Gov. Dave Heineman addressed water issues in North Platte Tuesday, asking if the water challenge is a higher priority than other state issues.

    The Nebraska Water Resources and the Nebraska State Irrigation associations met the week to discuss "Water Policy in Acton."

    Heineman said there is a lot of demands on the state budget, and state spending will have to be prioritized.

    "Is the water challenge more important than other priorities?" he asked the group.

    Heineman said fixing the water issues in Nebraska will "require sacrifices from all of us."

    According to Heineman, in three to five years, almost 80 percent of Nebraska's population will live in the eastern 20 percent of the state.

    Heinemen said eastern Nebraska doesn't understand that water issues affect everyone in the state, but he expects the new senators to step up to the plate and come up with resolutions to a variety of issues.

    He is optimistic that having 22 new state senators sworn into office in January will bring "fresh ideas and new eyes looking at issues ranging from water to the budget."

    "As a group. they are talented and we have an opportunity to work together in a cooperative way," Heineman said. "Our survival is at stake."

    Heineman said perhaps the urban senators should be invited to the central and western part of Nebraska to "see how water is used out here."

    "In Nebraska, we agree to disagree, respectfully," he said. "We nee to be sitting at the same table and create a win-win situation