Mid-High Plains Education Initiative (MHPEI) Project

The Mid-High Plains Education Initiative (MHPEI) is a project of The Groundwater Foundation focused on the Republican River Basin in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. The project’s purpose is to inform citizens of the Republican River Basin about important water issues, and encourage communication and collaboration among citizens and communities for the protection of the area’s water resources.

The need for the project was identified by the Bureau of Reclamation while negotiating irrigation contracts in early 2000. This area has been faced with water quantity and quality issues, subsequent years of severe drought, and recent litigation with the state of Kansas. Because of these factors, as well as a successful past working relationship between the Foundation and the Bureau, The Groundwater Foundation was charged to:

• Create an understanding of basic groundwater concepts and current water-related issues within the Basin.
• Develop a process and a mechanism for continued education in the Basin after the initiative ends.

This five-year project was lead by The Groundwater Foundation concluded in 2005.

This project was sponsored by the Nebraska/Kansas Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation.