III. Loup Basin Water Association

The Loup Basin Water Association (LBWA) brings together 5 irrigation districts covering 189,000 acres, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Loup Basin RC&D and the Lower Loup Natural Resources District to discuss and address irrigation and surface water issues.

• They hold regular monthly meetings.

• Loup Basin RC&D also produces and distributes a newsletter "LBWA Happenings" periodically to inform the members of upcoming issues and events.

• They have held 3 annual water conferences to educate and inform irrigation districts, Natural Resource Districts (NRD), Resource Conservation & Developments (RC&D) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) employees on current issues and new technologies. Resource people from NRCS, Lower Loup NRD, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Nebraska Fish and Wildlife Service have spoken at the conferences.

• A tour of three of the irrigation districts structures and projects was held in October 2000, with 20 people attending. This tour included the Arcadia Diversion Dam, the Sargent Diversion Dam, and a stretch of canal that has a tire mat in place.

• A second irrigation tour was held in August 2001 with 39 people attending. This tour included the Kent Dam, Burwell Diversion Dam, and the Calamus Dam.