The lower republican natural resources district, located in harlan county, nebraska, will install weather stations and 1,800 irrigation flow meters with telemetry to collect and broadcast real-time…

The Lower Republican Natural Resources District (Lrnrd) in Harlan County, Nebraska received a $8,665,997 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) grant program (CFDA 15.507). The award, with a performance period from December 31, 2024 to March 31, 2028, will fund the installation of 1,800 irrigation flow meters with telemetry and weather stations to collect and broadcast real-time data. This is expected to result in annual water savings of 8,790 acre-feet by enabling more precise irrigation scheduling, reduced groundwater pumping, and decreased energy demand. The project aims to maintain groundwater levels, improve baseflow in the Republican River, and enhance broader watershed ecosystem protection efforts in the region.

The lower republican natural resources district, located in harlan county, nebraska, will install weather stations and 1,800 irrigation flow meters with telemetry to collect and broadcast real-time data that will help irrigators better schedule irrigation water events. More precise irrigation scheduling will result in decreased groundwater pumping, which will also reduce energy demand. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 8,790 acre-feet. Conserved water will remain in the local aquifer to maintain groundwater levels for other beneficial uses as well as improve baseflow for surface water uses in the republican river basin.