Tom Hayden received the prestigious award of the "Nebraska Hall of Agriculture Agricultural Achievement" March 27, 2026.  
SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEBRASKA AGRRICULTURE:   Tom Hayden was the long-time supervisor of the West Field Operations for the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  He was a state of Nebraska Employee for 60 years, all with the DNR expect for the first few years out of high school in 1962 when he worked for the Road Department.  In 1990, he was named supervisor of the Bridgeport office.  He was responsible for measuring stream flows across western Nebraska in the Niobrara and Platte rivers, administering surface water rights, and settling complaints between irrigators.   

SUMMARY OF IMPACTS MADE TO NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE:   Tom’s knowledge of western Nebraska’s unique hydrology and irrigation systems, along with his sincerity of purpose, made him an invaluable resource in ensuring the farmers and ranchers in his district always had access to the water they were entitled.  According to a DNR Quarterly newsletter: “Over the years Tom has cultivated lasting relationships across irrigation district managers and staff, representatives from Colorado and Wyoming, individual irrigators and our federal counterparts tasked with water management.  It is the relationships and Toms steady hand that helped keep peace in the valley.”  Tom has been a steady influence in flood and drought conditions, and has been part of the team that ensures that Nebraska received their fair share of water from our upstream neighbors by compact and decree.  Tom has contributed many times to moderate the educational and history tours of the North Platte drain system starting in Colorado and running north to Casper, Wyoming.  This tracks through several dams which generate electricity and then into the Nebraska North Platte River system.

Dear Linda - Tom and I were in the same class from from kindergarten though high school.  We were friends throughout that time.  I’m sorry to hear of his passing.  We shared a lot of memories.   My deepest sympathies to you and his family.  May God carry you through this difficult time.

Rev. Howard L Hinman
44hlhinman@gmail.com
12425 Chelwood Place, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linda and Johnadene I am so sorry in your loss of Tom.  I would imagine he and Max have had quite the conversation already in Heaven!  Lori and Morgan Sanders

No one understood the behavior of surface water on Nebraska’s North Platte River better than Tom Hayden. His insight was not academic; it grew from curiosity, asking a lot of questions, careful observation, and years of experience. During my time at the Department, I learned to pay close attention to what Tom said about the river’s flow. 
Tom was also a pack rat when it came to old records at the Bridgeport office. When told to clean his office and get rid of the old files, instead of throwing them in the dumpster, he took them home to his garage. Those files were extremely helpful during Nebraska’s litigation with Wyoming in the U.S. Supreme Court over The North Platte Decree. 
Also impressive was Tom’s ability to work with irrigators when the river was low. Instead of simply shutting off junior rights according to priority, Tom would ask, not require, upstream senior appropriators to reduce their diversions to keep help out the downstream juniors. I would often question Tom about what he was doing, but he assured me he was following the appropriation laws. I never heard any complaints from the irrigators and because of Tom’s desire to help as many irrigators as he could, the river kept flowing, at least for a few more days. 

I have many fond memories of working with Tom. He was, in my view, one of the great river masters and a wonderful human being.

So sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I worked for the Department of Natural  Resources and knew Tom for 25 years. He was so knowledgeable about the agency and our partners. It seemed he knew almost everybody. He was always a delight to talk to and he will be greatly missed.

OBITUARY

Thomas L Hayden

June 10, 1944 – May 10, 2026

Bridgeport Memorial Chapel

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