Supreme Court rules Neb. must pay Kan. in interstate river battle

摘要

The Supreme Court today ruled that Nebraska "recklessly gambled" in taking more water from the Republican River than it was allowed. A majority of the justices held that Nebraska knowingly violated an interstate compact governing the river, depriving Kansas of water that should have flowed over the states' border. The court's ruling, which is limited in scope, means Nebraska must pay Kansas $3.7 million, the value of the 70,000 acre-feet it unlawfully deprived Kansas of, plus a $1.8 million penalty. But, in a win for Nebraska, the court also amended the compact's accounting procedures so "imported water" -- that not originally from the Republican River -- won't count against Nebraska's allotment.