WaterClaim

 WaterClaim is a Non-Profit organization created for the purpose of protecting your access to water.  For more information about WaterClaim, visit our web site at www.waterclaim.org or give us a call at (308) 882-3020.  Your participation in WaterClaim will help protect your access to water.

If you think your NRD should consider other options besides what the DNR is pushing, then join WaterClaim.  We will be promoting other ideas that will comply with the Compact but not devastate the region’s economy. 

We hope you can find the answers to these questions:

  1. The DNR is asking each NRD to prepare plans.  What are the requirements of these plans?
  2. When we pump water from the aquifer, what portion of that affects the stream flow?   Remember that all of the cuts you are being asked to make are based on this estimate.  Those wells that are close to the stream have a high depletion effect while those further away have a lower effect.  What are those numbers?
  3. What is the lag effect for each district each year?  We do not want the definition of the lag effect; rather, how much does the DNR expect the area will have to reduce usage by each year to make up for the lag effect?  This is separate from any drought effect reductions. 
  4. What does the NRD estimate will be the economic impact of each level of reduction they are proposing?  The State has done a study, but sealed it.  How many tenant farmers, how many suppliers, how many people will lose their jobs?
  5. What is the cost of pumping water into Harlan County Reservoir?  Has the DNR or the NRD done any studies considering this idea?  Why is this option being rejected?
  6. Why does a surface water user have higher access to water than an aquifer user? The Compact allows the surface water user first rights to all available water.  The aquifer user then is allowed the remaining allocation.  Why?
  7. Is my well considered a quick response well?  Quick response wells are wells within one mile of the center of the stream.  However, there is a very large difference in opinion as to how far up each tributary is defined as “stream.”  The cut off point on the tributary will have a major impact.  Where are those cutoff points, and why can’t they be specified now?
  8. It is hoped that CREP will finance the retirement of 50,000 acres in the basin.  There are about 250,000 quick response acres in the three districts.  What happens to those people with a quick response well who must make a large reduction in usage but do not get CREP money because there is not enough for all?
  9. Does the NRD have the authority to place a tax on irrigated land or per inch of water used beyond what is collected now?
  10. What benefit does one NRD get by making a greater reduction in usage than other NRDs?
  11. Why won’t the DNR release any official numbers or place on their web site any of the data needed to make decisions?