2.2.06
Don't let water cuts hit economy, official says
by David Hendee, Omaha World-HeraldWhen water use in western Nebraska's Platte River basin is rolled back in coming years, the reduction cannot be allowed to wound the economy, a regional panel was told Wednesday.
"We can't afford economic decline. It's extremely important that we maintain and, if possible, enhance the economy," said Ron Cacek, manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District at Gering.
Cacek presented his district's plan Wednesday to integrate the management of surface water and underground water in the drought-stressed region. He spoke to local and state officials meeting about the issue in North Platte, Neb.
A 2004 state law requires state and local water agencies to develop a basinwide plan to restore the balance between water use and supply and to address water conflicts and inequities across western and part of central Nebraska. The plan must return water usage to 1997 levels and move toward balancing supply and demand.
The Platte basin upstream from Elm Creek -- essentially the river's watershed in the western half of Nebraska -- has suffered a half-decade of drought, and existing water uses exceed the supply.
The North Platte Natural Resources District's proposal includes continuing to ban well-drilling and irrigation expansion, developing rules for transferring groundwater within and out of the district and eradicating invasive plants choking river channels.
"The key element is that it's fair and equitable to all water users," Cacek said.
A view to the north and east from the Mahoney State Park observation tower. In the background is the U.S. Highway 6 bridge.
The proposal responds to one offered in December by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.
Central's proposal suggested, in part, that some western Nebraska irrigators pump less groundwater to improve flows in the North Platte River and improve inflows into the district's primary reservoir, Lake McConaughy near Ogallala.
Cacek said Central's plan is more focused on its needs than the basin's needs.