Protecting Lives, Protecting Property, Protecting the Future

Lower Republican Natural Resources District

Developing Nebraska's

Natural Resources...

Agricultural lands, including cropland and pasture land, make up almost 90% of the Lower Republican NRD.

About Us

The Lower Republican Natural Resources District is one of 23 NRDs formed by the Nebraska Unicameral in 1972. This legislative action consolidated 154 government entities into 23, providing an umbrella approach to local soil and water management across the state.

The Lower Republican NRD encompasses Furnas, Harlan, and Franklin counties, as well as the southern three-quarters of Webster County and the southwestern third of Nuckolls  County—approximately 1.5 million acres in all. The entire district lies within the lower reaches of the Republican River watershed.

Funded primarily by a portion of property tax assessment, the LRNRD also receives federal cost-sharing, state grants, and special assessments. Nearly 50% of the total budget goes to erosion control, 15% to recreation and wildlife, 10% to flood control, 10% to water quality, 5% to water supply, 5% to general administration and 5% to information and education.

Fast Facts...

 

TOTAL LAND AREA:  2,484 sq. miles or 1,589,760 acres

ELEVATION:  1,574 to 2,060 feet above sea level

PRECIPITATION:  Average annual precipitation ranges from about 22 inches in the west to 26 inches in the east.  Approximately 75% of the precipitation is received from April to September.  Drought conditions are not uncommon.

CLIMATE:  The climate is one of limited precipitation, fluctuating precipitation and humidity, frequent wind shifts and frequent sharp changes in temperatures.

SOIL TYPES:  The soils of the LRNRD vary from sand to silt to clay

LAND USE:  Land use ranges from ranching to farming and are very nearly equally divided in the number of acres used for each.  Les than 2%

of the District is in urban areas, trees, water, roads, and farmsteads.  Just over 20% of the District is irrigated.

CROPS:  Corn, wheat, soybeans, alfalfa, and sorghum are the major crops grown under dry land and irrigated conditions.  Corn is the primary crop.

LIVESTOCK:  Beef cattle are the most common livestock with commercial hog production next.

POPULATION:  The 2000 census reported 17,639 people.  Population figures have seen major declines in the past 50 years.  The average age of residents exceeds the national average.  Population distribution is 36% in the rural area and 64% in urban communities.

ECONOMY:  Agriculture is the main occupation found in the District.  The valuation of agricultural lands makes up almost 90% of the valuation total.

GROUNDWATER:  Generally groundwater exists in most areas of the District except south of the Republican River.  The base of the underlying sand and gravel layers which contain water bearing material rest on impervious layers of Pierre Shale, the Niobrara and Wellington Formations, and the Chase Group.  As of January 2006, 3714 wells have been registered.

SURFACE WATER:  The main stream flowing through the District is the Republican River.  Other important tributaries include the Sappa, Beaver, Prairie Dog, Crooked, Center, Willow, Lost, Turkey, Thompson, Muddy, and Elm creeks.  Harlan County Reservoir was completed in 1952 as a flood control and irrigation water supply project.  It is located in the southeast portion of Harlan County.  The project supplies water to Bostwick Irrigation District, which it delivers to 22,935 acres in the Lower Republican NRD.  The Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District supplies surface water to approximately 22,085 acres in Furnas and Harlan Counties from releases of flood control and irrigation supply dams upstream of the Furnas/Red Willow County line.