Welcome to platterivertruth.org

Where FACTS about Central Platte Valley water issues MATTER

and NOT unsupportable claims to satisfy POLITICAL AGENDAS

If access to a reliable supply of irrigation water is interfered with, the economy of the entire state will suffer.

• What matters is FACT, not POLITICS.

Several of the critical claims, and facts identified relative to those claims, are shown below. Credible data in support of the listed facts is also available on this site.

• It is time for TRUTH, not FICTION on the Platte River issues.

Read on if you want TRUTH.

The large amount of groundwater development and use of irrigation wells is reducing the flow in the Platte River.

There are those who are claiming that the large increase in the use of groundwater for irrigation beginning in the early 1950's is harming the flows of the Platte River.  A major modeling effort called COHYST is underway to predict this claimed effect of irrigation well use on Platte River flows.

Publicly available data shows this is a FALSE CLAIM!

While the number of irrigation wells in the COHYST area has increased by more than 4600 % since 1941, instead of reduced river flow, the Platte River has actually INCREASED.

Data available from the below links clearly refutes this claim.

1)The below data is all from credible sources including the Central Platte Natural Resource District (CPNRD) and the United States Geological Service (USGS)

2) River flow plots show annual and moving 5 year and 10 year averages.

What about the level of the Ogallala Aquifer with all the wells now using it?

The increased use of irrigation wells is depleting the Ogallala Aquifer.

There are those who are claiming that the large increase in the use of groundwater for irrigation beginning in the early 1950's is depleting the aquifer in the Central Platte Valley. This has been the subject of numerous monitoring efforts and studies  for many, many years.

Publicly available data disputes this claim.

While this is a complex question, there is data from long-standing observation wells which show that on a long-term basis, the aquifer levels have declined for a few years and then recovered.

This question needs to be examined from a long-term  "big picture" perspective, and not just for a few years. Simply looking at a few years will lead to an incorrect conclusion.

Data available over a 70 year period from the below link clearly disputes this claim.

Do you want to protect your livelihood?

• Contact - and join - Nebraskans First which is the only statewide coalition of groundwater irrigators with the courage and ability to help stop this foolishness before it is too late. Call them at  (402) 434-2938 or email them at: nebfirst@alltel.net. Check out the
  Nebraskans First website.

• Contact the Board of Directors of Central Platte NRD in Grand Island and tell them you object to your livelihood being taken without compensation. Email Central Platte NRD

• Click here to see what another landowner who is a Professional Engineer told the CPNRD Board by letter in July, 2003.

• Click here to see what that same landowner who is a Professional Engineer told the CPNRD Board at a Grand Island meeting on October 23, 2003 [When they didn't respond constructively to his July letter].

• Click here to see what the Grand Island Independent had to say about that October 23, 2003 meeting.

• CLICK HERE to see what a truly respected expert has to say about some of these issues[from Grand Island Independent - 10/22/03]