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<br />Transbasin Diversions <br /> <br />It is est imated that more than 300,000 acre-feet are imported into the <br />South Platte River System annually through some 16 transbasin diversion <br />projects. Notable among these projects are the Moffat collection system <br />and the Blue River system operated by the Denver Water Board, and the <br />Colorado-Big Thompson Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and <br />the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. A substantial <br />portion is for irrigation use, and another large block serves municipal <br />and industrial needs, especially in the Denver metropolitan area. <br />Transmountain diversions into the North Platte River Basin, which are <br />basically for municipal supply, total less than 40,000 acre-feet per <br />ye ar. <br /> <br />North Platte River <br /> <br />Two units of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Project, the Kortes Unit <br />and the Gl endo Unit, together with the Kendrick Project and the North <br />Pl atte Project, provide a system of structures for storing and using <br />the flows of the North Pl atte River. All of these facil ities were <br />built by the Bureau of Recl amation. The Kortes Unit, consisting of <br />Kortes Dam, Reservoi rand Powerpl ant, 1 ies in a narrow gorge on the <br />North Platte River about 60 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming. <br />Power generation and limited recreation use are the functions of this <br />unit. Glendo, a multiple-purpose development, consists of Glendo Dam, <br />Reservoi rand Powerpl ant, Fremont Canyon Powerpl ant, and Gray Reef Dam <br />and reregulating reservoir. This unit is capable of furnishing up to <br />40,000 acre-feet of water annually for irrigation in Wyoming and <br />Nebraska. Power generation, flood control, fish and wildlife enhance- <br />ment, recreation, sed iment retenti on, po 11 ut i on abatement, and water <br />quality improvement are other project benefits. <br /> <br />The Glendo Unit is operated in conformity with the North Platte River <br />Decree as amended. Irrigation water from Glendo Reservoir is delivered <br />to water users in the North Platte River Valley at and below Whalen <br />Diversion Dam, a feature of the North Platte Project. <br /> <br />Major features of the Kendrick Project are Seminoe Dam and Powerplant, <br />Alcova Dam and Powerplant, the Casper Canal and laterals, drainage <br />control, and a power distribution system. Irrigation, power generation, <br />recreation, and fish and wildlife are important functions of this <br />proj ect. <br /> <br />The North Platte Project was the first Federal development on the North <br />Platte River. Features include Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir; Guernsey <br />Dam, Reservoir, and powerplant; Whalen Diversion Dam; Lake Alice, Lake <br />Minatare, two small regulating reservoirs; canals, laterals, and <br />drains; and power transmission lines. Irrigation water is delivered to <br />1 ands in Wyoming and Nebraska. Other funct ions i ncl ude hydroel ectric <br />power, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife. <br /> <br />Within Nebraska above Lake McConaughy, the flow of the North Platte is <br />altered substantially by diversions and return flows from the extensive <br /> <br />22 <br />