by Kristal Stoner, Executive Director, Audubon Nebraska

        The legislative season has arrived, and there are a few exciting – and a few concerning – bills I want to bring to your attention. I also want to share a great new video exploring conservation easements.
     First, the video, which was developed in partnership with the Nebraska Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Sierra Club, Wachiska Audubon, and The Nature Conservancy, From the Grass Up, illuminates facts and elevates the landowner’s voice about the critical issue of conservation easements. Coming soon are “byte-size” short segments suitable for social media.
     We are very concerned about Senator Dave Murman’s conservation easement legislation. LB 1135 would change conservation easements by limiting them to 99 years and allowing county planning commissions the leeway to deny easements by simply not addressing them (the default would be denial). Over the past year, with the same partners Audubon convened to produce the video, we have prepared the attached talking points and easement facts. Audubon is actively opposing Senator Murman’s legislation.
     Two bills could impact the Platte River, as well as the birds and animals it supports. The first is LB1023, which would create a lake at a yet-to-be-determined location near Ashland. This lake would not involve the construction of dams but might increase evaporation and impact lower Platte River hydrology. The Platte currently provides an important habitat for Piping Plovers and Least Terns. Without details regarding the lake’s location, Audubon is planning to go on record raising concerns for considerations related to the river and birds as project development continues.
    The second is LB 1015, which proposes the construction of an irrigation canal running from Colorado into Nebraska to ensure that Nebraska continues to benefit from the 1923 South Platte River Compact. This bill offers no details about where the canal would terminate and no explanation of how it would impact the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program or the South Platte River’s natural ecosystem. Audubon is gathering more information but, given the magnitude of unknowns involved in this project, we believe we should adopt our approach to LB1023 and communicate our concerns to legislators. Alex Hager, an NPR reporter at Colorado’s KUNC, interviewed Melissa Mosier, Platte River program manager at Audubon Nebraska, recently, and Melissa did a great job articulating our position.
     LB1255, a positive piece of legislation, would allocate federal funds to the University of Nebraska to update its climate change report. Audubon supports this legislation.  
    LB 953, introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh, would change provisions relating to open burning permits and limit the liability related to land management burning. Audubon supports this legislation because it benefits private landowners seeking to manage their property with habitat benefits for birds.
     Thank you for all that you do and for your support.