Noxious weed changes amended, advanced

A bill that would change state law aimed at the control of certain noxious weeds cleared the first round of debate Feb. 4.

As originally introduced by Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach, LB807 would move administration of the Noxious Weed Control Act from the state Department of Agriculture to the state Department of Water, Energy and Environment.

An Agriculture Committee Amendment, adopted 31-0, replaced the bill with a modified version of the proposal.

Rather than moving administration of the Noxious Weed Control Act, the amendment would establish riparian vegetation management projects as eligible activities for state aid grant assistance provided through the Water Resources Cash Fund administered by DWEE.

Ibach said invasive weeds can “spread like wildfire” in Nebraska waterways and out-compete other plants for water and nutrients while restricting water flows. Control efforts begun in 2007 were largely successful, she said, but invasive weeds will always remain in the state’s waterways and continuous effort is needed to address them.

“Due to the lean budget years, funding for this program has waned, with only $353,000 in grants being appropriated last year,” Ibach said. “Over time, funding has been reduced while the program’s uses have been expanded.”

LB807 would allow DWEE to provide grants from the Water Resources Cash Fund for these projects without a general fund appropriation, she said, while retaining administration of the noxious weed program within the state Department of Agriculture.

Under the bill, eligible uses of grant funds would include riparian vegetation removal that improves streamflow conveyance and acquisition of equipment related to that purpose. Eligible entities would include natural resources districts, weed control authorities and other weed management entities.

Priority in awarding grants would be given to applicants with projects within streams subject to an interstate compact or decree.

Speaking in support, committee chairperson Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara said the amended bill would create a subset of grants within the Water Resources Cash Fund exclusively to address invasive and congestive riparian vegetation that impair efficient streamflow conveyance.

Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul also supported the proposal. Certain noxious weeds have adapted specifically to areas near or within waterways, he said, and need to be addressed differently from other types of noxious weeds.

“[DWEE] is much more attuned to the needs of managing those noxious weeds in those riparian areas than anybody else — that’s their forte,” Meyer said.

Following adoption of the committee amendment, senators voted 33-0 to advance LB807 to select file.