Nebraska wants the Supreme Court to weigh in on a dispute over South Platte River water flows, arguing that Colorado has frustrated its bid to build a canal across the states’ borders.
Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Colorado, arguing its neighbor is in violation of a 1923 compact that divides South Platte water.
“Today’s action will ensure that Nebraska receives all the water to which it is entitled to under the Compact and that Nebraska’s agriculture and economy are protected,” Hilgers said in a statement. “Water is the essential lifeblood of Nebraska’s economy, and it’s my goal to protect one of the state’s most important assets.”
Nebraska kicked off a campaign in 2022 to ensure it obtained its share of the South Platte, including the approval of more than $600 million in state funds to build the Perkins County Canal.
