摘要：In areas of the High Plains, there is concern about the rate of withdrawal of groundwaterfor irrigation. Aquifer levels in several southwest Nebraska counties are dropping andgroundwater pumping, especially in alluvial areas, may be diminishing surface flows.Policymakers, and many producers in the area, recognize the desirability of moving toward amore efficient use of irrigation water to conserve groundwater and increase net returns.The Upper Republican Natural Resources District1(URNRD), comprising a three countyarea in semi-arid southwest Nebraska with 3,200 irrigation wells, has taken a number of"command and control" steps to address water table declines. The URNRD requires metering ofall irrigation wells (all meters are sealed, read, and serviced by URNRD staff). The District has alimit on irrigated acres per well, a 14.5"/acre/year allocation for all irrigation wells, and amoratorium on new wells. The allocations are given in 5-year allotments, allowing year-to-yearflexibility.
