Terminology - Insight

Terminology: definitions for technical terms used throughout INSIGHT.

Use these definitions while exploring the INSIGHT charts, downloads, and supporting files.
Term	Definition
Base Flow Index	Proportion of streamflow that exists as base flow, calculated using a base flow separation technique.
Comingled Irrigated Acres	Estimated acreage with the potential to be irrigated by both groundwater and surface water.
Diversion	The amount of water, measured at a point, that has been turned aside from the natural course of a flow for a beneficial use.
Downstream Demand	The basin water supply necessary to exit a basin or subbasin to meet the proportionate amount of non-tributary demands in downstream basins or subbasins.
Dryland Acres	Cropped acreage that is not irrigated.
Groundwater Consumption	Groundwater consumptive use estimated for irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses that are located in the hydrologically connected area.
Groundwater Depletion	The modeled impacts of groundwater pumping on stream base flows.
Groundwater Irrigated Acres	Estimated acreage irrigated by groundwater.
Hydropower Demand	Demands for streamflows appropriated for hydropower purposes.
Instream Flow Demand	Demand for streamflow that remains in the channel to support fish, recreation, and wildlife. These demands are based on current appropriations held by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or local Natural Resources Districts.
Long Term Balance	Difference between Total Long Term Demand and Total Basin Water Supply.
Near Term Balance	Difference between Total Near Term Demand and Total Basin Water Supply.
Net Surface Water Loss	Net streamflow necessary to convey surface water consumptive uses, such as water lost while moving through an unlined canal from a diversion point to a field.
Non-Tributary Demands	Surface water demands capable of making physical use of water supplies that exit an upstream basin or subbasin, plus hydrologically connected groundwater consumption capable of using those same surface water sources.
Other Acres	All other non-cropped acres.
Precipitation Rate	Estimated annual rate of precipitation within a basin or subbasin, calculated as precipitation volume divided by land area.
Precipitation Volume	Estimated annual volume of precipitation occurring within a basin or subbasin.
Projected Long Term Balance	Difference between Total Projected Long Term Demand and Total Basin Water Supply.
Required Inflow	Sum of the proportionate downstream demands assigned to upstream basins or subbasins. The term is methodological and does not represent an inflow required by permit or statute.
Reservoir Evaporation	Volume of water evaporated from large reservoir sources.
Streamflow	The discharge of water in a natural channel measured at a gaging location at the outlet of a basin or subbasin. These flows are truncated at the 5% exceedance probability level to remove extreme events.
Streamflow Gain	The discharge of water at a basin or subbasin outlet minus the amount of streamflow measured immediately upstream, also truncated at the 5% exceedance probability level.
Surface Water Consumption	Surface water consumptive use estimated for irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses.
Surface Water Demand	Surface water demand for irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses, recognizing potential administrative limitations for senior uses.
Surface Water Irrigated Acres	Estimated acreage irrigated by surface water.
Total Basin Water Supply	The streamflow water supply available absent major activities of man, recreated with no diversion or groundwater depletion.
Total Evapotranspiration	Evapotranspiration of all land uses in a basin or subbasin, calculated as Precipitation Volume less Streamflow.
Total Groundwater Consumption	The combined groundwater consumptive use estimated for irrigation, municipal, and industrial uses in the hydrologically connected area.
Total Irrigated Acres	Sum of all acres irrigated through groundwater, surface water, or comingled supplies.
Total Long Term Demand	The total demand for consumptive and non-consumptive uses of streamflow, including Groundwater Consumption, Surface Water Demand, Hydropower Demand, Instream Flow Demand, Net Surface Water Loss, and Downstream Demand.
Total Near Term Demand	The total demand for consumptive and non-consumptive uses of streamflow, including Groundwater Depletion, Surface Water Demand, Hydropower Demand, Instream Flow Demand, Net Surface Water Loss, and Downstream Demand.
Total Projected Long Term Demand	The total long-term demand plus an additional 5% demand increment.
Total Recharge	Estimated recharge based on the base-flow portion of basin or subbasin streamflow.
Total Runoff	Estimated overland runoff based on the portion of streamflow supply not represented as recharge.