Integrated Water Management in Nebraska

Christine M. Reed, ProfessorSchool of Public Administration

University of Nebraska at Omaha

The Platte RiverSource: Platteriverprogram.org (last accessed 12/29/2016)

Natural Resource DistrictsSource: Natural Resources Conservation Service (last accessed 12/29/2016)

The Upper Platte River BasinFully Appropriated Area

Source: dnr.nebraska.gov/iwm/upper-platte (last accessed 12/28/2016)

The Upper Platte River BasinOver-Appropriated AreaSource: dnr.nr.gov/iwm/upbwp (last accessed 12/29/2016)

Integrated Management PlansOver Appropriated Areas

LB 962 motivated by need to get ahead of the PRRIPIMPs developed jointly with NRDsIMPs = no new or expanded ground water wellsIMPs must offset new depletions and/or uses after July 1, 1997IMPs developed after consultation w/stakeholdersUpper Platte Basin Plan first developed in 2009Upper Platte Basin planning process starting new ten year cycleIMP and Basin Wide planning process is “bottom-up”

Platte River Recovery Implementation ProgramNebraska New Depletion Plan

USFWS “target flows” to restore critical habitatNE agreed to prevent/mitigate new depletions to target flows caused

by new and expanded uses of water (effects going back to 7/1/1997)DNR negotiates with NRDs to share in offsets to depletions whose

effects date back to 1997Responsibility for offsets to groundwater (GW) in hydrologically

connected (HC) areas.HC area = cumulative stream depletion over 40 years > 28 percent

total GW consumed from wells.

Governance of the Upper Platte River Basin

Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (2007)Extensive system of water diversion and storageCritical habitat designation of Big Bend Reach Cooperative Agreement (Interior, NE, CO, WY)Governance Committee (Interior, NE, CO, WY, NRDs/CNPPID/NPPD, Environmental)

LB 962 (2004) anticipated the PRRIPIntegrated Management Plans Required where basins over-appropriated/fully appropriatedDNR designates/determines statusIMPs jointly developed between DNR and NRDsBasin-Wide Plan required for over-appropriated portions of Platte River BasinMeets NDP requirement

A Polycentric Governance SystemsA POLYCENTRIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE HAS MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING

JURISDICTIONS AT DIFFERENT SCALES, EACH WITH SOME INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY OVER PARTICULAR ISSUES OR FUNCTIONAL AREAS.

A POLYCENTRIC GOVERNANCE SYSTEM HAS INTERDEPENDENT CENTERS OF AUTHORITY, EACH WITH QUALIFIED INDEPENDENCE OVER ITS OWN FUNCTIONAL AREA.

A POLYCENTRIC GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS SELF-ORGANIZED, ARISING IN A BOTTOM UP FASHION, WITH NEW BOUNDARIES THAT CAN MATCH THE SCALE OF THE ISSUE AT HAND, SUCH AS A WATERSHED.

POLYCENTRICITY PROMOTES INTERACTIONS UP AND DOWN LEVELS OF GOVERNANCE AND PROMOTES INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN ADAPT TO CHANGES IN SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.

A Polycentric System of Water Governance

PRIPP Governance

DNR

CNPPID Municipalities NPPD Environmental NRDs

The Platte RiverSource: Platteriverprogram.org (last accessed 12/29/2016)

The Upper Platte River BasinOver-Appropriated Area

Source: dnr.nr.gov/iwm/upbwp (last accessed 12/29/2016)

Central Platte NRDPartnerships

Partnerships with three canal companies within the NRD involve purchase or lease agreements to rehabilitate each canal and store excess stream flows for recharge and return to the Platte.

Helps to meet requirements of LB 962 to return Platte River to its 1997 level of use determined to be 3,400 AFY.

Leasing water formerly used for irrigation to the PRRIPUsing other portion of recharge/return credit for NDP

Central Platte NRDWater Bank

First NRD to establish a water bankThe NRD purchases water rights to offset new usesLandowner “donates” water rightsOwner restricted to dryland farmingNRD compensates (willing) sellerPrice = cost per AF impact on riverNRD holds permanent conservation easementAvoided need to regulate ground water use

Lessons LearnedQuestions for Future Research

I. Nebraska’s approach to integrated water management is unique among the fifty states. Nebraska’s IMP process is “bottom up” with DNR facilitating the development and implementation of NRD plans.

II. Polycentric governance systems promote capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Polycentric governance systems create opportunities to interact across different scales.