Middle Republican NRD

What Middle Republican NRD does

The Middle Republican Natural Resource District (MRNRD) is a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska, created under Nebraska Revised Statutes §§ 46-701 to 46-754, and is one of 23 Natural Resources Districts in the state. MRNRD is responsible for protecting natural resources and assisting landowners in planning, funding, and applying conservation practices across a 5-county footprint in southwest Nebraska (Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock, Lincoln, and Red Willow counties) within the Republican River Basin. Its core operational mandate is integrated surface water and groundwater management, exercised through statutory authority over well permits, groundwater allocations (60 inches plus a 12-inch allowable reserve over a 5-year period), variance approvals, and compliance enforcement under a 5th Generation Integrated Management Plan jointly adopted with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

MRNRD's service portfolio spans regulatory functions (well permits, variance processing, penalty hearings for groundwater violations), conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, High-Tech Irrigation Program with subsurface drip conversion incentives, tree planting, cost-share), infrastructure investments (1,000 new flow meters funded via a $523,215 USDA WaterSMART award), educational outreach (ACE Camp, Nebraska ON TAP podcast), and operational tools (NeRAIN weather monitoring network with 69 active stations, Irrigation Usage Calculator, GIS-based water reporting systems implemented with GIS Workshop, groundwater modeling via Brown & Caldwell). The N-CORPE project — supported in part by up to $23,750,000 in Series 2013 bonds — represents the district's largest water-augmentation initiative in the basin.

The district is funded through a hybrid government revenue model: property tax levies (mill levy ~0.031243; FY 2017-18 property tax requirement of approximately $1,305,485), occupation taxes on irrigated acres ($10.00/unit, with annual non-irrigated certification exemptions), state and federal grants (Nebraska Environmental Trust, USDA NRCS, WaterSMART, Ogallala Aquifer Initiative), program fees, equipment rentals (Horizon Drill, Gopher Getter), and conservation product sales. FY 2017-18 budget disbursements and transfers totaled approximately $7.2M. Service delivery occurs through a main office in Curtis (208 Center Avenue), a field office in Trenton co-located with the USDA NRCS Service Center, and direct field-staff engagement with landowners for meter reading (October–December), technical assistance, and program enrollment.

Name

Middle Republican NRD

Legal name

Middle Republican Natural Resource District

Website

https://mrnrd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Middle Republican Natural Resource District is a Nebraska political subdivision that manages integrated surface and groundwater resources, administers conservation programs, and enforces water allocations for agricultural producers and landowners across a 5-county footprint in the Republican River Basin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Resource Management / Water Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Land, Water & Mineral Rights for Renewables (Water Rights, Geothermal Resource Rights) (EUAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• Groundwater allocation services
• Agricultural conservation programs
• Water metering and reporting
• Soil and water conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Curtis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: MRNRD collects property tax with a mill levy rate. Historical mill levy approximately 0.031243.
2. Occupation Tax: Charge on irrigated acres or water users. Historical rate at $10.00 per unit.
3. State and Federal Grants: Funding from Nebraska Environmental Trust, USDA NRCS programs (EQIP, CSP), WaterSMART initiative, and other conservation grants. Notable grants include $523,215 WaterSMART award, $238,000 additional EQIP funds, and approximately $750,000 from Ogallala Aquifer Initiative.
4. Program Fees and Cost-Share: Fees for services including tree planting, equipment rental (Horizon Drill, Gopher Getter), and equipment sales (Poison Milo Bait, Meter Covers, Flags, Tree Tubes, Mulch Squares, Water Conservation Mulch, Staples).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Middle Republican Natural Resource District is a Nebraska state political subdivision that manages groundwater allocation, conservation practices, and natural resource protection across five counties in the Republican River Basin. It delivers regulatory services (well permits, variances, compliance enforcement), cost-share and conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, High-Tech Irrigation, N-CORPE), irrigation meter reading, the NeRAIN weather/rainfall monitoring network, and public education programs for agricultural producers, ranchers, and landowners.

Product overview

Middle Republican Natural Resource District operates as a governmental conservation organization offering a portfolio of natural resource management services focused on water, soil, and wildlife conservation in southwest Nebraska. The core offerings include regulatory services (well permits, variances, groundwater management), conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, High-Tech Irrigation, N-CORPE project), educational programs (ACE Camp, Nebraska ON TAP podcast), and practical tools (Irrigation Usage Calculator, Water Calculator). The district also participates in the NeRAIN rainfall monitoring network and provides equipment rentals. These programs collectively support landowners in the Republican River Basin with water management, conservation practices, and natural resource protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nebraska ON TAP: A podcast created by MRNRD covering groundwater management in Nebraska and the Republican River Basin.

Products and services

• Natural Resource District Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 inches water allocation plus 12 inches allowable reserve over 5-year allocation periods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NeRAIN (Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2004Launched April 2004 with 12 other NRDs, funded in part by Nebraska Environmental Trust. Collects precipitation data from volunteer weather watchers across 21 of 23 NRDs. Data processed by NRDs, NeDNR, and other water-focused organizations.
• Upper Republican NRDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Republican River Basin-wide planning and water management. Joint annual meetings for basin-wide plan development. Shares information and coordinates water allocation strategies with other NRDs in the basin.
• Lower Republican NRDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Republican River Basin-wide planning and water management. Partners on LB1098 basin planning initiatives and water sustainability efforts.
• Tri-Basin NRDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 1098 Basin Planning involving multiple NRDs and stakeholders. Collaborates on Republican River Compact compliance efforts.
• Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Integrated Management Plans (IMP) for integrated surface water and groundwater management. Coordinates on Republican River Compact compliance and water allocations. MRNRD designated as fully appropriated on July 16, 2004.
• Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization of all 23 NRDs. MRNRD participates in NARD meetings, annual conferences, basin tours, and coordinated lobbying efforts. NARD provides programming on TV and radio including KRVN.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared staff positions and field offices. Coordinates EQIP, CSP, and other conservation programs. NRCS provides technical assistance for erosion control, soil health, and range management. Local Working Group meetings held for program prioritization.
• Brown & CaldwellminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm engaged for studies on Frenchman Valley Canal, Medicine Creek Watershed Model updates, Red Willow Watershed modeling, and compliance support. Retainer agreement established.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for monitoring well installation. UNL Extension provides educational programming. Partnership on National Envirothon (2020) and Envirothon competitions.
• Frenchman Valley Irrigation District (FVID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater lease agreement for canal water at $18/acre foot during compact call years and $9/acre foot during non-compact call years with $150,000 annual cap. Long-term agreement for water management.
• N-CORPE (Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor water enhancement project. MRNRD supports N-CORPE through bond financing (Series 2013 bonds, up to $23,750,000), water purchases, and land management. Project includes Wellfleet Lake, P2 dam, wind energy potential, and land retirement for water conservation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lower Elkhorn NRD: Nebraska NRD operating under the same statutory framework (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 46-701 to 46-754) with comparable water allocation, well permitting, and conservation programming functions.
• Central Platte NRD: Nebraska Natural Resources District covering a comparable agricultural region with similar groundwater management authority, water allocation frameworks, and NRD-mandated conservation programming.
• North Platte NRD: Western Nebraska NRD with similar semi-arid agricultural conditions and irrigation-focused water management mandate. Comparable scale and customer base to MRNRD with overlapping regulatory authority.
• Lower Republican NRD: Adjacent NRD in the same Republican River Basin, partnering with MRNRD on LB1098 basin planning initiatives and water sustainability. Shares the same statutory authority, customer base profile, and compact compliance obligations.
• Upper Republican NRD: Neighboring Natural Resources District in the Republican River Basin with overlapping groundwater management responsibilities. Collaborates with MRNRD on basin-wide planning and water allocation strategies, making it the most directly comparable peer in scale and mandate.
• Lower Platte NRD: Eastern Nebraska NRD with comparable groundwater management authority under Nebraska's NRD framework. Operates similar integrated management, allocation, and conservation programming structures.
• Tri-Basin NRD: Neighboring Nebraska NRD that collaborates with MRNRD on 1098 Basin Planning and Republican River Compact compliance. Operates with similar regulatory structure and conservation programming for agricultural producers.
• Papio-Missouri River NRD: Larger Nebraska NRD operating under the same state statutory framework with similar groundwater management, conservation programming, and landowner services mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Nebraska Department of Natural Resources: State-level agency that co-develops Integrated Management Plans with MRNRD and oversees broader surface water and groundwater policy across Nebraska. Functions as both a partner and higher-level regulatory authority.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Nebraska): Federal conservation agency that partners with MRNRD via shared staff and field offices, administering EQIP and CSP programs. Comparable conservation delivery mission at federal level across larger geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MiddleRepNRD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NebraskaOnTap
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiddleRepNRD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/middle-republican-nrd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Middle Republican NRD