Defend the Wildlife Conservation Fund and Nebraska Environmental Trust and contact Approps Committee Members today
Eric Zach
On Jan 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM, Eric Zach <esza...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hello Wildlifers,
As you know, the legislative session has begun and there are multiple bills that may be of interest to the chapter. One of the items of concern is the proposal to transfer funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund. Katie Torpy with TNC, in cooperation with Audubon of the Great Plains, has put together and shared a great explanation of the issue in the email below. She also discusses a constitutional amendment that would protect the Trust from transfers.
Please consider contacting the senators listed below, especially if you live in their district. Directly contacting state senators is one of the most impactful ways you can influence local politics.
Take care,
Eric Zach - NETWS Life Member
From: Katie Torpy <katie...@TNC.ORG>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2026 12:11 PM
Subject: Defend the Nebraska Environmental Trust and contact Approps Committee Members today
Caution: This email originated from OUTSIDE the organization. Do not open suspicious links or attachments. Contact IT for assistance.
Hello,
The Governor’s Mid-Biennial Budget dropped and the threat to conservation and environmental groups is existential. LB1072 would transfer $32.7 million away from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund (WREF) to backfill a self-induced $50.7 million transfer to the General Fund. If successful, this action would effectively end the Trust as we know it.
A coalition of conservation and environmental groups is organizing past grant recipients of the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (NET) to engage their representatives in the Nebraska State Legislature in defense of the Trust's future. The Trust receives its support from the Nebraska Lottery as directed by the Constitution. We ask you, as someone listed as a former or current grant recipient, to join us in encouraging legislators to prevent further gutting of the Trust.
Your voice is especially important if your project is in the district of one of the Approps Committee Members below. This is just one of several actions that will be needed. This week we are focused on Appropriations members; soon there will be a hearing date for LR298CA, a constitutional amendment to protect the Trust from such cash grabs. LR298CA have a hearing in the Natural Resources Committee sometime in February (we will reach out again when we have the details).
Supporting Nebraska Environmental Trust – Here is how you can help today
Action needed this week: January 22-23
Topline: $32.5M transfer away from the Trust to the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund effectively privileges one district over the many and would disrupt the longstanding functionality of the Trust.
Who should you contact? Members of the Appropriations Committee. We are seeking 10 touches (email, phone call, or meeting) per member.
Goal: Demonstrate that 1) many are concerned, 2) LB1072 transfers effectively end the Trust, 3) NET is a valuable resource for all 93 counties and 49 districts and should be protected.
Talking Points:
Ø $422 million dollars directly invested across the state through community-led grants.
Ø $15 million dollars was already swept last session—NET can’t withstand a second bite of the apple.
Ø Redirecting NET funds for recreation was considered and rejected last session.
Ø Protect the Trust and reject another swipe at it as represented in LB1072.
Appropriations Committee Members
· Sen. Robert Clements, Chairperson: District 2
· Sen. Christy Armendariz, Vice Chairperson: District 18
· Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh District 6
· Sen. Myron Dorn: District 30
· Sen. Robert Dover: District 19
· Sen. Loren Lippincott: District 34
· Sen. Jason Prokop District 27
· Sen. Ashlei Spivey District 13
· Sen. Paul Strommen: District 47
Thank you for raising your voice for conservation!
Katie Torpy, The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska
Traci Bruckner, Audubon of the Great Plains
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If you don’t wish to receive these messages, email Katie Torpy at katie...@tnc.org.
Additional Background:
Transfers from the fund have been a problem since 2011, but in the last three years, they have become so serious that the intended beneficiaries, local and regional organizations, will be confronted with an even more diminished pool of funds for which they can submit competitive grant applications. If the state’s current practices continue, it’s likely that the NET will be further depleted and become just another source for the state's general fund budget. For example, the Governor’s budget, passed by the Legislature in 2025, transferred $15 million to the Department of Water Resources (now part of DWEE), significantly reducing the available funds for competitive grants submitted by intended recipients. The 2026 mid-biennium request for DWEE proposes an additional transfer of $10 million. No doubt others will pile on the transfer attempt, given the current practice.
Transfers from the Environmental Trust negatively impact cities and towns, conservation and wildlife groups, NRDs, and other local and regional organizations in your region and across the state, as they reduce the funds available to address opportunities for conserving and restoring the natural environments on which they depend. These funds acknowledge that there are local needs that the state lacks both the interest and the capacity to identify or address. To date, the Fund has fulfilled its intended purpose, as evidenced by serving all 93 counties and generating significant matching dollars and partnerships from both private and federal sources.