Laserfiche WebLink
<br />iJ ,1;1941 <br /> <br />Appendix B <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF HEARING <br /> <br />REPORT #5, RIPARIAN RIGHTS <br />2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. <br />SEPTEMBER 29, 1982 <br />Ogallala, Nebraska <br />Holiday Inn <br /> <br />PUBLIC NOTICE <br /> <br />Legal notice of this hearing was published in <br />nine newspapers across the State of Nebraska. <br />Press releases were sent to every newspaper <br />and radio station in the state. <br /> <br />HEARING PROCEDURE <br /> <br />This hearing was held simultaneously with <br />hearings on two other Selected Water Rights <br />Issues Policy Study reports and on the Municipal <br />Water Needs Policy Issue Study, Commission <br />members Wayne Johnson, Maureen Monen. and <br />Henry Reifschneider presided jointly over the <br />hearing and James R. Cook conduted the hear- <br />ing. A brief summary of each report was present- <br />ed prior to the receipt of testimony. Those <br />present were given an opportunity to testify on all <br />the reports, An informal question and answer <br />period was then conducted and an opportunity <br />for additional testimony was given again prior to <br />the conclusion of the hearing. <br /> <br />TESTIMONY OFFERED <br /> <br />Informal comments on the report brought out <br />the points that (1) there is currently no record of <br />riparian rights in the state and each parcel of <br /> <br />riparian land would have to be looked at in- <br />dividually, (2) many riparian rights have now been <br />appropriated. and (3) riparian rights have <br />perpetual existence. <br /> <br />Specific testimony was offered as follows: <br /> <br />1, Bruce Snyder, North Platte. In Mr. Snyder's <br />opinion, the purpose of this report is to reduce <br />uncertainty. He mentioned two instances where <br />conflicts could occur: livestock watering and <br />instream uses, He suggested that the farmer was <br />not really a big problem and that recognition of <br />riparian rights in instream uses for fish and wild- <br />life and groundwater recharge was not worth the <br />"battle" it would inevitably cause. He concluded <br />by stating that lawsuits can settle it now anyway. <br />2. Clayton Lukow, Holstein. Mr. Lukow testi- <br />fied that although there probably aren't alot of <br />riparian rights in Nebraska and that it would cost <br />a lot to bring them out into the open, if we don't <br />identify them, we will continue to face uncertainly <br />in the total amount of water actually allocated in <br />the state, <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />S-a <br />