Dave Nabity Public Comments on Water Policy in Nebraska

I recently completed a statewide tour of Nebraska.

As my tour progressed west, I didn’t get far before I started to hear people’s concerns about water.

Since I started my campaign, I have echoed my visions for Nebraska as being the Jewel of the Midwest. My vision has not changed! However, it is very clear to me that, to see my vision accomplished, we must first fully address our state’s water issues.

Managing Nebraska’s water is the biggest issue in the state and I am very concerned about the direction our state and federal leaders are taking to solve the problems. At this time, all of Nebraska is in jeopardy because of poor water policy.. I fear that our current leaders are taking too much land out of production and are to willing to reduce allocations to the point of destroying large portions of our agricultural economy.

I believe we currently have an "inability to perform" due to the extended drought. This, to me, is the same problem New Orleans would have trying to keep commitments after being hit by the hurricane. I also believe the Federal Government is much to blame for the disruption of stream flows as a result of federal conservation programs. Because of this, I believe they should be a significant part of any settlement we have with Kansas.

The 2002 Settlement was flawed, in my opinion. All of the blame has been placed on the irrigators, and no consideration has been given to the depleting effects that Federal Conservation Programs have had on our stream flows. I am going to call for an accurate accounting of the real causes of stream flow depletions and ask that the Federal Government become party to any fines that might be assessed. The 2002 Settlement is not being properly interpreted. This must be corrected.

Osborne's CREP Program is taking a misguided path to solve the problem.
The idea that you would stop farming and become hunting guides is a recipe for economic devastation. My approach will be to protect the irrigators, strengthen their position by increasing their water supply, and making it so they could operate successfully and efficiently. I would then suggest alternative revenue opportunities as supplemental income, such as the establishment of hunting leases on that ground, if the landowner wished to do so. That way, there would be two different business enterprises operating on the same land. It would do nothing but help the local
economies.

Dave Heineman is planning to purchase water rights from the Bostwick Irrigation District, which will take more land out of production if preventative planting is available to the landowner. I don't want to take any more land out of production! We just need to make sure we are using our water as efficiently as possible, Taking more and more land out of production has a negative economic impact on the entire state. Do not be deceived. Purchasing water rights from the Bostwick Irrigatioin District is not, in any way, a complete solution to the lawsuit with Kansas.
If we have to begin paying people to solve the water problem, I don't plan on sending one dime to Kansas. I'd rather pay a landowner from Nebraska who has water "surpluses" to transfer the excess water to areas of need.
That way, the money stays in Nebraska rather than burning a check to Kansas. Also, we would be strengthening the economy of the area to which the water is distributed without creating any new uses in the area from which the water is diverted. Nebraska truly is a water rich state. We simply have to figure out how to distribute our resource to best benefit the people within our State’s borders.


Finally, as governor, I plan on making sure that my appointees understand how important the irrigators are to the overall economic health of Nebraska -- from Scottsbluff to Omaha. I will waste no time in finding the right replacement to be the Director of the DNR. We will develop a more balanced strategy to comply, conserve, and grow economically in Nebraska. We never should have taken the Federal Government’s responsibility off the table in previous negotiations.

At this time, all of Nebraska is in jeopardy because of poor water policy.
I am ready to strengthen agriculture and industry while reestablishing
recreation in Nebraska, “I will be Nebraska’s Water Governor.”

Please let me know, if you have any other questions.

David Nabity
Republican Candidate for Governor