Neb. ag committee hears plan to direct water-resources cash fund toward riparian vegetation grants

Sen. Teresa Ibach, R-Legislative District 44, told the Nebraska Legislature’s Agriculture Committee she introduced LB807 with amendment AM1757 to expand uses of the Water Resources Cash Fund so the Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWE) can provide grants to weed-management entities while retaining the administration of the Noxious Weed Control Act with the Department of Agriculture.

Proponents told the committee the change would create a predictable, non–general-fund source for riparian vegetation work in basins subject to interstate compacts. John Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, recounted litigation in 2006–07 with Kansas over Republican River water deliveries and said focused vegetation management helped reduce that exposure. "That was originally ... the state of Kansas versus the state of Nebraska," Cannon said, arguing state-level funding and coordination are appropriate for compact basins.

Brent Meyer, Lancaster County noxious weed control superintendent, said local and state projects remain ongoing and estimated roughly $200,000 per year is needed to maintain the Republican River segment he described. Meyer described control efforts that combined herbicide applications (including helicopter spraying), clearing fallen trees and tributary work. "Phragmites is the most aggressive plant I've dealt with in the 30 years I've been doing this," Meyer said, stressing treatments produce multi-year benefits but do not permanently eliminate deep root systems.

Mike Reed, chair of the Governor’s Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force, said transferring grant administration to DWE better aligns water-compact oversight with vegetation-management grants and would help prioritize basins under legal obligations while supporting flood mitigation and infrastructure protection. Tri-Basin Natural Resources District manager John Thorburn and farmer-union representative John Hansen also urged steady, predictable funding and ongoing local partnerships.

Sherry Vinton, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, testified neutrally but warned that as introduced the bill had attempted to move all Noxious Weed Act responsibilities to DWE; she said the department does not support removing those duties. Senator Ibach responded in closing that the amendment keeps the noxious weed program with the Department of Agriculture and moves only riparian/invasive vegetation grant administration to DWE, noting an available Water Resources Cash Fund balance of about $39,500,000 and the ability to request up to $5,000,000 in some prior requests.

No committee vote was recorded; the hearing concluded after testimony and sponsor remarks. The bill will advance through the committee process if the sponsor or committee chooses further action.