State officials provide progress update on Perkins County Canal Project

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - In 1923, Nebraska and Colorado entered into a unique agreement known as the “South Platte River Compact,” which stated that during irrigation season, Colorado would allow a specified amount of water to flow into Nebraska. This compact was ratified by Congress in 1926.

In 2022, the compact resurfaced when former Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts invoked a provision that would enable Nebraska to receive additional water from Colorado if the state constructed a canal system.

Jesse Bradley, Interim Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, emphasized the role of population growth in Colorado’s increasing need for water.

“When you look at population, we’ve probably all traveled out to the Front Range Area, we know what is going on out there in terms of population growth. That is something that is anticipated to continue as we go forward we’re seeing in the neighborhood of 4-5 million people but that is projected to go up toward 50 and that significant development is what puts the pressure on Colorado Water their need for the water is given from that municipal growth,” Bradley said.

Matt Manning, an engineer with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, discussed Nebraska’s progress in land acquisition along the path of the Perkins County Canal. The South Platte River Compact allows Nebraska to exercise eminent domain in Colorado.

“We hope that we don’t have to do that and it is unusual to be able to get property through eminent domain in another state but this compact through state and federal law would allow us to go through that process these letters are basically starting that process,” Bradley said.

Funding for the Perkins County Canal project has already been allocated to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.