LINCOLN, Neb.—The boards of two natural resources districts in Nebraska’s Republican River basin have approved new plans for compliance with a three-state river compact during dry years.
The revisions to the so-called integrated management plans were approved this week by both Upper and Middle Republican Natural Resources Districts. Changes include the option of tighter irrigation restrictions during dry years if other measures, such as leasing surface water, are insufficient.
The plans now also emphasize retiring irrigated acres and stream-flow augmentation projects.
A year ago, an arbitrator ruled that Nebraska owed Kansas just $10,000 of the $9 million Kansas sought for overusing water but that Nebraska’s compliance plan during dry years was insufficient.
