2026 Water and Natural Resources Tour
Water Management in the Republican River Basin
June 22-24, Republican River Basin, NE
Registration was sold out for the 2026 Water and Natural Resources Tour. The Nebraska Water Center and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District visited the Republican Basin June 22 through 24.
Registration included all meals, hotel, commercial transportation, on-board refreshments, and activities from Monday evening through Wednesday at 4 pm. The tour began and ended in McCook, Nebraska, with transportation provided from Lincoln for interested attendees.
We partnered with the Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District, Middle Republican Natural Resources District, Upper Republican Natural Resources District to experience southwestern Nebraska’s water and natural resources. The tour included expert insights on automated canal systems, digital resources for producers, aquifer recharge projects, large water users, and more.
On Monday, June 22, we met in McCook in the evening for a tour check-in and a kickoff supper. Attendees coming from eastern Nebraska took the bus from Lincoln to McCook in the afternoon while attendees coming from other parts of the state joined us in McCook that evening.
On Tuesday, June 23, we toured Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District’s updated automations to the canal system. We heard from Middle Republican Natural Resources District to learn about their Producer Connect dashboard and AEM data they’ve collected in their district. In the afternoon we explored a few additional sites in the Curtis area.
On Wednesday, June 24, we headed west. Hosted by the Upper Republican Natural Resources District, our tour experienced the Rock Creek augmentation sites, fish hatchery, and one of the largest feedlot operations in Nebraska. The tour will wrapped up in McCook at 4 pm. Attendees from eastern Nebraska returned to Lincoln on the tour bus and attendees from the rest of the state can depart from McCook.
This tour was sponsored by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Nebraska Water Center, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, HDR, Reinke, and the Water Futures Partnership.
