Difference between revisions of "The Republican River Compact"

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|Issue=How will the water allocations defined under the compact be enforced and how should non-compliance be penalized?
 
|Issue=How will the water allocations defined under the compact be enforced and how should non-compliance be penalized?

Revision as of 13:44, 20 December 2015

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Case Description
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Geolocation: 40° 2' 41.8677", -101° 33' 31.2843"
Total Area 64,79064,790 km²
25,015.419 mi²
km2
Climate Descriptors Semi-arid/steppe (Köppen B-type)
Predominent Land Use Descriptors agricultural- cropland and pasture
Important Uses of Water Agriculture or Irrigation, Domestic/Urban Supply, Livestock, Recreation or Tourism

Summary

Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework

Issues and Stakeholders

How will the water allocations defined under the compact be enforced and how should non-compliance be penalized?

NSPD: Water Quantity, Governance, Values and Norms
Stakeholder Types: Federated state/territorial/provincial government, Sovereign state/national/federal government, Local Government, Non-legislative governmental agency, Community or organized citizens

Stakeholders: State governments of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska; natural resource groundwater management districts; federal surface irrigation districts; local surface and ground water irrigators; local communities; and the Bureau of Reclamation (federal government agency)

Stakeholders are concerned about the ability of states to comply with the compact given past violations and growing stress on the virgin water supply. Water users in Kansas, who have been deprived of their entitlement in the past, want to see stronger enforcement of the compact and strict repercussions for non-compliance such as compensation for damages and disgorgement of gains to other users that result from overusing water in the basin. Upstream water users in Colorado and Nebraska are concerned that compliance efforts or non-compliance penalties will essentially halt irrigated agriculture in the area and in turn harm farmers and entire communities that are dependent on the agriculture sector. They are also concerned that they do not receive enough advanced notice about the implementation of compliance mechanisms to adjust and plan for water short years.

The compact was written in an era of substantially different conditions and less pressing concern about water scarcity. How can flexibility be built into the compact and the administrative structure to enable the agreement to evolve in response to changing conditions?

NSPD: Water Quantity, Governance, Values and Norms
Stakeholder Types: Federated state/territorial/provincial government, Sovereign state/national/federal government, Local Government, Non-legislative governmental agency, Community or organized citizens

Stakeholders: State governments of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska; natural resource groundwater management districts; local surface and ground water irrigators; federal surface irrigation districts; and the Bureau of Reclamation (federal government agency)

During the compact disputes of the past 20 years, there has been limited effort to amend the compact so that it can better address current concerns. The states have been hesitant to consider any actions that may cause the water accounting books not being strictly balanced and therefore result in allegations of non-compliance. Working within the strict interpretation of the original compact and water accounting procedures limits the ability to consider creative options to better meet all parties’ needs.


Analysis, Synthesis, and Insight

What is an ASI?

Individuals may add their own Analysis, Synthesis, and Insight (ASI) to a case. ASI sub-articles are protected, so that each contributor retains authorship and control of their own content. Edit the case to add your own ASI.

Learn more

ASI:The Importance of Trust in the Republican River Compact

The history of the Republican River basin is characterized by periodic conflict. The presence and absence of mutual trust plays an essential role in both the successes and failings of the Republican River Compact to address this conflict. What role does trust play in transboundary water agreements and what actions can nurture or erode this trust?(read the full article... )

Contributed by: Ashley M. (last edit: 20 December 2015)