Frenchman Cambridge Irrig Dist -- Dave Domina Dec. 2013 3 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Frenchman Cambridge Irrig Dist -- Dave Domina Dec. 2013 3 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Frenchman Cambridge Irrig Dist -- Dave Domina Dec. 2013 3 Reservoirs - 143,000 AF of Irrigation Water 4 Canal Systems 156 miles - Main Canal 112 miles of Buried Pipe Laterals 157 miles -- Surface and Sub-surface Drains 45,669 Acres Served

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3 Reservoirs - 143,000 AF of Irrigation Water 4 Canal Systems 156 miles - Main Canal 112 miles of Buried Pipe Laterals 157 miles -- Surface and Sub-surface Drains 45,669 Acres Served Total Diversion Capacity - 829 cfs

Frenchman Cambridge Irrig Dist

  • - Dave Domina Dec. 2013
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Discussion Areas

 Past – Prologue or Map?  How Did the Current

Problems Occur?

 What is The Legal Setting?  What Needs Remediation?  What Has FCID Tried?  What Might be Do-Able?  What is the Best Course?

History Legal Setting Needs Identification Past Efforts Possibilities Recommendations

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History: How Problem Occurred.

The Basin’s Water Belongs to the People

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How Big Is the Basin?

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Legal Setting: Basin Must Fill 3 Needs

Neb Const Art XV

Residential Agricultural Industrial

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The Compact Controls The River The Court Controls the Compact

Comity and Deference are Issues Federal Reluctance State’s Peripatetic Water Policy

  • - Current Administration Only
  • - Pump in the Southwest
  • - Do Not Conserve Naturally
  • - “Retime” Nature
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The Compact – Art. III: Average

Annual Virgin Supply for Allocation

North Fork of the Republican River in Colorado 44,700 acre-feet

Arikaree River basin 19,610 acre-feet

Buffalo Creek basin 7,890 acre-feet

Rock Creek basin 11,000 acre-feet

South Fork Republican River basin 57,200 acre-feet

Frenchman Creek (River) basin in NE 98,500 acre-feet

Blackwood Creek basin 6,800 acre-feet

Driftwood Creek basin 7,300 acre-feet

Red Willow Creek basin in NE 21,900 acre-feet

Medicine Creek basin 50,800 acre-feet

Beaver Creek basin 16,500 acre-feet

Sappa Creek basin 21,400 acre-feet

Prairie Dog Creek basin 27,600 acre-feet

North Fork Republican River in NE… main stem to the NE-KA state line 87,700 acre-feet

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The Compact Art IV: The Nebraska Allocation: 234,500 acf

North Fork Republican River in in CO 11,000 acre-feet

Frenchman Creek basin in NE 52,800 acre-feet

Rock Creek basin 4,400 acre-feet

Arikaree River basin 3,300 acre-feet

Buffalo Creek basin, 2,600 acre-feet

South Fork Republican River 800 acre-feet

Driftwood Creek basin 1,200 acre-feet

Red Willow Creek basin in NE 4,200 acre-feet

Medicine Creek basin 4,600 acre-feet

Beaver Creek basin 6,700 acre-feet

Sappa Creek basin 8,800 acre-feet

Prairie Dog Creek basin 2,100 acre-feet

North Fork Republican River in NE… main stem to the NE-KA line 132,000 acre-feet

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What Needs Remediation?

The Law Has Limits. It cannot create, but can destroy, water. It cannot retime nature for long. It cannot prevail with a false assumption. It cannot govern from a false premise.

The Law Needs Remediation.

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Basic Rules of Hydrology & Law

 Consumption Ultimately Respects Natural Hydrology.  Consumption Cannot Make Up for Natural Aridity.  River Flow Cannot Be Depleted w/o Present Harm.  Groundwater Cannot Be Depleted w/o Future Harm.  Lawful Users Must All Be Respected… in

  • Constitutional Order: Domestic, Irrigation, Industrial.
  • Irrigators Must Be Respected in Legal Priority.

Basic Rules Need Remediation

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FCID Surface Water Priority Rights

 1895   Predate Republican River Compact  Predate Most Irrigation Wells  Predate NRDs  Predate NE Groundwater Mgmt Act

FCID Surface Water Rights Need Remediation

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Priority User Rights

The Law Made A Dramatic Change

Landowner entitled to waters under land, but not in excess of reasonable & beneficial use upon land he owns. Olson v City of Wahoo, 124 Neb 802 (1933). Landowner entitled to waters under land subject to GWMPA. GWMPA (1975) 23 NRDs to manage groundwater. NDNR to manage surface water.

The Constitution Did Not Change

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NE Constitution Did Not Change

 “…[t]he use of the water of every natural stream

within the State of Nebraska is hereby dedicated to the people of the state for beneficial purposes.” Neb Const Art XV, Sec 5.

 “…[t]he right to divert unappropriated waters of

every natural stream for beneficial use shall never be denied except when such denial is demanded by the public interest.”

Neb Const Art XV, Sec 6.

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Priority User Rights

FCID serve 45,669 acres Total canal diversion capacity = 829 cfs Natural Flow Permits granted =512 cfs (priority dates 1890 to 1987) Storage user permits for 143,000 A.F. (Full supply= 14 in / ac) 2012 Water toll = $33.00 / acre for 8 inches 2013 Water Toll = $49.50 / acre-foot + $10/acre Meeker Driftwood Canal – allocated 1.5 in/ac Cambridge Canal= allocated 2 in/ac Bartley & Red Willow = 0 inches Add $10.00 / ac occupation tax for NRD Groundwater Programs

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Priority Water User Rights

 Right to Farm with Water First.  Right to Fulfill Reclamation Laws’ First.  Right to Economic Benefits of First Water

Consumption Options.

 Right to Compensation If Water Taken for

Lower Priority User or Use

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What Has Been Tried?

Lower NRD cannot Sue Upper for Overuse. Central NE PP & Irrig

Dist v No Platte NRD, 280 Neb 533 (2010)(standing).

FCID Cannot Sue DNR to Challenge Order. FCID v DNR, 281 Neb

992 (2011).

Threatened Injury Insufficient to Create Standing. In Re

Application A-18503, 286 Neb 611 (2013)(Middle Niob NRD v DNR & NPPD challenge to application for appropriation of more Niobrara River surface water.)

FCID Cannot Sue U S Dept of Interior or NRDs In Federal Court . FCID v Salazar et al, 12-445 (US Dist Ct NE)(federal immunity; state comity)

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What Might Be Do-Able?

 FCID Can Aid And Assist Water Users  FCID Can Serve as Clearing House for

Individuals

 FCID Can Use Voluntary Collection Authority  FCID Can Seek Statewide Support  FCID Can Compensate Professionals With

Water User Assent.

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What Might Be Do-Able?

 Individual Water Users Can

 Challenge DNR Orders  Sue for Just Compensation for Water Use

Taken… Not for Water Taken.

 Sue for Declaratory Judgment Under Individual

Water Rights.

 Sue for Declaratory Judgment with FCID

Under Priority Water Rights

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What Might Be Do-Able?

Suit by / for Group(s) for Just Compensation Annual Takings of Water State: “We have a right to take it; it is ours!” Priority Holder Harmed: “We have a right to Compensation for your Taking!”

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What Might be Do-Able?

 Individual Administrative Proceedings

 Water Review Board  Agency Proceedings

 Individual Suits Against Water Usurpers  Individual Suits: Declaration of Priority Rights  Individual Suits: Injunctions Against Usurpers

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Intermission

Part Two

 FCID Water Users Only  Signers of Confidentiality Pledge Only  Persons Interested in Working Together

Only Invited.

 Pledge at Door…Serious Matter.

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All Water on Earth …into an 860 Mi Sphere

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html

.