Republican Riber Basin Water and Drought Portal

Water Planning in the Republican River Basin

Colorado
In 2004, the Republican River Water Conservation District was created by the state of Colorado for the purpose of cooperating with the state and helping it to carry out its duty to comply with the limitations and duties imposed upon the state by the Republican River Compact. The District website describes programs undertaken to meet the terms of the Republican River Compact. The Colorado Division of Water Resources also provides extensive information about the Republican River Compact.

Kansas
The Kansas Department of Agriculture provides information on Interstate issues, including updates on the Republican River Compact and Settlement. The Kansas State Water Office also relies on Basin Advisory Committees to provide input to the state on local water issues. Two of these are located in the Republican River Basin of Kansas: the Upper Republican and Kansas-Lower Republican committees. These committees meet periodically to discuss local water and planning issues, and their meeting notes are available for public review.

Nebraska
Nebraska is divided into 23 natural resource districts (NRDs), which are local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries, enabling districts to best respond to local needs. There are four NRDs within the Republican River Basin: the Upper Republican, Middle Republican, Lower Republican, and Tri-Basin NRDs. These entities can provide local planning expertise and information on water and drought issues.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also provides a good deal of information on water planning activities in the Republican River Basin of Nebraska. You can find information on approved Integrated Management Plans for the Lower, Middle, and Upper Republican natural resource districts, maps identifying fully appropriated and hydrologically connected areas of the basin in Nebraska, and studies of water resources in the Republican River Basin on their website. The DNR also provides information on the Republican River Settlement between Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas.

Republican River Basin Water Sustainability Task Force (DNR website)
More information (Legislation-'Other Legislation' page)

Republican River Riparian and Restoration Partners
The Republican River Riparian and Restoration Partners, led by seven Resource Conservation and Development Programs (RC&Ds), has been created to help provide leadership in the planning and coordination of sound conservation practices and to bring federal, state, and local entities together to implement a viable living Republican River Basin by 2037.

Specifically, the Partnership has the following planning goals:

  1. Encourage agencies and organizations to sign cooperative Memorandums of Understanding identifying goals and objectives
  2. Meet on a regular basis and review objectives. Be willing to identify failures and mistakes and take corrective action
  3. Recognize that change is constant and new opportunities will become available
  4. Minimize sedimentation by using proven conservation practices and strive to “Keep the Water Where it Falls”
  5. Control periodic flooding with existing structures and maintain percolation areas such as wet lands for groundwater recharge
  6. Support the development of leadership teams for all 17 (Category 8) watershed basins and divide into sub-watersheds where appropriate. The leadership teams should assess watershed needs, prioritize needs, and develop and implement the plans
  7. Support groundwater use strategies to extend the life of the aquifers so they will remain viable with quantity and quality for future generations
  8. Participate in the development of riparian vegetative, wildlife and aquatic demonstration projects
  9. Provide public information and educational materials

These types of collaborative programs are essential for holistic and long-term basin-wide planning.