Leases required
Dear Editor,
The final settlement stipulation (Kansas v. Nebraska and Colorado, Dec. 15, 2002) states on page 27:
2. Nebraska action in water-short year administration:
a. To accomplish this limitation, Nebraska may use one or more of the following measures:
Item V. dry year leasing of water rights that divert at or above Guide Rock.
The State of Nebraska issued the closing notice on all reservoirs Jan. 1, 2013, and is now releasing that water to help meet compact compliance.
The settlement stipulates that the surface water is to be leased. Nebraska needs to follow the language of the settlement and pay surface water irrigators for our appropriated surface water rights, which became vested property rights at the time of appropriation. The State of Nebraska did not negotiate a dry year leasing of water rights from the irrigation districts and ordered the release of the water without a lease.
Dale Helms,
Holbrook, Nebraska