Vegetation Task Force Membership Announced

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman announced the appointments to the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force created by LB 701, the comprehensive water bill signed into law during this year’s legislative session.

“I want to thank each of these individuals for their willingness to help find ways to improve river flow in several parts of our state by dealing with invasive plants,” Gov. Heineman said.

LB 701 calls for three of the seats to be filled by riparian landowners from Nebraska’s congressional districts. Mike Arps of Fremont will represent the first district, Rich Tesar of Waterloo will represent the second district, and Mike Sarchet of Minatare will represent the third congressional district.

The task force also includes representatives of surface water projects along each of the state’s fully or over appropriated river basins. Representing the Platte River Basin is Kent Aden of Cozad, Jim Miller of Hardy, representing the Republican River Basin, and Tom Thompson of Whitney, who will represent the Upper Niobrara River Basin.

These individuals will join representatives of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET), Nebraska Weed Control Association, and the University of Nebraska, along with representatives from several state agencies and the Legislature.

Representing NARD are Michael Clements of Alma, and Ron Bishop of Grand Island. Gloria Erickson of Holdrege will serve on behalf of the NET, Charles Brooks of Holdrege and Russ Schultz of Lincoln will represent the Weed Control Association, and Gary Cunningham will represent the university.

Those representing state agencies include: Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Mike Linder, director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Ann Bleed, director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, John Erickson, representing the Office of the Governor, Scott Josiah, representing the Office of the State Forester, and Kirk Nelson of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

LB 701 also provides that interested members of the Legislature may serve on the task force. Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, Sen. Cap Dierks of Ewing, Sen. Deb Fisher of Valentine, Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, and Sen. Don Preister of Lincoln, have expressed an interest in being part of discussions.