PUB00159

• Year: 1991
• Title: Interstate Transfers of Water: State Options After Sporhase
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Richard S Harsberger
• Description: Interstate Transfers of Water: State Options After Sporhase
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

1991] INTERSTATE TRANSFERS OF WATER

F. Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

G. Nebraska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

H. Neva~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... . . . .. . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . ...

I. New Mexico ........................................

J. N ortl1. Dako'ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

K. Oklah.oma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

L. Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M. South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

N. 'Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

O. Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P. Washington. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . ... . .. . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . .. ..

Q. Wyoming. . . . . . . . --. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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I. INTRODUCTION

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In November of 1988 the State of Nebraska Water Management
Board completed its Report on the Water and Water Rights Transfer
Study. The study was authorized by statute.1 The Water Management
Report included a chapter that briefly reviewed the current legal
framework for water transfers in Nebraska and other western stateS.2
The bulk of the study, however, focused on the ecological and techno-
logical underpinnings of water and water rights transfers. With that
focus and within the parameters of its task, the Water Management

L NEB. REv. STAT. fifi 25-15, 118 to 15, 120 (1987). 1987 Neb. Laws, L.B. 146.
2. State of Nebraska Water Management Board. Report on the Water and Water
Rights Transfer Study 13-18 (1988). The Report contains recommendations for
several changes in water traIlsfer policy in Nebraska, including five draft statutes
that would implement the recommendations of the Board. For a brief discussion
of each draft bill, see Aiken, Selling Nebraska's Water. Water Sales. Tnln:ifers
and E:r:ports, in NEBRASKA POLICY' CHOICES 89 (1988).
Among changes recommended by the Water Management Board are the
following:
L Broaden surface water transfer policy. Current law provides that
surface water cannot be transferred to a different river basin or put to a
use that differs from the use prior to the transfer. See NEB. REv. STAT.
fifi 46-290 to 294 (1988). Under recommendations of the Board, surface
water could be transferred across basin or state lines and put to any ben-
eficial use.
2. Apply a single set of rules to all proposed. transfers. whether in-basin
or out-of-basin, in-state or out-of-state, and without regard to the present
or future use to be made of transferred water. Normally, application for
a transfer permit would have to be accompanied by an environmental
assessment. Currently, separate transfer policies exist for interbasin
transfers of surface water (see NEB. REv. STAT. fi 46-288 (1988)); in-
terbasin transfers of groundwater (see NEB. REv. STAT. fifi 46-638 to 650,
46-675 to 690 (1988) and R. HARNSBERGER & N. THORSON, NEBRASKA
WATER LAw AND ADMINISTRATION fifi 5.17 & 5.18 (1984)); interstate
transfers of surface water (see NEB. REv. STAT. f 46-233.01 (1988)); and
interstate transfers of groundwater (see NEB. REv. STAT. f 46-613.01
(1988)).

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