The Republican River Water Conservation District is an independent entity that is entirely self-governed. The Colorado State Legislature created the District in 2004 to assure local involvement in the State’s efforts to comply with the Republican River Compact between Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. The fifteen members of the Board of Directors are residents of the basin appointed by the Commissioners of local counties, Boards of ground water management districts, and the Colorado Ground Water Commission.

The District promotes conservation through voluntary participation. By utilizing federal programs, the District has brought in millions of federal dollars to offer financial incentives to producers who voluntarily retire water rights to reduce consumptive use to the stream flows. These water retirements reinforce the District’s efforts to conserve the Ogallala Aquifer for future generations.

Current focus toward compact compliance is through a $71,000,000 locally funded pipeline project. The water source for the pipeline comes from existing irrigation wells with pumping limited to historic use. Projected completion of the compact compliance pipeline is in late 2010.