Nelson Statement on Veto of Water Resources Bill

Article Posted: 11/05/2007 8:52:16 AM
Nelson Statement on Veto of Water Resources Bill

President George Bush has vetoed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation contained several Nebraska projects at the request of Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, who voted in favor of the bill. Nelson issued the following statement:

“These water projects are important to Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, agri-businesses, and water users in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. They are essential to protect and improve critical infrastructure,” said Nelson. “I am very disappointed the President has chosen this route. However, as this legislation passed by veto proof margins in both the House and the Senate, I am confident Congress can pass this needed legislation.”

The following Nebraska projects were included in that legislation:

Republican River Basin Restoration and Drought Mitigation- Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. This provision will establish a program for providing ecosystem restoration and drought response and mitigation assistance to non-federal interests, including the eradication of non-native invasive plant species such as Russian olive and saltcedar through the entire watershed drainage of the Republican River.

Lower Platte River-Nebraska. Authorizes $12 million for Lower Platte River Watershed Restoration to further strengthen planning and advance implementation of restoration measures and projects for flood damage reduction, water quantity and quality in the watershed.

Missouri River Mitigation-Nebraska, Montana, North and South Dakota. Conduct study to mitigate losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat; recover federally listed species under Endangered Species Act; restore the ecosystem to prevent further declines among other native species. Cost: $2.5 million for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

Sand Creek Watershed-Wahoo. Ecosystem restoration and flood damage reduction.

Antelope Creek-Lincoln. Flood damage reduction.

Western Sarpy-Clear Creek-Nebraska. Authorizes $14 million for ecosystem restoration and flood damage reduction. This project will construct a system to protect vital drinking water infrastructure that will serve nearly 50% of Nebraska’s population in the eastern part of the state from flooding due to annually threatened ice jams on the Platte River. Flooding in the area in 1993 severed one-half of the City of Lincoln’s water supply and catastrophe was again threatened in 1997 from ice-jam induced flooding. The project will provide flood protection to the new Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District well field and a new water treatment plant on the Western side of the Platte River now in development south of U.S. Highway 92.