The Natural Resources Commission heard testimony Feb. 26 on a bill that would restructure the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission to create a greater emphasis on water sustainability.<\/p>\n
LB1098, introduced by Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson, would increase the commission\u2019s membership to 27 by adding 11 governor-appointed members. Currently, three members are appointed by the governor and 13 are elected to represent river basins across the state.<\/p>\n
The bill directs the governor to appoint members that represent diverse geographic regions of the state, including urban and rural areas. The 14 appointed members would represent the following:
\n\u2022 agribusiness and agricultural interests;
\n\u2022 ground water irrigators and surface water irrigators;
\n\u2022 irrigation districts;
\n\u2022 manufacturing interests;
\n\u2022 wildlife conservation interests;
\n\u2022 municipal water users;
\n\u2022 outdoor recreation users;
\n\u2022 public power and irrigation districts;
\n\u2022 range livestock owners; and
\n\u2022 metropolitan utilities districts and public power districts.<\/p>\n
The reconstructed commission would be required to establish criteria by which projects, programs and activities would be ranked and prioritized according to the water sustainability goals established by the commission.<\/p>\n
Carlson said the commission would evaluate proposals 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
Nebraska can retain its important agricultural position in the country only by ensuring a sustainable water supply for all of the state\u2019s needs, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Nebraska, agriculture is our number one industry,\u201d Carlson said, \u201cand now that we\u2019ve just become number one in the nation in cattle on feed \u2013 there\u2019s a reason for that. People are leaving other states like Texas because they don\u2019t have the water to raise crops to feed the cattle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clint Johannes, member of the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, testified in support of the bill. The current commission has done good work, he said, but may be slightly slanted toward agricultural interests and would benefit from broader input from all water users in the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s appropriate that we have this good base to build on \u2026 but that we add all of these other interests,\u201d Johannes said.<\/p>\n
Marian Langan, executive director of Audubon Nebraska, also supported the bill, saying the state\u2019s current approach to water issues has been disjointed. Nebraska needs to commit to comprehensive planning and funding to ensure its future water supply, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t taken a big enough look,\u201d Langan said.<\/p>\n
No one spoke in opposition to LB1098 and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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