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1"f,.C'..,....3 I.....~ _ : t. surface water irrigation development. Two major water supply systems have been developed in Nebraska; the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and the Nebraska Public Power District. The Nebraska Public Power District system includes a hydroelectric plant and furnishes irrigation water from Lake McConaughy to the Platte River and to Sutherland Reservoir and Lake Maloney, offstream storage facilities along the South Platte River in Nebraska. The Central Nebraska District system inc ludes Lake McConau9hy, divers ion dams, canal s, reregul atory reservoirs, three hydroelectric pl ants and an extensive irrigation distribution system. Water operations of these districts are fully integrated and, when combined with the water operations of the Wyoming portion, result in the North Platte River being one of the most inten- sively developed rivers in the United States. South Platte River The South Platte River originates on the eastern slope of the Rockies about 80 miles southwest of Denver. It flows east out of the Rockies, turns north through the Denver metropolitan area, and then east as it traverses the plains, flowing across the northeast corner of Colorado into Nebraska, joining the North PI atte River to form the mainstem at North Platte, Nebraska. Total average annual surface water suppl ies in the South PI atte in Colorado are estimated at 1.8 million acre-feet. This total is composed of nat ive waters and water diverted from the Colorado and North Pl atte River Basins. The South Platte and its tributaries drain portions of all three States. Major tributaries from the mountainous areas include Bear Creek, Clear Creek, Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek, Big Thompson River, and Cache la poudre River. In the plains, principal tributaries include Cherry, Sand, Box Elder, Kiowa, Bijou, Badger, Beaver, Crow, Pawnee and Lodgepole Creeks. The primary emphasis in developing waters of the South Platte system has been for irrigation, municipal and industrial water, and power generation. Subs tant i a 1 effort has a I so been devoted to controll i n9 floods. In most instances, recreation and fish and wildlife needs have also been served. A complex system of diversion dams, storage reservoirs, distribution canals, 1 aterals, and drains has been constructed. More than 60 reser- voirs with capacities exceeding 5,000 acre-feet have been constructed (see table 5). Total storage capacity in the South Platte Basin subarea exceeds 2,000,000 acre-feet. Several structures have been developed on the South Pl atte River to serve the municipal needs of Denver. Dams and reservoirs include Antero, Elevenmile Canyon, and Cheesman. A diversion dam at Strontia Springs, a part of the Foothi lIs Water Treatment Project, is under construction on the South Platte by the Denver Water Board. Transbasin 23