1.25.06
Lawmakers look at well limits
by David Hendee and Martha Stoddard, Omaha World-HeraldIt's time for Nebraskans to consider at least a temporary halt to the drilling of new irrigation wells, State Sen. Ed Schrock said Tuesday.
Well-drilling moratoriums are in place in many western and central areas of the state plagued by drought, but drilling is permitted in most eastern regions.
"I'm an irrigator. I'd be the last one in the state to deny a farmer a chance at an economic future that's evident from drilling an irrigation well," he said. "But I'm to the point where maybe I think we've got enough irrigation wells in this state."
Schrock made his remarks to about 300 members of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts -- managers and directors of local natural resources districts who are responsible for managing the state's underground water.
Well-drilling moratoriums are in place in many western and central areas of the state plagued by drought, but drilling is permitted in most eastern regions.
Nebraska has 89,831 active irrigation wells, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln studies indicate that the water table has declined. Declines of up to 20 feet in the last five years have been measured in areas with heavy concentrations of irrigation wells.
Schrock, a Holdrege-area farmer and the chairman of the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee, acknowledged that some in the audience would not agree with him.
"It would be nice if you would step in and take control and not have the state do it and not have (LB) 962 do it," he said.
Legislative Bill 962, the water law passed in 2004, integrates the management of groundwater and surface water.
Strong words about water issues also seeped into legislative debate Tuesday.
State Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln introduced an amendment that would give the state the power to restrict pumping from wells dug after Jan. 1, 2001, in the Republican River basin.
"What it really does is shift the power away from the NRDs, which I think have failed," he said.
Beutler said his proposal could not be the only solution to the problem. But he said the Legislature needs to act quickly to pressure the parties involved to make compromises that could lead to a solution.
"You've got to send a message to the people who can make this happen, and you've got to send it this year, and you've got to send it early enough that they can reach a compromise," he said.
Lawmakers adjourned without taking a vote on Beutler's amendment, which was offered to Legislative Bill 32, an NRD-related measure.
Schrock, in his talk to the water managers, said he opposed Beutler's amendment.
"I'm not so sure Sen. Beutler is as interested in passing an amendment as he is in having the discussion on the issue," Schrock said.
In a related development, Nebraska and Kansas officials will huddle Thursday to discuss Nebraska's efforts to comply with the Republican River Compact.
U.S. Reps. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Attorneys General Jon Bruning of Nebraska and Phill Kline of Kansas will meet in Concordia, Kan.
Gov. Dave Heineman said Tuesday he was pleased that Bruning and Osborne are "addressing some federal water concerns with their counterparts in Kansas."
"Water is the issue of the decade, and we will continue working together in the best interests of Nebraskans," Heineman said.