Nebraska governor's $500M water plan in Colorado puzzles politicians, experts in both states

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ $500 million plan to take more water from the South Platte River by building a canal in northeast Colorado left politicians and experts in both states scratching their heads.

The 99-year-old South Platte River compact between the two states does outline plans for such a project, according to Anthony Schutz, an associate law professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. But the project was started and abandoned decades ago and the question of starting it up again might have to be decided in a costly and lengthy court battle.

Even if the canal is built, it’s unclear how much extra water it would yield to Nebraska or for what it could be used, Schutz said.

Plus, more water is already appropriated out of the South Platte — like many of Colorado’s other waterways — than the river has to give.

Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/15/colorado-nebraska-water-platte-polis-ricketts/