Washington, DC — Eight months after American Rivers named the
Niobrara River one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ for
2008, decisionmakers have yet to act to ensure that enough water
remains in the river to protect the recreation and tourism
economy and the river’s fish and wildlife. American Rivers and
its partners urged the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to
apply for an instream flow right and the Nebraska Department of
Natural Resources to approve the application. The Niobrara
River, one of Nebraska’s biggest tourist attractions, is in
danger of losing its lifeblood -- water. A Wild and Scenic River
that attracts tens of thousands of paddlers and outdoor
enthusiasts, the Niobrara valley also supports irrigation of
more than 600,000 acres of farmland. Additional irrigation
applications currently pending with Nebraska’s Department of
Natural Resources could, if granted, seriously endanger flows
that also support fish, wildlife, and recreation. In the first
six months of 2007, five times more water wa