The Appropriations Committee heard testimony Feb. 18 on two bills that would provide funding for water sustainability projects in Nebraska.<\/p>\n
LB1046, introduced by Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson, would create a Water Sustainability Fund with an initial $50 million transfer from the state\u2019s general fund. An additional $50 million in general funds would be transferred annually, beginning Oct. 1, 2015. The fund would be administered by the state Natural Resources Commission and used for water sustainability projects throughout the state.<\/p>\n
Carlson said he considers the bill a companion piece to LB1098, a measure he introduced this session that would restructure the state\u2019s Natural Resources Commission to create a greater emphasis on water sustainability.<\/p>\n
He said the newly restructured commission would evaluate projects and fund those that best meet the needs of future generations across a range of priorities, including reducing aquifer depletion, increasing stream flow, managing flood threats, ensuring that municipal and industrial needs can be met, protecting wildlife and promoting conservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a tremendous challenge but this is an immense opportunity,\u201d Carlson said. \u201cI think this is the most important decision on [water] issues in my eight years in the Legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n
LB940, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, also would create a Water Sustainability Fund and would make a one-time $50 million transfer from the state\u2019s cash reserve to the new fund by July 31, 2014.<\/p>\n
The Water Sustainability Fund would be used to fund programs, projects and activities identified by the Water Funding Task Force. The fund could not to be used for new capital projects.<\/p>\n
Water projects are central to Nebraska\u2019s future, Schilz said, but are underfunded at the state level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWater is the issue of the decade,\u201d he said. \u201cWater funding needs to go along with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mace Hack, state director of the Nature Conservancy of Nebraska, testified in support of both bills. Nebraska needs to bring together urban and rural stakeholders to find creative solutions to the state\u2019s water sustainability challenges, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe status quo isn\u2019t sustainable or acceptable to anyone,\u201d Hack said. \u201cWe really need to commit to comprehensive planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ron Wolf of the Nebraska Water Coalition testified in support of both bills. Wolf said he understood lawmakers\u2019 reluctance to use the state\u2019s cash reserve for water funding, but said any savings account can be invested wisely.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the best things you can do for economic development in this state is to ensure a dependable water supply,\u201d Wolf said.<\/p>\n
Ken Winston of the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club testified in opposition to both bills, citing concerns regarding a lack of specific criteria for how the funds would be spent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not an objection to the goals,\u201d Winston said, \u201cIt\u2019s how we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on either proposal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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