct the work on individual projects.

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     The Divisions of Design, Materials and Tests, and Right of Way cooperate with the construction staff in matters pertaining to activities of their divisions. Close liaison is also maintained with the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads on all projects which are financed in whole or in part with federal funds.

     Overall construction costs, including contract work, engineering and right of way costs on the Interstate, primary, urban and secondary highway systems during 1964 were $64,900,000 and $51,150,000 during 1965. Construction on the primary, urban and secondary highway systems totaled 398 miles in 1964 and 395 miles in 1965. This work included all types of construction from gravel surfacing on some minor projects to high type pavement on major projects.

     Present indications are that Interstate work in Nebraska is on schedule with all presently authorized work planned to be completed before the end of 1972. A total of 38 miles of Interstate were completed in 1964 and 37 miles were completed in 1965. As of the end of 1965, all Interstate work presently planned for Nebraska was in some stage of activity-that is, it was completed and open for traffic, under construction, under contract, or in some phase of design, or right of way work.

     The eight lane Interstate bridge, just north of the present Aksarben bridge across the Missouri river between Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, is in the latter stages of construction and will be completed and open to public traffic before the end of 1966. Work is progressing on all three of the Interstate routes in Omaha with the remaining work limited to the urban area.

     It is anticipated that the Interstate highway will be completed and open to public use from Omaha to Hershey before the end of 1966. Nebraska will then have 299 miles or 63% of its total Interstate mileage complete and open to traffic. Dollarwise, as of June 30, 1966, Interstate construction was 47% complete, whereas the national average was 36% complete.

     Under a Congressional Act of 1916 a system of public highways was established in each of the states forming the Federal Aid Highway System.

     In order to encourage improvement of the highways incorporated in this system, the law further provided that the federal government would contribute one half the cost of such improvement providing the respective states agreed to assume the total cost of upkeep of the roads on the system. In order to comply with this requirement, Nebraska elected to hire each of the counties to perform the physical maintenance of the State Highways within their respective county, payment for the service being made from state highway funds. This

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arrangement did not prove too satisfactory due to lack of control of and uniformity in the maintenance operations.

     On January 1, 1926, the department, under a newly organized Maintenance Division, took over the physical maintenance of the systern thereby relieving the counties of any responsibility for the upkeep of the state highways.

     Primarily the Maintenance Division is responsible for keeping the highway surfaces repaired and safe for vehicular traffic; guiding and controlling traffic by erecting and maintaining route markers, traffic control signs and lights, center line and edge striping, etc. Secondly, and of no less importance is the care of the right of way by mowing, spraying, cultivating and pruning trees and shrubs, picking up litter and many other activities to preserve and enhance natural beauty. An average force of 1,340 is employed to maintain the 9,400 plus miles of State and Interstate Highways.

     The state is divided into eight Field Divisions, each comprised of 11 or 12 counties. Each Field Division is under the administration of a Field Division Engineer who, among his many other assignments, is responsible for the maintenance of that portion of the State Highway System lying within his division. In matters of maintenance, these engineers are directly responsible to the Maintenance Engineer.

     The Field Divisions are subdivided into three or four maintenance districts, each of which is under a Superintendent who, under the direction of the Field Division Engineer, is responsible for all matters pertaining to the care of the State Highways in his district.

     The Maintenance Division maintains a central supply base, a major equipment repair shop and a sign fabricating plant and depot at Lincoln.

     Besides the administration of the physical maintenance of the highway system, the Maintenance Engineer is responsible for the operation of fourteen weighing stations and five portable scales whose function is to check trucks for overloading and proper licensing. His office also administrates the issuancy of permits for the transportation of loads whose dimensions or weight exceed the legal limits; the control of advertising signs along the Interstate Highway; the investigation and recording of personal or property accidents involving department personnel or property and the drafting of specifications covering purchase of supplies and equipment used for maintaining the highways.

     This division works closely with the Design, Construction and Maintenance Divisions. Specific duties include soil surveys, investigations of sub-grade and other sub-surface conditions, the determination of locations of deposits of suitable local materials for roadway stabilization and surfacing adaptable to local conditions, supervision of field testing, sampling, control of mixtures and inspection, laboratory testing of soils

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and aggregates, proposed bituminous mixes, construction materials, and maintenance materials and supplies, authorization of inspection and testing by outside agencies, analysis of test reports, review and approval of materials estimates and purchase orders, maintenance of physical history of flexible-typo pavements and investigation and research on new construction methods and materials.

     Field laboratories are maintained at four outstate division headquarters to provide quality control for the construction work underway in those areas of the state. The men in charge are independent of the engineering inspection on the job and make tests at selected locations to assure the quality being obtained is up to standards on all jobs. Their advice and counsel is also available to the engineers assigned to the job where desired. In addition, three men, each particularly skilled in one phase of construction, are assigned to roving assignments over the state in the interest of aiding our younger men with problems which may occur on the job.

     The Right of Way Division is charged with the responsibility for acquiring highway right of way, material pits, and construction easements for state highway construction and maintenance. As organized in 1959 the Right of Way Division is composed of Right of Way Design, Appraisal, Negotiating, Legal and General Service Engineering Sections.

     Offers to property owners for right of way are based on appraisals and the full appraised value is offered on the first contact. Where agreement cannot be reached condemnation proceedings are handled by the Legal Section. Permits for utilities to use highway right of way and agreements covering utility moves required by highway construction are handled by the General Service Engineering Section.

     Special training in appraisal techniques and procedures has been continued for appraisers, agents, attorneys and supervisory personnel. Periodically training classes for these personnel are held for orientation purposes to increase knowledge of department operations and improve communications between sections of the Right of Way Division and divisions of the department.

     Better procedures of keeping records, of obtaining information as to land ties, and of preparing deeds and legal descriptions have made early payment of contracts possible. In general, payments are made prior to the beginning of construction. Continued progress has been made in preparing data necessary for federal reimbursement.

     The state is divided into eight field divisions, each with ten to thirteen counties. Two field division headquarters are at Lincoln, and the others are at Norfolk, Grand Island, Bridgeport, McCook, North

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Platte, and Ainsworth. Each field division has several other permanent headquarters strategically located within the division where construction and maintenance personnel are assigned to carry out work in their areas.

     Each Field Division Engineer is responsible for maintenance and construction operations within his area. In addition, they make recommendations for the biennial construction program, make preliminary surveys, plot survey notes, recommend grade lines and right of way limits, participate in the plan-in-hand inspections and make such recommendations as they feel necessary. This requires close cooperation between the field divisions and the staff divisions in Lincoln.

     The great expansion of the highway construction program on both Interstate and regular highways as well as the additional maintenance of Interstate highway in recent years has required considerable attention toward organization of work by the field divisions. The divisions have cooperated closely in transferring men between divisions as needed to get maximum benefit of available manpower during heavy seasonal loads of work.

     In 1937. the Legislature made provision for the Highway Safety Patrol Division of the Department of Roads and Irrigation. As amended in 1941 the law provides that the chief officer of the Safety Patrol shall be the "superintendent of law enforcement and public safety."

     Active administration of the patrol is conducted by a colonel, assisted by three majors, two of which are field majors or supervisors and the third is in charge of general administration. Other supervision is performed by captains in charge of criminal identification and investigation, equipment, safety education and training, radio communications, and five captains in traffic, responsible for five patrol divisions.

     The 1965 session of the Legislature authorized the addition of 30 additional troopers to bring the total uniformed personnel to 275. In addition to the uniformed personnel, there are thirty one civilian radio operators who operate the three-way FM radio system installed in February, 1946, and CW or radio telegraph installed in June, 1954. Many of these men are disabled veterans who are required to pass all the tests the uniformed men are required to pass, except the physical. Safety Patrolmen are required to work ten hour days, five days a week, with no off duty on weekends or holidays.

     Requirements of enlistment in the Safety Patrol are high. An applicant must be a citizen of Nebraska, have at least a high school education, be at least five feet ten inches tall, be 21 to 35 years of age, have good moral character, and be in good physical condition. Applicants must pass a personal investigation, written examinations given by the Nebraska Merit System, pass an interview by a board of five members, and successfully complete the training camp held at Camp Ashland.

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     The Safety Patrol:

 1. Must patrol highways and cooperate with Director of Motor Vehicles, sheriffs and police officers in enforcing laws regulating registration, inspection, operation, use of vehicles upon the highways, and serve warrants relating to enforcement of motor vehicle laws.

 2. Has power of peace officer in enforcing laws regulating operation of motor vehicles and use of highways.

 3. Must inspect all school buses and may inspect vehicles in public garages or repair shops, or on highways.

 4. May make arrests upon view and without warrant for any violation of law regulating operation of vehicles or use of highways.

 5. May require a driver of a vehicle being operated in apparent violation of law to stop and permit examination of operator's license and registration card, and may require drivers to present their vehicle to nearest inspection station.

 6. Has certain qualified officers who act as deputies of the state sheriff to assist in enforcement of laws of the state relating to felonies.

 7. Investigates traffic accidents, directs traffic.

 8. The superintendent, with the approval of the Governor, may designate such personnel of the Nebraska Safety Patrol to qualify and act as his deputies or investigators to assist him in the enforcement of the laws of the state relating to felonies.

     The Nebraska Safety Patrol has established a Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification. The bureau maintains a fingerprint file, a criminal history file, a fraudulent check file, and photographic file. It publishes a weekly bulletin which is sent to over 700 law enforcement agencies.

     The Nebraska Safety Patrol has set up a Safety Education and Training Division which makes contacts with the schools and colleges. This section has done much to stimulate school driver training. Also carries out the selection and training of patrol uniformed personnel.

     This section is responsible for both fiscal and cost accounting, budget control, payrolls, requisitions, purchase orders, vouchers, audits, purchase, storage, issuing of all field and office equipment and supplies, and the providing of all types of reproduction services.

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     This section is also responsible for providing electronic data processing service for accounting and engineering usage.

     The activities of this section are almost entirely concerned with the Bureau of Highways, but are closely supervised by the State Engineer and the Deputy State Engineer. This section is responsible for the preparation and application of the sufficiency rating formula, which is used to determine the priority of projects for highway construction. The Program and Planning Section, by studying conditions of highways and the volume and types of traffic on them, also advises concerning the long-range needs for highway improvements. Other activities include studies of the average life, average construction and maintenance costs of various types of surfaces, preparation of statistical reports of state and local road system mileages, and local incomes and expenditures. This section has been delegated the responsibility of making detailed traffic studies and collecting data for the location and design of all highways in Nebraska. Detailed county and state maps are made by this section. The activities are financed in part from federal funds, since federal law provides that 11/2 percent of the federal-aid highway funds allotted to each state be used for highway planning and research.

     In 1965 as a result of Legislative Resolution 3, Nebraska embarked upon an extremely comprehensive study of its highway and street needs. The study, under the auspices of a State and Local Highway and Street Problems committee appointed by the Legislative Council, took a three phase approach. Three consultant firms were selected to perform the classification and needs, fiscal, and management portions of the study.

     This section does general legal work for the department, including advice and court actions, supervision of eminent domain cases, workmen's compensation, collection and defense of claims for and against the department.

     This section is under the direct supervision of the State Engineer, with the objective of giving the people of Nebraska a better understanding of all activities of the department. This section prepares routine news releases, writes and edits the biennial and other reports, prepares and distributes tourist maps and other tourist information, and writes speeches and non-technical articles.

     The Information Section prepared for the department "These Are Your Highways," the two-year construction program. The publication was awarded the Golden Milestone by the National Highway Users

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Conference for "excellence in reporting department activities in a concise, interesting manner."

      The functions of handling personnel applicants in cooperation with the division and section heads, in procurement, testing, placing, training, rating, transferring qualified men and women, keeping personal records for all employees, including salary schedules, promotions to fill vacancies and retirement, are under the Personnel Director.

Acting Tax Commissioner--Murrell B. McNeil
Assistant Tax Commissioner-Murrell B. McNeil

Publications: Annual Report, Assessors Handbook, Motor Vehicle Guide Book.

Total number of employees: 86.

      The Department of Finance was one of the six administrative departments set up by the Civil Administrative Code of 1919. The department was organized into two divisions: Division of Accounts and Budget and the Division of Purchase and Supplies. The Office of Tax Commissioner was created by a constitutional amendment adopted in 1920. The Department of Finance was abolished in 1929 and its duties were transferred to the Office of Tax Commissioner.

      The Tax Commissioner is appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Legislature for an indefinite term. His office is responsible for the administration of the general revenue laws of the state.

      Similarly the 1965 Legislature added responsibilities to the Tax Commissioner's duties. The office now administers and collects the tax for all motor fuels, including the severance tax, the state cigarette tax and the binge tax.

      In the reorganization bills passed by the 1965 Legislature a part of the responsibilities of the Tax Commissioner of 1964 and prior years, were transferred to the newly created Department of Administrative Services. Those transferred were the Division of Accounts and Budget, Division of Social Security and the Division of Purchase and Supplies.

     The 1965 Nebraska Legislature again made provisions whereby the functions of the office could operate more efficiently. This was done by enacting LB. 172 which says in part: "The Tax Commissioner shall establish, consistent with the laws of the State of Nebraska, such divisions or bureaus or other subdivisions within the office of the Tax Commissioner as he may find necessary or desirable to maintain adequate and effective relationships with taxpayers and to improve the administration of the tax laws of this state."

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AUDIT DIVISION

     The Audit Division was established effective October 13, 1965, to perform auditing and accounting functions in all fields of taxation which are now the responsibility of the State Tax Commissioner. The functions of this division include the following:

 1. To conduct audits of the three fuel tax programs namely (a) Gasoline Import Dealers, (b) Special Fuel Dealers, and (c) Nebraska Interstate Motor Carrier Fuel Tax, and to conduct audits of the Cigarette Tax Program.

 2. To assist taxpayers relative to their method of preparation of their periodic tax reports.

 3. To submit periodic reports to the Tax Commissioner relative to results of audits completed.

 4. To keep Tax Commissioner informed of tax reporting problems as evidenced by audits of taxpayer records.

 5. To maintain liaison with tax agencies in other states in regard to a proposed reciprocal audit program.

     The Legislature in 1939 created a Division of Motor Fuels in the Department of Agriculture and Inspection (now the Department of Agriculture and Economic Development). On October 1, 1965, the division was transferred to the office of the State Tax Commissioner. The chief is appointed by the Governor. The administrative duties of this division are to bond and license all importers of gasoline; to collect the State's 7 1/2ç per gallon tax on gasoline; to administer the special fuels tax law and collect special fuel taxes, also 7 1/2ç per gallon; to inspect all petroleum products except lubricating oil and crude oil; to issue transport permits; to administer the aircraft fuel tax law and collect the 5ç per gallon tax; and to administer the agricultural and industrial tax refund law which provides for a refund of gasoline tax on gasoline used for nonhighway and agricultural purposes. The ports of entry previously designated to enforce the motor fuels laws at the state's borders were eliminated effective January, 1964. Interstate Motor Carrier owners now may elect to pay any fuel tax due, based on Nebraska mileage driven in proportion to their total mileage, through reports to and pre audits by division employees.

     Enforcement of these laws through on-the-road checks is provided by the new Border Patrol, presently numbering eight men.

     In the 1965-66 fiscal year the division collected $54,070,468.00 on 732,104,844 gallons which includes gasoline, special fuel, interstate use fuel and aircraft fuel tax.

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Cigarette Tax Unit

     The Legislature in 1947 enacted a cigarette tax and provided that the tax should be collected by the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Economic Development. The Cigarette Tax Unit was established July 1, 1947. Since 1960 administrative responsibility for the Cigarette Tax Unit has been in the hands of the Chief of the Motor Fuels Division. On October 1, 1965, the unit was transferred to the office of the Tax Commissioner.

     The inspectors set meters, audit wholesale cigarette dealers' accounts and inspect retail establishments for uostamped cigarettes or counterfeit stamps.

     The 1947 Legislature imposed a tax of three cents a package on cigarettes; the 1957 Legislature increased the tax on cigarettes to four cents a package; this was again increased to six cents a package on June 1, 1963; and to eight cents a package on April 1, 1965. The unit now collects $11,949,015.00 a year in state taxes on sales of over 156,741,000 packages of cigarettes.

Gas and Oil Severance Tax Unit

     The 1955 Legislature established a subdivision of the Department of Agriculture and Inspection (now the Department of Agriculture and Economic Development) known as the Gas and Oil Severance Tax Unit. On October 1, 1965, the unit was transferred to the office of the State Tax Commissioner.

     The act provides for a two percent severance tax on all oil and gas severed from the earth in Nebraska after January 1, 1956, The monies received from this tax are deposited with the State Treasurer and transferred monthly to the permanent school fund. In the 1965-66 fiscal year the unit collected $834,523.00 in taxes on 15,347,989 barrels of crude oil, and $23,752.00 on 6,884,523 MCF of natural gas.

     The duties of the Division of Taxation are as follows:

1. Provide a uniform method of keeping all books relating to taxation in the several counties.

2. Prescribe the forms to be used by the counties in making assessments.

3. Render assistance to the county officials and taxpayers in making the assessment by furnishing field representatives.

4. Prepare a manual of instructions for the county assessors and serve as a clearing house for information in regard to the value of several types of property throughout the state.

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5. Administer the estate tax laws.

6. Certify to counties, railroad valuations, franchise valuations, lists of stockholders in foreign corporations, and the amount of the state levy.

7. Collect private car line taxes, bus, truck line and air line taxes.

8. Determine the value of the flight equipment of air lines allocated to Nebraska and collect the tax.

9. Make comparison of assessed valuations in the various counties and present same to the State Board of Equalization and Assessment for their consideration.

10. Coordinate and review general real estate reappraisals.

11. Levies tax exemption status of properties.

12. Administer a course of training for all county assessors.

     Similarly, to increase the operational efficiency of the agency, internal divisions have been created to enable area specialists to conduct programs of a specific nature all of which are units of the Division of Taxation.

     The duties and functions of these divisions have responsibilities consistent with their names and are as follows: Motor Vehicle Prorate Tax, Real Property Division, Personal Property Division, and Utilities and Franchises.

Director of Veterans' Affairs--Vacancy.
Deputy Director--J. Harold Pine.
State Service Division--L. A. Durfee and Jim Huribert, State Service Officers.

Total number of employees: 14.

Publications: Annual Report; Veterans' Affairs Digest (monthly).

     The Legislature in 1947 created the Department of Veterans' Affairs with a Veterans' Advisory Committee and with provision for County Veterans' Service Committees to work with the state department. The Director of Veterans' Affairs is appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Legislature. He must be a resident of Nebraska of at least five years standing; a citizen of the U. S.; and have served in the army, navy, marine corps or coast guard of the United States during World War I or II and honorably discharged from such service. The Director administers the Nebraska Veterans' Aid Fund; maintains service officers who prepare and present meritorious cases of ex-servicemen and women for relief before the U. S. Veterans' Administration.

     The Director also passes on all admissions to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Grand Island, and sets maintenance fees. These are

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approved or changed by the Board of Inquiry and Review at meetings held quarterly at the Home.

     The Director also rules on waivers of tuition as designated by L.B. 124 passed by the 1965 Legislature.

     The Veterans' Advisory Commission of five members, appointed by the Governor for five-year terms must be members of recognized veterans' organizations, two of whom shall be veterans of World War I and two veterans of World War II and one a veteran of the Korean War. It is the duty of the commission to investigate the handling of veterans' affairs and to make recommendations and report to the Governor or Director.

      The Nebraska Legislature established a trust fund in the amount of $8,000,000.00 known as the Nebraska Veterans' Aid Fund. Income from this fund is available to Nebraska veterans who served during a period of war, their widows, and children under eighteen years of age, in time of need. This fund is administered by the Director of Veterans' Affairs on applications submitted by the veteran through a Post of a recognized veterans' organization in Nebraska. Presently the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Veterans of World War I are the recognized veterans' organizations participating in the administration of this fund.

Director of Water Resources--Dan S. Jones, Jr.

Total number of employees: 45.

Publications: Biennial Report.

      The Department of Water Resources was created by the 1957 Legislature and assigned all of the powers and duties formerly exercised by the Bureau of Irrigation, Water Power and Drainage, Department of Roads and Irrigation.

      The Department of Water Resources carries on the work which was started by the State Board of Irrigation, an agency created by the

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      Legislature in 1895 and given jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to water rights for irrigation, power and other useful purposes. The original name was changed in 1911 to the State Board of Irrigation, Highways and Drainage and the head of the hoard, the State Engineer, was given responsibilities in additional fields, as indicated by the name. In 1919 the name was further changed to the Department of Public Works and in 1933 it became known as the Department of Roads and Irrigation, with jurisdiction over matters pertaining to highways, motor vehicle registration and law enforcement, in addition to matters pertaining to water rights. The 1957 change made the agency a separate department and returned it to a status similar to that held before it was expanded to assume the other responsibilities.

      The Department of Water Resources has the duty of determining rights to the use of the waters of the natural streams of Nebraska for domestic and municipal uses, for irrigation, power and other useful purposes. The department must also regulate the use of water from natural streams in accordance with the rights which have been determined and made of record.

      The department is responsible for measuring and recording the flow of the various streams and canals in the state. For many years this stream gauging program has been carried on under a cooperative agreement with the Surface Water Branch, U. S. Geological Survey. Currently, the department employs ten engineers who are engaged in the stream gauging program. Approximately fifteen water commissioners are employed during the summer months to regulate the use of water from the natural streams.

\     The department receives plans and specifications for proposed works to be constructed by drainage districts and for all dams to be constructed across natural streams or for reservoir purposes, and construction on such works may not be commenced without the approval of the department.

      Petitions for the formation of public power and public irrigation districts, and for reclamation districts, must have the approval of this department before the district can become operative, and any change in the organization of such districts requires the approval of the department. Petitions for formation of irrigation districts must be reviewed by the department and reported on to the county commissioners to whom they are addressed, and all inclusions or exclusions of lands from such districts require the approval of the department.

      The department has certain responsibilities in connection with facilities for the use of ground water. The present laws require that all irrigation wells shall be registered in this department. The department has authority to grant special permits for the spacing of irrigation, municipal and industrial wells with respect to each other when applications are filed for permits to drill wells closer to each other

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