NRDs hope to keep shutdowns from happening

Dear Editor,

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources has been making formal presentations of their proposal to achieve compact compliance in water short years. By the middle of next week they will have made this presentation to all NRDs in the Republican basin. DNR has indicated that they will schedule a number of informational meetings across the basin to discuss this issue further. We, as NRDs, will then have to evaluate the options and make a decision on what action to take.

This proposal, which would shut down both surface and ground water uses in a selected area during water short years, has generated a lot of discussion and some panic.

We ask you to remain calm. No decision has been made by our board and a decision won't be made until we can evaluate the proposed options. It is important that you stay involved and stay informed so watch for the notices of the informational meetings.

By statute the NRDs are charged with the administration and regulation of ground water. DNR's charge is for administration of surface water and again under the statutes we must work together for the integrated management of those waters. As unpleasant as DNR's proposal may be, it addresses their charge of keeping Nebraska in compliance with the Republican River Compact and it should be recognized as that.

While the NRDs may consider that proposal, it will only be under the assumption that we won't use it. The NRDs need the tools and funding capability to develop programs that will keep the shut down from ever occurring. Augmentation of river flows, purchase or lease of ground water and surface water supplies, riparian vegetation management and, yes, more regulation of ground water allocations by the NRD and surface water use by DNR are the things that will keep the shutdown from happening.

We need your support as we look to existing and new funding authority to implement those programs. Irrigation, through the beneficial use of our water supplies, is important to the economy of all of Nebraska.

Fair and equitable balance in the system cannot be achieved by simply over- regulating one area or one class of user. It must be a combination of controls and programs that, while they may impact the producers, help Nebraska stay in compliance.

Nebraska, through our Integrated Management Plans, is in compliance with the Compact and our current rules will keep us there over the long term.

The plans work in the long term with normal weather conditions. The short term impact of a water short year during dry conditions is what needs to be addressed in a manner that minimizes the impacts to the entire basin.

The problem during these dry years is that it is easy for Nebraska to overuse its allocation when users need the water supplies the most.

This over use is a result of both ground water and surface water use. While the proposal put forth by the state is frightening, we must consider why it has been presented. The Legislature and the courts have hampered the NRDs ability to implement and fund the programs we need to keep the potential shutdown of uses from happening.

Submitted by

Daniel L. Smith

Manager

Middle Republican

Natural Resources

District