Backers of scenic Niobrara River cry foul over what they describe as inaccurate claims

The Niobrara River abuts the Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. (Courtesy of Jackie Augustine/Audubon of Kansas)

LINCOLN – Supporters of the Niobrara River are contesting claims made by a local official about the status of federal funding and programs for managing the river and its environs as a congressionally designated scenic river.

The Friends of the Niobrara — a successor organization to one that stopped the Norden Dam project on the river — said in a recent press release that Mike Murphy, general manager of the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District, was spreading inaccurate information about that status of support and programs by the National Park Service.

Murphy, when contacted by the Examiner, mostly contested the claims, saying that he had been taken out of context