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WATER RIGHTS BASEMENT SALE44 miles of shoreline; 74,486 acre feet of storage; 6,146 acres; one owner fixer upper .... CHEAP! |
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Merritt
EDITORIAL What does fishing contribute to Nebraska's economy? About 200,000 people
visit Merritt Reservoir each year, providing a significant tourist
trade. deaddrift documentsView documents from the NGPC and Ainsworth Irrigation Authority (PDF) format
NEW ITEM
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LAST UPDATED 06/16/04
Read Merritt Editorial for latest updates NEW JUNE 16Title Transfer BackgroundThe Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Nebraska-Kansas Area Office (NKAO) recently held initial National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping meetings for the title transfer of the Ainsworth Project Facilities (Merritt Reservoir and canal system) from federal ownership to the local Ainsworth Irrigation District.(AID). As stated on their web site USBR "Reclamation is undertaking a program to transfer title of facilities that could be efficiently and effectively managed by non-Federal entities and that are not identified as having national importance." The Reclamation program was founded in 1902. Its original mission was one of civil works construction to develop the water resources of the arid Western United States to promote the settlement and economic development of that region. Merritt Reservoir was built in Cherry County to provide water for irrigation via a canal system and currently supplies water to 260 farmers and ranchers in Brown and Rock counties in northcentral Nebraska. The Ainsworth Irrigation District's (AID) management contract with the Bureau of Reclamation is due to expire in 2004 at which time they have the option to renew the existing contract or request transfer of ownership to the local district. Federal oversight at the 36 year old Merritt Reservoir and system of irrigation canals ensured that water levels and flows were adequate to protect stream outflows necessary to support fisheries and ultimately recreational activities . The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), and local sportsman clubs fear the lack of oversight will jeopardize the warm water fisheries of Merritt and the states premiere trout stream, the Snake River as well as the Niobrara River, one of the nation's best canoe streams and a federally designated scenic river. Concerns that the change in oversight would usher in a less than friendly management philosophy are not unfounded. In statements made by the current manager of AID operations, Harlan Welch in an Omaha World Herald article dated July 2, said, "We wouldn't even be talking about the reservoir up there if it wasn't for the farmers who signed on the contract with the federal government to build it," he said. "People should not lose sight of that. The purpose of that reservoir was to irrigate 35,000 acres." In the 1980s in protest of the NGPC scenic river designation of the Niobrara River, Welch organized a boycott of hunting on private land. While the primary purpose of the 2,906 acre reservoir is irrigation, it also has multipurpose benefits that provide important recreational attractions with significant economic returns to an ailing agricultural economy. Some opposing the transfer point out that all taxpayers helped pay the construction and maintenance costs and that it seems presumptuous that a resource that benefits 260 farmers irrigating 35000 acres should come at the expense of recreational uses. Some 200,000 people visited Merritt Reservoir last year. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has requested a more thorough environmental study of the plan, saying "few answers have been forthcoming" about the proposal's impact. The NGPC, who manages the facility for fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes, also has concerns regarding a proposal to add hydroelectric generation at Merritt. According to Larry Hutchinson, Water Resource Program Manager, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) "... is concerned about all public interest issues and public trust fish and wildlife resources that may be affected by title transfer of federal lands and water rights to AID. NGPC feels these issues need to be fully evaluated by a thorough Environmental Impact Study of title transfer, and in any hydropower evaluation for Merritt Dam." NGPC has sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation recommending that a full EIS be initiated to address many issues of concern. NGPC has also sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) "... outlining significant issues that need to be addressed in a hydropower study. Hutchinson also noted that "This is not just a water
rights sale but also includes a significant amount of land that is also
managed for wildlife and public recreation." Steve Westphal, deaddrift.com contributor and Nebraska Trout Unlimited Secretary in a letter to Sen. Ben Nelson, said "The irrigation district has hired their own consultant to do the Environmental Assessment (EA). What is not required, but essential to the future of the resource, is an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS. The EIS is designed to study the total impact such a transfer might have on the entire ecosystem in that area. We, along with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, have requested that an EIS be done but the district doesn't want anything to do with it. An Environmental Assessment is a simple survey that doesn't tell the whole story whereas an EIS does explore all the possibilities of such an action. It is crucial that an EIS be done so the right decisions can be made surrounding this venture." What is needed:
Our goal on deaddrift.com is to lay out the facts and help our readers make informed decisions regarding this controversial issue. This is an ongoing story which will most likely take some twists and turns. If there is no EIS the transfer could happen in Sept. 2004. We invite you to return to our site often for updates and developments. If you link directly to this page hit your refresh button to view the most current page. If you would like to get on our mailing list for updates please
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MERRITT RESERVOIR / SNAKE RIVER TITLE TRANSFER RESOURCE INFO
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/106cong/water/titletransfers.htm http://www.rmskc.org/places/merritt.html http://www.waterchat.com/News/Federal/03/Q2/fed_030410-02.htm http://www.usbr.gov/gp/ainsworth/Techmtg.pdf http://www.usbr.gov/gp/ainsworth/valentine42403.htm http://www.journalstar.com/local.php?story_id=61185 http://www.nebraskawalleye.com/ http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=36&u_sid=785879 http://www.angelfire.com/ne2/snake/ http://www.usbr.gov/gp/aop/nk/0203/chap2.htm#ainsworth [email protected]
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