Cooperative Agreement - Who is Talking and Costs
About 90% of the irrigation in Nebraska is done with groundwater. About half of the irrigation on the Platte is done with surface water as opposed to groundwater irrigation. Surface irrigation is represented by irrigation districts and the DNR. Groundwater has little representation. NRDs regulate groundwater but are elected by the public at large and represents everyone, not just groundwater irrigators.
The Cooperative Agreement the Governor is considering signing is supported by surface irrigators, the DNR, and environmental groups. The supporters of the Cooperative Agreement talk about the cost of implementing the Agreement but almost never talk about the pre-Agreement costs that will be at least 10 times as large. It is kind of like talking about the payments on the new house as being $50 a month but not mentioning that to get that rate we had to make a down payment of 90% of the value.
Here is a story by the Grand Island Independent about the recent hearing on the Cooperative Agreement. (Registration required) Just keep in mind that most of the groundwater irrigators in the State are not represented by anyone and as a result are not choosing to defend themselves.