2026 Water and Natural Resources Tour
Water Management in the Republican River Basin
June 22-24, Republican River Basin, NE
Registration is now open for the 2026 Water and Natural Resources Tour. Join the Nebraska Water Center and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District June 22 through 24 as we explore the Republican Basin.
Registration includes all meals, hotel, commercial transportation, on-board refreshments, and activities from Monday evening through Wednesday at 4 pm. The tour will begin and end in McCook, Nebraska, with transportation provided from Lincoln for interested attendees.
$390 per person, single occupancy room
$330 per person, double occupancy room
Registration will be open until May 22. Spaces are limited, so act fast to secure your seat!
To register online, visit go.unl.edu/WaterReg.
We’ll partner 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 will include expert insights on automated canal systems, digital resources for producers, aquifer recharge projects, large water users, and more.
On Monday, June 22, we’ll meet in McCook in the evening for a tour check-in and a kickoff supper. Attendees coming from eastern Nebraska are welcome to ride the bus from Lincoln to McCook in the afternoon while attendees coming from other parts of the state are welcome to join us in McCook that evening.
On Tuesday, June 23, we’ll tour Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District’s updated automations to the canal system. We’ll hear 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’ll explore a few additional sites in the Curtis area, with specific details to be announced soon.
On Wednesday, June 24, we’ll head west. Hosted by the Upper Republican Natural Resources District, our tour will experience the Rock Creek augmentation sites, fish hatchery, and one of the largest feedlot operations in Nebraska. The tour will wrap up in McCook at 4 pm. Attendees from eastern Nebraska will return to Lincoln on the tour bus and attendees from the rest of the state can depart from McCook.
This tour is 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.
A limited number of scholarships are available for students to attend the tour. For additional information, contact Ann Briggs at annbriggs@nebraska.edu
If you have any questions, please contact Ann Briggs at annbriggs@nebraska.edu.
