Move Forward
It is interesting that a large number of those expressing support for the Cooperative Agreement use the words, "Move Forward". "Nebraska needs to move forward." "Let's move forward." "... finally to move forward."
You would think that someone had written a talking points memo on what to say. Either that or the phrase has become an overused cliché that has lost its meaning, much like "How are you doing."
There are several legitimate reasons to sign the Cooperative Agreement. One is it permits surface water users to continue to divert over a million acre feet out of the Platte River and into canals. It permits hydroelectric power generation to obtain licenses to permit their continued operation (assuming there is enough water to turn the turbines.) It removes a lot of uncertainty. Moving forward isn't one of the persuasive reasons; the phrase is too nebulous to mean anything.
There are a lot of reasons to not sign the agreement. One is that it involves a Federal agency in groundwater management. Surface irrigators desperately want groundwater irrigation curtailed and would love the help of the US Fish and Wildlife in reducing irrigation by some of their neighbors.
Another reason is cost. It will cost Nebraska a fortune to comply with the Agreement. One question that hasn’t been asked is, will the Legislature fund the shutdown requirements and if it doesn’t, what happens? I predict that the people demanding the Agreement be signed will then condemn the Legislature if it doesn’t fund the shutdown or say that there should not be any compensation for those losing their access to water.
This is likely to be one of the most controversial subjects in Nebraska for many years.