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Lincoln,
NE – June 19, 2018 – Nebraska Department of Natural Resources announced today
that it will receive $3,300,000.00 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for
the “Integrated Water Management Action Initiative” project. The Trust Board
announced funding for the project at its meeting on April 5, 2018 in Lincoln.
This is the first year of award with a potential for 2nd and 3rd
year funding totaling $3,300,000.00 and $3,300,000.00 respectively. The project
is one of the 105 projects receiving $18,301,819 in grant awards from the
Nebraska Environmental Trust this year. Of these, 66 were new applications and
39 are carry-over projects.
The
application was submitted pursuant to LB331, 2017, codified at Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 61-218(7)(c), which states: “It is the intent of the Legislature that the
department apply for … an additional three-year grant that would begin in
fiscal year 2017- 18 if the criteria established in subsection (4) of section
81-15,175 are achieved.” All funds obtained through the allocation will be used
for the purposes of the WRCF as set out in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 61-218(7). The
WRCF was established to fund the State’s contingent water resources remediation
needs in fully and overappropriated basins. It has funded various projects
since its inception in 2007, including the Platte Basin Habitat Enhancement
Project (PBHEP), also funded with NET dollars, and the “Platte Basin Water
Management Action Initiative”, which evolved from PBHEP, expanding on other
water projects and shifting focus from easements to other projects that achieve
the same goal. The purpose of this current Initiative is to plan, implement,
and monitor activities that result in more effective water management and
remediation for current depletions caused by past actions. The Initiative will
assist the Department and the Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), in
cooperation with other partners, in providing clear, direct benefits to habitat
and surface and groundwater resources by: optimizing timing and efficiency of
water uses, enhancing streamflows and groundwater recharge, reducing water
consumption, and enhancing wildlife habitat in fully and overappropriated
areas. The Initiative described in the application is a portion of the
currently intended uses for the WRCF. Other projects will be carried out under
the auspices of the WRCF with available funds as well. In-progress and new
projects include: surface water storage projects, groundwater retiming, leasing
or purchasing water, conjunctive management of water, conservation easements,
and other water use efficiency measures to optimize water use in the basin.
The
Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Environmental Trust in
1992. Using revenue from the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust has provided over
$289 million in grants to over 2,000 projects across the state. Anyone –
citizens, organizations, communities, farmers and businesses – can apply for
funding to protect habitat, improve water quality and establish recycling
programs in Nebraska. The Nebraska Environmental Trust works to preserve,
protect and restore our natural resources for future generations.
(end of press release)
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