Dennis Schilz farms near Brulee, but over the years his focus has been 200 miles west and the population around Denver is growing rapidly.” “They just keep building projects and storing more water,” Schilz said. He worries about what this will mean for his future. 4,500 acres of agricultural land, most of which is irrigated. “If we don’t do anything, we won’t have water,” said Schilz. Gov. Pete Ricketts Now want to act and dust off the 100-year-old water agreement with Colorado. It guarantees rights during irrigation season, but it also gives Nebraska an additional 500 cubic feet per second along the South Platte River during the winter. But to do so, Nebraska must complete the abandoned Perkins County Canal near Julesburg. And then develop a reservoir system to store water for irrigation. The price tag is $500 million “The cost of not doing so is enormous. Because it’s going to jeopardize the future prosperity of our state,” Ricketts said. It’s something Ken Miller of the Twin Platt Natural Resources District has been calling for nearly three decades. If not taken, Colorado will continue to develop projects along the Front Range,” said Miller. Miller says there are more than 280 Colorado projects that, when built, will divert the flow of the South Platte River in Nebraska by 90 percent. %. “They’re working to dry up the South Platte River at the Nebraska state line,” Miller said. Across the border, Don Ament is scratching his head. “I don’t get it at all,” Ament Said. He’s the former AG commissioner of Colorado. He said farmers in Lower Platt are fighting the same battle with urban development. “Denver can’t take that water away from me as Farmer Don,” Ament said. Colorado law maintains the flow near them and into Nebraska, he said. “How do we get that water down the river into Nebraska? Some are doing a better job than trying to run through the canal,” Ament said, adding that he believes Nebraska’s claim of winter water will put pressure on farmers. The part of Colorado that will be most affected is the agricultural piece of Colorado, not Denver,” Ament said. Joe Frank, general manager of the Lower Platte River Conservancy District in Colorado, said the old settlement only affected the lower reaches of the river. Denver and the Front Range are located in the upper reaches of the river where Nebraska has no right to claim water. “It won’t have much impact on the Front Range or any subsequent growth and any development of water on us,” said Frank Many projects return water to the river and flow year-round, he said. “The prospect of a 90% flow reduction at the state line is pretty improbable,” he said. ag can affect the pumping of water for use during the monsoon. There are small ponds in the rural landscape near the river. They fill up during the winter. Then during the summer months, farmers will be attracted to those ponds for irrigation. Ament said that this creates a balance to maintain the flow of water in the river. Is. “Then it puts all water rights downstream, including our compacted water,” Ament said. But there’s another concern, according to university law professor Anthony Schutz. “There may be some benefit to building a canal and diversion in Colorado now,” Schutz said. He said it’s because farmers in the Lower South Platte can sell their senior water rights upstream to municipalities.” Because we don’t have an appropriation in the basin, because we don’t have that canal, we’re in those sections of people. that would be protected (under Colorado law) in the event of being relocated. There is a water right in the upper part of the basin,” Schutz said. But Schutz said it may come down to a court decision. “How much protection can we get? How much water can we get? And then what benefits can we get out of using it,” Schutz said. Ament said Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming are also obligated under federal agreements to provide flows to protect endangered species habitat near Kearney and Grand Island.” That’s going to be a huge amount of money to our lawyers. And im. not proving water management,” Ament said. Across the border, Schilz agreed. “Well, I hope it’s not a war. I hope Nebraska can sit down with Colorado and they can come to an agreement,” Schilz said.
Dennis Schilz farms near Brule, but over the years his focus has shifted 200 miles west and there has been a population boom around Denver.
“They just keep building projects and storing more water,” Schilz said.
He worries about what this will mean for the future of his 4,500 acres of agricultural land, much of which is irrigated.
“If we don’t do anything, we won’t have water,” Schilz said.
Gov. Pete Ricketts now wants to take action and dust off the 100-year-old water agreement with Colorado.
This guarantees rights during irrigation season, but it also allows Nebraska to claim an additional 500 cubic feet per second along the South Platte River during the winter.
But to do so, Nebraska must complete the abandoned Perkins County Canal near Julesburg.
and then develop a reservoir system to store water for irrigation
The price tag is $500 million.
“The cost of not doing so is too high. Because it is going to jeopardize the future prosperity of our state,” Ricketts said.
It’s something Ken Miller of the Twin Platt Natural Resources District has been calling for nearly three decades.
“If Nebraska does not take the opportunity to use this water, Colorado will continue to develop projects along the Front Range,” Miller said.
Miller says there are more than 280 Colorado projects that, when built, would reduce the flow of the South Platte River in Nebraska by up to 90%.
“They’re working to dry up the South Plateau River at the Nebraska state line,” Miller said.
Across the border, Don Ament is scratching its head.
“I don’t understand that at all,” Ament said.
He is a former AG commissioner of Colorado.
He said that the farmers of the lower plateau are fighting the same battle with urban development.
“As Denver farmer Don can’t take that water from me,” Ament said.
He said Colorado law keeps the flow with him and in turn to Nebraska.
“We’re doing a better job of getting that water down the river to Nebraska than trying to run it through a canal,” Ament said.
He believes Nebraska’s claims of winter water will put pressure on farmers.
The part of Colorado that will be most affected is the agricultural piece of Colorado and not Denver,” Ament said.
Joe Frank, general manager of the Lower Platt River Conservancy District in Colorado, said the old settlement only affected the lower reaches of the river.
Denver and the Front Range lie in the upper reaches of the river where Nebraska has no right to claim the water.
“It won’t have much of an impact on the front range or the growth that is going to happen and any development of water on us,” Frank said.
He said that many projects return water to the river and keep it flowing throughout the year.
“The prospect of a 90% flow reduction on the state line is pretty much impossible,” Frank said.
He said Nebraska’s canal could affect the pumping of water for use in the winter month.
Small ponds dot the rural landscape near the river. They fill up during the winter. Then during the summer months, farmers would be attracted to irrigation from those ponds.
Ament said it balances the flow of water in the river.
“Then it holds the entire water rights, including our compact water downstream,” Ament said.
But there’s another concern, according to university law professor Anthony Schutz.
“There may be some benefit to building a canal and diversion in Colorado now,” Schutz said.
He said this is because farmers in the Lower South Platte can sell their senior water rights upstream to municipalities.
“Because we don’t have an appropriation in the basin, because we don’t have that canal, we don’t fit into the class of people who would be protected (under Colorado law) in the event of a transfer of water rights to the basin. upper part,” Schutz said.
But Schutz said that may come down to what the court decides.
“How much protection can we get? How much water can we get? And then what benefit do we get from using it,” Schutz said.
Ament said Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming are also obliged under federal agreements to provide flows to protect habitat for endangered species near Kearney and Grand Island.
“This will cost our lawyers a lot of money and will not improve water management,” Ament said.
Across the border, Schilz agreed.
“Well, I hope it’s not a war. I hope Nebraska can sit down with Colorado and they can come to an agreement,” Schilz said.