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Maddux, Ambrosek, Cappel Jack Maddux, Robert Ambrosek, Claude Cappel, ask the Water Task Force to reduce URNRD usage to 6 to 7 acre inches. On March 2, 2005, the Water Policy Task Force met in Kearney. This group was appointed by Governor Johanns to make recommendations to the Governor and the legislature on Nebraska water policy. This is a very influential body. This group was formed in 2003 and helped draft LB 962. There are 49 members and the group is made up of:
Jack Maddux, with the support of Robert Ambrosek and Claude Cappel, of McCook, are not pleased with the definition of 13.5 as sustainable for the URNRD. They feel that a more accurate definition of sustainable is 6 inches. A sub-committee was formed for the purpose of defining or elaborating on the meaning of sustainability. Those that want the definition to be moved to 6 inches are on that committee. Some of the members of the committee are Jack Maddux, Robert Ambrosek, Claude Cappel, Gene Glock from Rising City (a ground water irrigator from the Big Blue NRD), and John Burke from Alliance (a ground water irrigator from the Niobrara River area. This is a different Burke than those who live in Imperial). These are irrigators and, when they go to the meetings, they meet with the policy makers of the State. These policy makers see and hear our community through the eyes and voices of these people. When all of the representatives of the irrigators of southwest Nebraska ask for the allocation to be cut, the media in Omaha, the senators in Lincoln, and the environmental lobbyists listen as it being the "voice of southwest Nebraska" and act. Ed Schrock, State Senator for the Holdrege area, is the chairman of the Natural Resource Committee. He has stated he will take his water policy guidance from the Water Policy Task Force. If the Task Force asks that the State cause the URNRD to lower its allocation, Schrock will introduce legislation to accomplish that. It may or may not pass, but it is being sought. Why is this happening? Because the people that want to stop irrigation have managed to put themselves into positions of influence. Many of them sit on the various NRDs; some sit on the Water Policy Task Force; others sit on the Natural Resource Commission. Those who want to stop irrigation or severely restrict it have been willing to go to meetings, sit on commissions, and advocate such ideas. Those who want to responsibly manage irrigation and use it to build a community have been busy with their own lives, just wishing to be left alone. However, this threat is real. It comes not only from the State but also from some of the people who live here. If you wish to continue to farm and see your community survive, then you need to get involved -- either by participating personally or by becoming a member of an organization that has your values and works on your behalf. If you find the actions of Maddux, Ambrosek, and Cappel to be contrary to your desires, then take action to counter their recommendations. If we are the voice of the majority, we need to take action to have that voice be heard. |