Nebraska
Fischer Commends Nebraska Reservoirs Legislation at Senate Hearing
At a hearing today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) pushed for her Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Conveyances Act, which would give Nebraskans more control over their communities by transferring reservoir land from the federal government to local counties. The hearing was held by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Water and Power Subcommittee. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on a companion bill introduced by U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03).
Senator Fischer and Representative Smith introduced this legislation at the request of Swanson and Red Willow residents and Hitchcock and Frontier County commissioners. If passed, the legislation will transfer the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) Swanson Reservoir land to Hitchcock County and the BoR Red Willow Reservoir land to Frontier County. The Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoir Conveyances Act is cosponsored by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
“Swanson and Red Willow residents want to enjoy local reservoirs and preserve local small businesses. But to keep doing that, they need control over their communities and the land around them. My bill will do that by transferring land from the federal government to Hitchcock and Frontier Counties. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House to pass this legislation,” said Senator Fischer.
“This bill is very important to residents of the Swanson and Red Willow reservoirs. Our delegation has acted quickly to find a solution that worked for the community, protected homes, and supported local businesses. This week’s hearings bring us one step closer to passage of this legislation in both the House and Senate,” said Senator Ricketts.
“This week’s hearings are a significant step forward after years of hard work by community members, Hitchcock and Frontier County leaders, and our delegation to find a solution for the reservoir communities. I am pleased to see this progress made to ensure the communities are not harmed by arbitrary bureaucratic decisions and local economies can thrive. I appreciate Sen. Fischer’s work to advance companion legislation in the Senate, and I will continue fighting for appropriate local control as the legislative process continues,” said Rep. Smith.
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Following is a transcript of Senator Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member Risch:
Thank you for holding this hearing and including my legislation, S. 4347, the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act on the agenda.
I’ve working alongside Hitchcock and Frontier County Commissioners, the concessionaires, impacted community members, and the Bureau of Reclamation on this legislation to allow 77.2 acres of land around the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs to be conveyed at fair market value to the counties.
Transferring this land to the local counties will chart a better path for the local community and the federal government.
This will allow community members to continue to enjoy the reservoirs and preserve numerous small businesses that operate in the area.
I’ve heard from over 1,000 constituents since I’ve introduced the legislation along with receiving numerous letters of support from local communities and businesses.
Action on this legislation is urgent, as the Bureau of Reclamation’s extended concession contracts expire in February of 2025 and some community members face being displaced due to the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan to end private exclusive use at the reservoirs.
Hitchcock and Frontier Counties are committed to ensuring continued public access to the reservoirs and providing effective management that is responsive to the local communities.
A number of the county commissioners, community members, and concessionaires traveled from Nebraska to be here today, a testament to the importance of getting this legislation signed into law and their commitment to providing effective management for the land.
I am also glad the entire Nebraska congressional delegation as well as members of Congress from Kansas, have joined me on this legislation and that just yesterday the House Natural Resources Committee also held a hearing on companion legislation.
I strongly support the full committee taking up and passing S. 4347, the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoir Conveyances Act, swiftly, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this legislation signed into law this year.
May 24-30 marks Invasive Species Awareness Week. Nebraska Public Power District and Nebraska Game and Parks want to remind lake-goers to be careful and help prevent invasive species from getting into Nebraska lakes.
Nebraska Invasive Species Awareness Week provides an opportunity for residents to learn more about these species and discover how simple actions can help prevent their spread. Throughout the week, residents can learn more about invasive species impacting the state’s natural resources and economy, and what they can do to help prevent their spread. A series of webinars hosted by invasive species professionals will be held May 26-29 at 1 p.m. each day. On May 27, the public is invited to participate in an online invasive species trivia night, where participants can test their knowledge and win prizes from the comfort of their homes.
Invasive species are one of the leading threats to Nebraska’s natural resources, impacting ecosystems, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and state economies. From invasive plants crowding out native habitats to aquatic invasive species damaging waterways and infrastructure, prevention and education are critical to protecting Nebraska’s land and water resources.
Invasive species like zebra mussels can easily spread from one pond or lake to another if boat owners don’t fully drain all water from their watercraft after each use. Once zebra mussels enter a waterway, they attach to any available surface and reproduce rapidly, often clogging pipes and infrastructure.
The Nebraska water bodies with established zebra mussel populations are Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Yankton, the Missouri River, Offutt Air Force Base Lake, and Beaver Lake near Plattsmouth. To combat the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species, Game and Parks staff will conduct boat inspections at boat ramps statewide this summer. Since its implementation in 2020, the Aquatic Invasive Species Program has inspected more than 26,000 watercraft across the state.
Safety should remain a top priority when enjoying recreational activities on NPPD’s water resources, and the public is urged to follow all regulations set and enforced by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Visit CleanDrainDry.org/ for more details on the Clean, Drain, Dry Procedure and OutdoorNebraska.gov/aquatic-invasive-species for information about invasive species in Nebraska. The public is encouraged to report any suspected observations of zebra mussels or other aquatic invasive species to Game and Parks at 402-471-7602 or at [email protected].
Nebraska Game and Parks is offering residents a chance to win prizes simply for getting outside and moving, as part of a challenge honoring America’s 250th birthday.
The Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge invites participants to log miles through activities like walking, running, kayaking, horseback riding and more using any fitness app. The goal is to reach 250 miles before the end of the year. Once completed, participants fill out a form on the Nebraska Game and Parks website to become eligible for prizes.
Mike Selman, a regular walker at Zorinsky Lake, said the challenge caught his attention.
“I think it’s great, as long as you put in the time and effort,” Selman said.
Selman said getting outdoors is already a big part of his routine.
“I absolutely love it, I love being outdoors, just the beauty, the nature, the trees, the water,” Selman said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the challenge is the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s many outdoor spaces.
“Especially here, around Zorinsky, Standing Bear, Flanagan, you got great opportunities and great places to go,” Selman said.
When asked if he planned to submit his miles, Selman did not hesitate.
“I’ll definitely think about it, most definitely,” Selman said.
Between Memorial Day and the end of the year, logging just over 1 mile a day would be enough to reach the 250-mile goal and qualify for prizes.
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We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get into the Cowgirls’ Super Regional.
A rainy night in Lincoln meant the teams only managed to get four outs into the Super between Oklahoma State and Nebraska. The game is tied at 0. The weather delay lasted about two hours before they called it.
The game will resume at 4 p.m. Friday and be televised on ESPN2. They will not play another game Friday, as Game 2 will now take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
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