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WATER FUNDING LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY LEWIS & CLARK NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

WATER FUNDING LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY LEWIS & CLARK NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT

02/21/2014

The State of Nebraska Water Task Force has completed its work in 2013. The results of their effort to review and prioritize funding for water projects in the state has resulted in Legislative bills LB940 and LB1046 which came up for hearings on February 18.

The proposals are expensive. LB940 asks for a one-time transfer of $50 million from the Cash Reserve. LB1046 will ask for an annual transfer of $50 million from the general fund. The dollars will go to research and projects that sustain our water supply for future generations. They include flood control projects, water supply and recharge, irrigation efficiency and groundwater monitoring efforts, via the Natural Resources Commission and Dept. of Natural Resources.

The Lewis and Clark NRD has utilized such Resource Development Funds to build flood control structures over the years at Buckskin Hills, Chalkrock and Powder Creek Lake. These facilities help control flood events and provide recreational opportunities to the public as well. Proposed plans include groundwater monitoring of the Dakota and Niobrara Chalk aquifers in northeast Nebraska NRDs.

The Water Task Force Committee that developed these proposals had local input from the Lewis and Clark NRD and was represented by Jeff Steffen, Crofton as a member of the current Natural Resources Commission. He attended over 20 meetings to help the group of concerned citizens develop a strategy to deal with a program that currently provides only $3 million per year, which is only a small fraction of the need.

Nebraska is blessed with an abundance of water resources. It only makes sense to manage it for sustainability as we continue to strive to preserve and protect our lives, property and our future. We need to support the Legislation to get that done.