An Evaluation of Options for Public Management of Irrigation Development in the Nebraska Sandhills

This research was undertaken to examine three statutory authorizations available to Nebraska local governments for the public management of irrigation development on Sandhills soils. Those options were: (1) the adoption of rural zoning by county governments; (2) the adoption of mandatory conservation practices by Natural Resources Districts (NRDS)i and (3) the designation of ground water control districts or ground water management districts by NRDs and the Director of the state Department of water Resources. statutory authorizations for each of the management options were reviewed and two surveys were conducted in carrying out this research. Personal interviews with state officials, University faculty, and representatives of special interest groups were completed during the first survey. Telephone interviews with NRD Managers and Directors and with County Commissioners having jurisdictions in regions with Sandhills or Sandhills-type soils were completed as part of the second survey. The research indicated: (1) none of the public management options was originally intended for use in regulating irrigation development on marginal soils; and (2) none was viewed by survey respondents as fully appropriate as a response to the issues that have accompanied Sandhills irrigation development. The research: (1) identified suggested modifications of the legal authorizations for each management option; and (2) indicated legislative action will be needed if local elected officials are to have the capability of responding to problems and issues associated with Sandhills irrigation development by adopting, if they choose, one or more of the public management options.