Letter to the Editor

Surprised by letter

Monday, October 18, 2010

Dear Editor,

Just reading the comments of the candidates for the MRNRD's board of directors, comes as a great surprise to me. This compassion for all irrigators was not expressed at the board meetings I attended. Mr. Smith, the manager, has told surface water users on several occasions that we have no rights. This was firmly supported by all the incumbent directors running for office.

On Aug. 2, 2010, a vote was taken to close all surface water users on compact call years. This was supported by all incumbents except for [one.] Results were a six to five split in favor of the shut down.

All the plans (IMP's) so far have been inadequate, going back 30 or 40 years. Water tables have declined every year until they have reached more than 75 feet in some areas. Check the UNL water maps published annually.

All plans (IMPs) that I know of have called for a shut down of surface water from the dams to compensate Kansas, wells located in the alluvial and quick response areas. This will allow the continued pumping of upland wells. If that has changed, it's been in the last 30 days or so. It may be one of the NRD's minor changes to combat the fears of coming election.

These plans will affect approximately 70 percent of all the irrigated acres in Red Willow and Hitchcock Counties. The northern counties will only be responsible for a shut down of some 20 percent. Now if that's fair and equal treatment of all water users ... I'll need a new dictionary. The NRD's may have changed wording on IMPs, but the underlying mindset won't.

We need a general change of direction as recommended by Ann Bleed, former head of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources DNR.

Tom Kiplinger

McCook

P.S.To answer Mr. Fanning and Mr. Smith's letter to the editor, Mr. Fanning is from Imperial and represents the largest abusers of water in the state of Nebraska, approximately 550,000 acres. He couldn't care less about Red Willow and Hitchcock County's economic stress in a shut down. The occupation tax he collects will not be shared with our NRD to help compensate our irrigators. The aforementioned 70 percent shutdown area will pay occupation tax to themselves for this alleged compensation.

Again, that's really fair. Historically water short years occur about one third of the time.

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