Consultant says Perkins Canal is a good idea. Colorado wants more information
By Fred Knapp , Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Dec. 7, 2022, midnight ·

Listen To This Story
A Colorado official says that state needs more details before reacting to a report that maintains it would be worthwhile for Nebraska to divert water from Colorado to irrigate farms in Nebraska.
Last week, a consultant told the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee that it would be worth it to build a $600 million canal because water would be available from the South Platte River in Colorado.
Wednesday, Colorado State Engineer Kevin Rein agreed, up to a point:
“Qualitatively, yes. Water would be available. How much, I don’t know,” Rein said.
Rein says Colorado doesn’t have enough details about Nebraska’s proposal to evaluate it.
“If Nebraska’s going to construct this canal and develop it and operate it and use it to divert water, our only expectation is they do it in compliance with the compact,” he said.
Rein is referring to a century-old agreement that gives Nebraska the right to divert water from Colorado, but only if it builds a canal. The agreement also gives Colorado rights to use water upstream from the proposed canal.
A more complete report on Nebraska’s proposal is due by year’s end.