NE Cutting Irrigation From Republican River To Maintain Legally Mandated Flows To KS

[hatrack]

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Nebraska is imposing limits on the use of the Republican River to make sure enough water flows downstream to Kansas this year in the midst of a drought. The state Department of Natural Resources issued an order this week requiring additional conservation measures in the river basin to help Nebraska comply with a long-standing agreement with Kansas and Colorado.

Several conservation measures have been put in place since Nebraska last used more of the Republican River's water than it's entitled to, but the Upper and Lower Republican River Natural Resource Districts will have to take additional steps to comply this year.

The dispute over the Republican River's water has led to two lawsuits between Kansas and Nebraska, including one pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

All the water that normally would flow into the Harlan County, Swanson and other reservoirs along the Republican will remain in the river to bolster the flow of water to Kansas. And Brian Dunnigan, director of the state Department of Natural Resources, said the Upper and Lower Republican districts will have to find ways to add about 9,000 acre feet of water to the river's flow to Kansas.

EDIT

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/904f161430b447f4a527c7616a18b81c/NE--Water-Woes

[TheBlackAdder]

1. Perhaps they should cut down on hydraulic fracking? eom