LINCOLN- Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen recently announced that the state's Department of Natural Resources director, Tom Riley, will soon leave the position. Senator Pete Ricketts appointed Riley during his gubernatorial term in 2020. “I appreciate Director Riley’s public service to the state, and I wish him the best in all future endeavors,” Pillen stated in an announcement.

The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for surface water, groundwater, floodplain management, dam safety, and the storage of natural resources, among other things. In the past few years, leaders have focused on securing water rights from Colorado and creating a manmade lake for recreation between Omaha and Lincoln. A news release noted that interim leadership and a pending appointment are soon to come.

The special legislative committee, the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability, was created to study opportunities in the state and identify potential projects that would be economically beneficial to the state. Riley previously helped these lawmakers understand the necessity of the water rights they want to obtain from Colorado, but Colorado officials are concerned it is unnecessary. Both lake and water rights projects are in the early stages, but external threats may derail the committee's plans.

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