Cooperation: It's better late than never

Can something good come out of the Republican River dispute with Kansas?

We won't go that far, but it is true that adversity can make one stronger, whether it's as an individual or as a society as a whole.

One of the popular Nebraska arguments against the settlement favoring Kansas is that conditions are vastly different today than they were back in 1943 when the Republican River Compact was drawn up.

Conservation practices, which are federal policy as well as responsible stewardship of soil and water resources, are much more extensive now than they were during World War II and before. Much less water runoff now reaches the river to wend its way across the border in Kansas.

And, very many more trees now line the river, using hundreds of gallons of water each day that otherwise would have stayed in the river.

Now, with the real threat of a massive reduction in irrigation or financial penalties on the horizon, Nebraska authorities have been spurred into action on a wide scale that encompasses several separate governmental entities.

Red Willow County weed superintendent Bill Elliott explained to county commissioners Monday, the new, "Southwest Weed Management Area" and how it could improve the Republican River situation through cooperation between Red Willow and Hitchcock counties.

The Southwest WMA, along with another WMA farther downstream, is applying for a $200,000 grant to deal with stubborn infestations of salt cedar, Russian olives and cottonwoods, which are sucking up groundwater that otherwise could contribute to the flows in the Republican River.

The effort is inline with U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne's effort to encourage landowners to apply for weed control programs offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDA.

While Red Willow County has plenty of water-sapping cottonwood trees and Russian olives along the river, salt cedar and phragmites (a type of reed that grows in clumps) have not become a problem here -- yet.

However, salt cedar could easily spread downstream from Swanson Lake at Trenton, Elliott said.

And, the WMA can help fund efforts against other noxious weeds as well.

Red Willow and Hitchcock counties should have been cooperating on weed problems all along.

But, in light of the urgency to deal with the Republican River Compact dispute, better late than never.