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Pillen: Consolidating state agencies could improve water quality, quantity

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen says the state is taking a closer look at how agriculture practices are impacting the state’s water supply.

“Nitrate contamination of water is from over applying irrigation and/or over applying anhydrous ammonia or a combination of both. None of us like to admit that. It’s time we had the conversation and fixed it, and science is crystal clear where that’s at.”

A bill being debated in the Nebraska legislature would merge the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy, forming the Department of Water, Energy and Environment. The legislation received second-round approval from lawmakers on Tuesday.

Pillen says the new agency will help make government services more efficient for ag producers. “It makes no sense that we are trying to solve water quality in one space and not having much collaboration with (water quantity) in the other. It’s important we do that together.”

Pillen has also appointed a “Water Quality and Quantity Task Force” and tells Brownfield the group will create proactive water policy that builds on management practices some producers already use. “We measure what kind of nitrates are in the groundwater. We can decrease the amount of fertilizer we put on, use less water and raise better crops, make more money, decrease the level of nitrates in our water, and save our aquifer.”

The group will continue to meet over the next year to develop short and long-term strategies.