Governor Laura Kelly and Attorney General Kris Kobach issued a bipartisan letter on Friday to Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen expressing their objection to Nebraska’s proposed Platte-Republican interbasin transfer.
The transfer is currently under consideration by Nebraska’s Department of Natural Resources, and would allow invasive carp species to enter Harlan County Reservoir in Nebraska and Lovewell and Milford Reservoirs in Kansas. These fish have been known to cause devastating economic and ecological consequences to river basins around the country, harming native species, sport fishing, commercial fishing, and recreational boating wherever they are introduced.
“As an avid fisherman, I’m one of thousands of Kansans who enjoy our first-class lakes and waterways for fishing,” Attorney General Kris Kobach said. “I will use every tool available to keep these invasive species from harming Kansas waters.” Kansas previously shared these concerns when Nebraska first considered an identical transfer application in 2018.
