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Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson says he wants to hear from Nebraskans on both sides of the Congressional earmark debate and is providing a special email address for Nebraskans to send him their concerns.
The Senate recently passed legislation, the Water Resources Development Act, authorizing a number of important water projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers across the country including several earmarked projects for Nebraska. Nelson wants Nebraskans to let him know via email if they think those projects should be funded by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"We hear a lot about opposition to the use of Congressional earmarks so I thought it would be good to invite Nebraskans to comment on these water projects before we actually fund them, to express concern or support," said Nelson, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "They can send me an email, and I will take their comments into consideration as we work the bill through the Appropriations Committee."
Nebraskans interested in commenting can review the list of Nebraska water projects listed below and also available on Nelson's website, http://bennelson.senate.gov/issues/wrda, and send in an email to newaterprojects@bennelson.senate.gov. Nelson will accept email comments on these projects through June 15, 2007.
Nebraska Water Projects Authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007
Lower Platte River Watershed Restoration: Estimated Federal Share: $12 million
The Lower Platte River basin in Nebraska supplies all of the water for Nebraska's capital city, Lincoln. Growth within this region located between Omaha and Lincoln provides additional urgency for assuring protection of adequate water resources for the long-term. This combined surface and ground water formation is created by the Platte River and by the Loup and Elkhorn Rivers entering the basin from the north. The Omaha Municipal Utilities District is developing two new well-fields and building a major water treatment plan in the area. When the Omaha wells are completed, the Lower Platte basin will serve up to 50% of the state's population.
The proposed Lower Platte River Watershed Restoration Program would appropriate $12 million for the federal government to provide new authority to further strengthen planning and advance implementation of restoration measures and projects for flood damage reduction, water quantity and quality in the watershed.
Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project, Estimated Federal Share: $14 million
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. Additionally, this project will provide protection to I-80 and U.S. Highway 6; the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, an Amtrak line; national telecommunication lines; and other public infrastructure. Construction of a separate but companion levee at Nebraska National Guard's Camp at Ashland was fully funded by the Congress in the FY '04 Military Construction Appropriations Bill and is completed. Neither of these adjoining levees is effective without the other.
Republican River Basin Restoration and Drought Mitigation Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado: Estimated Federal Share: TBD
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 through the entire watershed drainage of the Republican River. It will provide $5 million in Fiscal Year 2008 at which time Congress may consider future appropriations under this authority.
Upper Basin of the Missouri River: Estimated Federal Share: TBD
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out recovery and mitigation activities in the Upper Missouri River Basin (MT, NE, ND and SD) from the funds available for recovery or mitigation activities in the lower basin of the Missouri River.
Missouri River and Tributaries Habitat Study: Estimated Federal Share: TBD
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to conduct a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to determine what needs to be done to mitigate losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, restore ecosystems and help endangered species recovery.
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