Nebraska confident in prolonged South Platte River legal fight

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 18:55 · Archive

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers says the state is ready for a prolonged legal battle with Colorado over the South Platte River.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the state is prepared for a prolonged legal fight with Colorado over the South Platte River. He expects Colorado to continue challenging Nebraska's lawsuit at every turn, including in the U.S. Supreme Court, but expressed confidence in Nebraska's legal arguments.

The Supreme Court agreed in June to hear Nebraska's case. Colorado has since asked the justices to dismiss one of Nebraska's claims—that Colorado's groundwater-management system violates the 1923 South Platte River Compact. Colorado's motion does not seek to dismiss Nebraska's entire lawsuit. Nebraska also claims Colorado fails to deliver required summer river flows.

The litigation includes a dispute over Nebraska's proposed Perkins County Canal, which the state says would let it capture South Platte River water outside the irrigation season. Hilgers said he expects more motions and disputes in the months and years ahead, but described the Supreme Court's eventual decision as the most consequential stage. He said Nebraska is continuing work on the canal project that can proceed while the case is pending, describing it as a multiyear effort with permitting as a significant part of the timeline.

How it is being reported

• Hilgers says Nebraska is ready for a prolonged South Platte River fightNebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers expects Colorado to challenge the state’s South Platte River lawsuit at every turn, but said Nebraska is confident in its legal arguments and intends to keep working on the proposed Perkins County Canal.1011Now · 8 Oct, 18:09
• Hilgers says Nebraska is ready for a prolonged South Platte River fightNebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers expects Colorado to challenge the state’s South Platte River lawsuit at every turn, but said Nebraska is confident in its legal arguments and intends to keep working on the proposed Perkins County Canal.WOWT · 8 Oct, 18:09

In this story: Nebraska · Colorado · Mike Hilgers · U.S. Supreme Court · South Platte River · Perkins County Canal

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