ALMA — An $83 million land purchase in southwestern Nebraska by up to four of the state’s natural resources districts could be a big help in solving the state’s problems complying with the Republican River Compact in water-strapped years.
That was the assessment of officials here Friday as the Lower Republican NRD board of directors approved two interlocal agreements making their district a part of the proposed deal.
The idea is to purchase a megafarm that includes 15,000 irrigated acres, retire it from irrigation, and plant most of it back to grass. Then, in dry years, groundwater from beneath the property could be pumped to the Republican and/or Platte rivers to satisfy the requirements of interstate compacts.
To read more, see Saturday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>
