Republican River Basin Projects

South Fork Republican River 

On August 1, 2018, Colorado and Kansas signed a settlement totaling $4 million to resolve any disputes over Colorado’s past use of water under the Republican River Compact prior to 2013. Of that total sum, $2 million is to be spent within the South Fork of the Republican River Basin within Colorado. The additional $2 million will be spent for the benefit of the South Fork of the Republican River Basin within Kansas.

South Fork Republican River Basin Map

Lower Republican River 

On February 24, 2015, in the case of Kansas v. Nebraska No. 126 Original, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kansas in the dispute over the states’ rights to the waters of the Republican River Basin. The Court ruled Nebraska had “knowingly failed” to comply with the Republican River Compact and awarded Kansas $5.5 million for its losses. Of the $5.5 million, $2 million was received by the Attorney General for the interstate water litigation fund. 

A stakeholder group representing multiple interests within the Lower Republican came to consensus that $2.5 million of the original $3.5 million from the Republican River Water Conservation Projects-Nebraska Moneys Fund should be used for projects within the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District (KBID) and $1 million should be used for projects which are not part of the KBID system.

To learn the history of the Lower Republican River Compact, visit this StoryMap. It contains interactive maps to show the area involved and shows why the Republican River is so important to Kansas.

Current Updates

Lower Republican River 

KBID has completed various projects within the district that include converting open irrigation canals to a buried pipe system. Work continues within the district.

Project Manager

South Fork Republican River Basin - Keadron Pearson

Lower Republican River Basin - Amelia Lane and Katie Goff