NRD directors and staff meet in southwest Nebraska for learning opportunity

LINCOLN, Nebraska – More than 80 elected directors and staff from Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) along with conservation partners convened in McCook for the annual NRD Basin Tour hosted by the Lower Republican, Middle Republican, Upper Republican and Tri-Basin NRDs on June 10-11, 2024.

The NRD Basin Tour explores a different water basin each year, with the hosting NRDs showcasing conservation projects, partnerships, and the local communities they serve. This year’s tour focused on the Republican River Basin, a vital water resource in southwest Nebraska. The water resources in the basin play a significant role in the region’s agriculture, environment, economy and recreation. However, the Republican River has also been at the center of controversy, particularly regarding water rights, usage, and interstate conflicts.

But cooperation among the Republican Basin NRDs and the State of Nebraska over the last decade has created stability by mitigating the threat of non-compliance with the Republican River Compact, an 80-year-old interstate compact involving Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Development of stream augmentation projects by the local NRDs has essentially assured compliance and protected irrigation on approximately 1 million acres in southwest Nebraska.

“Augmentation and other projects in our district paid for by local irrigators provides much-needed stability in our Basin and for the state,” said Upper Republican NRD General Manager Jasper Fanning. “Our district and the other NRDs in the Basin are working hard to preserve water for future generations.”

The Republican River Basin NRDs face unique challenges related to water allocations. The allocation system, which restricts how much water producers can pump for irrigation, has helped create sustainability and protect existing users in the Basin. Over-extraction for irrigation in previous years has led to reduced water flow, impacting downstream users. Ensuring sustainable water management practices is critical but challenging; however, NRDs are on the path to achieving sustainability.

“We operate under the strictest water allocation in the state and our producers are still profitable,” said Lower Republican NRD General Manager Todd Siel. “By equipping our producers with cutting-edge technology like real-time water meters and soil moisture probes, we continue to see an increase in irrigation efficiency.”

“We are making investments to better understand the aquifer, which will allow us to be more efficient with groundwater to help protect streamflow and our groundwater resources,” said Middle Republican NRD General Manager Jack Russell.

Events like the NRD Basin Tour are essential in addressing these controversies by promoting dialogue, showcasing successful conservation projects, and fostering partnerships. The collaboration among various NRDs highlights the commitment to sustainable water management and conservation practices.

The tour included several stops featuring projects that protect irrigated acres and help meet compact compliance. Some of the 2024 tour highlights included:

• Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Presentation & Demonstration (McCook, NE)
• Swanson Lake and Republican River Compact Presentation (Trenton, NE)
• Rock Creek Augmentation Project & Rock Creek Hatchery (Parks, NE)
• Blackshirt Feeders (Haigler, NE)
• Middle Republican NRD Watershed Structure (McCook, NE)
• Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement Project (Lincoln County, NE)
• Platte-Republican Diversion Project Presentation (Curtis, NE)
• Medicine Creek Reservoir (Cambridge, NE)
• Cambridge Canal Diversion (Cambridge, NE)

While the Republican River is a critical resource for Nebraska, managing its waters amid competing demands and environmental challenges remains a complex and ongoing issue. The importance of the river necessitates continued collaboration and innovative solutions to address the controversies and ensure a sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.

For more information on NRD events and activities, visit www.nrdnet.org.

More than 80 directors and staff from Nebraska’s NRDs along with conservation partners toured the Republican River Basin June 10-11, 2024. The tour included a stop at Rock Creek Lake to learn about the fish hatchery and Upper Republican NRD’s augmentation project.