The Nebraska Legislature has reached an important milestone this week as we are now focused on the state’s budget.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am keenly aware of the difficult choices that will need to be made to balance the budget.

Over the course of the budget debate this session, a few senators have mentioned the Perkins County Canal Fund as a potential source of near-term funding to fill budget holes. Unfortunately, this near-term thinking is not aligned with our long-term, multi-generational views shared in District 47.

On March 21, Keith County Area Development and I invited community members, stakeholders, and industry professionals to Ogallala to discuss the history, impact, and future of the Perkins County Canal project and the South Platte River Compact.

Representatives from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Districts, Farm Bureau, Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District, and Nebraska Public Power District provided insights into this critical investment in Nebraska’s water resources. Additionally, in early April, project stakeholders hosted two tours for policymakers to “connect the drops” and encourage longer-term thinking.

So why does the Perkins County Canal project matter?

The Perkins County Canal project is necessary to enforce Nebraska’s South Platte Compact with Colorado. This compact, embodied in state and federal law, establishes a 120 Cubic Feet per Second (cfs) minimum water flow during the irrigation season and a 500 cfs minimum water flow during the non-irrigation season only with the construction of the Perkins County Canal. Without the Perkins County Canal,

Nebraska misses out on the 500 cfs of water during the non-irrigation season (Oct. 15-April 1), which negatively impacts Nebraska’s water system. Water in the South Platte River Basin is vital for drinking, agriculture, wildlife, power generation, economic development, and for easing drought impacts to the North Platte River and Lake McConaughy.

The water that flows through the Platte River yield positive benefits across the entire state of Nebraska.

Back in the 1920s, visionary Nebraska leaders had the foresight to build water infrastructure generating long-term value for the State. When the Nebraska Legislature approved this project in 2022, today’s leaders recognized the need to authorize and fund the Perkins County Canal project for the future of Nebraska.

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