WSP09812

• File Number: 8407
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 9/1/1982
• Author: Corps of Engineers
• Title: Six State High Plains-Ogallala Aquifer Regional Resources Study - Appendixes Part I - A - B - and C
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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diverted from the North Platte River downstream from Guernsey Dam in

eastern Wyoming and could be transported to lands either to the north

or south of the river. In anticipation that the Box Butte area would

be established as an area of need, a plan was developed using one

pumping plant to lift water from the North Platte River Valley to the

Box Butte area. Recent test drillings, however, indicate more water

exists in the aquifer than previously thought, so the Box Butte area

was not considered further as an area of need.

West Tableland Route

The tableland area lying between the North and South Platte Rivers

has land suitable for irrigation but there is no available surface or

ground water supply. The possibility was considered for delivering

North Platte River water to the tableland area in eKchange for water

delivered to Lake McConaughy from the main canal. Only a few pumping

plants would be required and water could be conveyed by canal southeast

to the tableland. From the tableland area, the canal could continue

southward into northeast Colorado to the previously proposed Narrows

damsite. The water could then be distributed to Colorado service areas

from the damsite. Later, the decision was made to serve only existing

irrigated areas and to not create new areas. At this time, service to

the Nebraska tableland area was dropped from consideration. The lack

of large amounts of water available from the North Platte River and

the potential serious effects on the trout fishery and fall waterfowl

habitat between the diversion and Lake McConaughy also weighted heavily

against this alternative.

East Tableland Route

The Nebraska tableland area could be served by a branch canal from

the main canal in northeast Colorado near Julesburg. Using a series of

pumping plants, water could be conveyed westward to near Sterling,

Colorado, and then across the South Platte River using a diversion dam.

The water could then be pumped northward across the tableland area

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