Laserfiche WebLink
"If this drought hangs :.on, groundwater - users, and Kraus spring runoff.' <br />{ <br />Wat 't 4 ever r takeshit <br />t� <br />LAe <br />we'll have to make changes in. <br />said it would require a change <br />" <br />lev& d &Cne <br />how we do business's ilttee to <br />fve years" said district general <br />in state law that probably <br />won't be sought during the <br />manager Don Kraus. <br />coming legislative session <br />LAVCO Neb. UO — The <br />..,, <br />Already, the district has hiked ` ,; <br />I` <br />rental rates " for cabin ,, <br />'long term. <br />owners at Big Mac ;a rid John- <br />tact wi#hxhtel ilta[� - <br />son Lake; in some cases qua- <br />Of sa°-1t <br />hit 'years of low water <br />drupling.the cost. ', <br />pay tiiac Paftr <br />"�1 <br />'flows into the massive reser- <br />Last :month, for example, the <br />' over dining <br />voir. Now. it's scrambling for <br />' district approved increasing <br />i less whenirwas <br />more money <br />cabin -lot mates: early next y <br />,, ,, W in the <br />A roughly.70 dip in <br />from $450 to $1;800 at <br />Nncr so the state <br />revenues <br />Mac, and early this wreek hi- <br />clam 'send mater that <br />t <br />creased rates at Johnson. lake <br />State is awed under a .three- <br />the last .five years „has Hold -. <br />to more than double for Somaa4AUIL :c mpoet, budding lakes <br />regE based rhia <br />lots over the next few years <br />to hold der that could be <br />This :month; district officials , jki ;stUW Meet <br />1 at., new:fees on <br />will. talk; with they irrigation <br />- grotutdwatcr irrigators- and <br />customers about .raising rates, <br />7 cis for acquiring <br />boaters on Big Mac, among <br />to as much as $27 an acre from <br />other - ideas: <br />$25. <br />INA. flows at Aey <br />Onboard member has even <br />That could-be tough to swal- <br />times., <br />suggested the district get into <br />low for irrigators who -have re- <br />"We definitely need to find <br />the wind -power business. <br />ceived less than half, the water <br />some other sources of in- <br />levfous ' ve show <br />they're contractually. entitled to. <br />come," said district board <br />th he <br />the last couple years. They'll be <br />member Doyle Lavene of <br />area«°tc; <br />in the same situation next year. <br />Bertrand. "Hydropower is next <br />and <br />They have told district offi- <br />to nothing compared to what it <br />the' dis- <br />cials that if rates are going to <br />has been." <br />dead issue," <br />be increased, they want the <br />The combination of drought <br />oW,; said district ; spokes- <br />district to ..look into charging <br />in western Nebraska and be- <br />man`' iirn IAriderson.. But .the <br />fees to groundwater users. <br />low- normal Rocky Mountain <br />VA, is a si` that the, <br />The fees would be based on <br />snowpack has, caused inflows <br />that `; `" ' i .' the assumption that ground - <br />into Big Mac to dwindle to less <br />sourcit ` <br />water supplies near the dis -. <br />than half of the 30 -year aver- <br />' <br />trict's series . of canals. that <br />age. <br />` situation 'isn't <br />deliver irrigation water are re- <br />Three Wyoming reservoirs <br />dire, thanks to reserves - built <br />. plenished by the flowing canal <br />that first capture spring runoff <br />up in the ;vVater- soaked .1990s, <br />water. <br />and that feed the Platte with <br />but it could: °get that way with= <br />Such a fee could set up an- <br />water that ends up in Nebraska <br />Put more water and more rev- <br />other water showdown in the <br />are ' less than a quarter full. <br />enue. <br />state between surface and <br />Those would be filled first with <br />"If this drought hangs :.on, groundwater - users, and Kraus spring runoff.' <br />