House Passes Moran Legislation to Enhance Kansas Water Resources

Authorizes Federal Study of Supply, Storage and Management

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran today announced House passage of legislation he introduced earlier this year with Congressman Tom Osborne (NE) to study water use in the Republican River Basin. H.R. 4750, the Lower Republican River Basin Study Act, authorizes a federal study to determine solutions to increase water supply reliability, storage and management efficiency between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas.

"There is no more important resource issue in Kansas than water," Moran said. "The study authorized by this legislation will determine ways to enhance water flow and support the more efficient use of resources along the Republican River Basin. I am pleased to work with Congressman Osborne to ensure the availability of water resources in Kansas and Nebraska." 

In January, Moran and Osborne met with Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline and Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning to discuss Republican River water issues. The meeting was held to discuss Nebraska's compliance with the settlement agreement that was finalized in 2003.

"This study is essential to the future management of Republican River water in Nebraska and Kansas," said David Pope, chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture's division of water resources. "It's also important in that it will allow us to implement a provision of the settlement terms reached by Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska over the waters of the Republican River."  

H.R. 4750 now awaits approval in the U.S. Senate.   

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