Tour raises awareness of Republican River issues

Fred Raish, Superintendent, Yuma County, Colo., Pest Control, and Jennifer Rittenhouse-ten Bensel, Executive Administrator, Southwest Nebraska RC&D and Southwest Weed Management Area discuss invasive species control with a group of people at Bonny Reservoir in Colorado. (Courtesy photo)

IDALIA, Colo. -- The Republican River Restoration Partnership, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts and Colorado Agriculture Preservation Association conducted a meeting Sept. 14, to address the need to increase outflow for Bonny Reservoir. Bonny is located near Idalia, Colo.

More than 50 people from local, state, and federal agencies, organizations and legislators attended to discuss with landowners what work needed to be done within the State of Colorado on the Republican River and what the responsibilities of each party would be for the clean up.

Nebraska representatives from several organizations were invited to answer questions about work performed on the Republican River within the State of Nebraska. Jennifer Rittenhouse-ten Bensel explained the role of Southwest Weed Management Area for removing invasive species the past three years. She explained the funding cycles for each fiscal year and how landowner responsibility played into each year. Southwest Weed Management has spent $1.8 million clearing trees from the Republican River for the past three years.

Tim Smith, also representing Southwest Weed Management, gave statistics to the numbers of acres cleared each year. Other representatives from Nebraska were Sen. Mark Christensen, Dr. Roger Stockton, Southwest Nebraska RC&D; Rick Hedke, Southwest Weed Management; Bob Betger, Department of Natural Resources; and Ted Tietjen, Republican River Riparian Restoration Partnership.

The agenda included a tour of the reservoir and upstream lands as well as a facilitated work session. The goal of the meeting was to raise awareness of the issues surrounding Bonny Reservoir including the potential impact it can have on the Republican River Basin Community.

The Republican River Restoration Partnership began as a project of Southwest Nebraska RC&D. The RRRP works to positively effect management of the riparian area of the Republican River and its tributaries in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Their goals are to foster cooperation between three states to develop a regional plan for the watershed, to increase economic development throughout the area, increase the quantity and quality of water within the watershed and increase educational opportunities in regard to water quantity and quality. If you would like more information on any of these organizations, please contact Jennifer at 308-697-3477 or e-mail Jennifer.ten bensel@rcdnet.net