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<br />Section 8 <br />Options for the North Platte Basin <br />'.1111 <br /> <br />percentage of the Identified Projects and Processes are <br />not fully implemented, the options discussed in this <br />section could be used toward addressing the resulting <br />increase in gaps. It is also emphasized that there is not <br />unanimity regarding these options. More dialogue and <br />consensus building would be needed to move these <br />options forward. <br /> <br />As discussed in Section 6.2, the North Platte Basin is not <br />expected to see significant increases in M&I water needs <br />between now and 2030. As noted in Section 5, the North <br />Platte Basin's irrigated agricultural acreage is expected <br />to remain within the amount allowed under the decree. <br />The basin's future demands will primarily be met using <br />existing supplies and water rights, and as such, specific <br />Identified Projects and Processes were not cataloged for <br />the North Platte Basin. As in each basin, opportunities to <br />manage water to enhance the environment and <br />recreational opportunities may exist in the North Platte <br />Basin. <br /> <br />A list of projects or water management options for further <br />consideration in meeting the basin's future water needs <br />is presented in Table 8-6. This list was developed and <br />refined through the series of three Basin Roundtable <br />Technical meetings held in the North Platte Basin, <br />augmented by additional input from the Basin Advisor, <br />Basin Roundtable members, and individual entities <br />throughout the basin. <br /> <br />As noted in the table, each of the water management <br />options brought forth through SWSI for the North Platte <br />Basin revolves around additional storage to firm up water <br />supplies for M&I and agricultural users. In many cases, <br />the options are at a conceptual stage of development <br />and therefore have relatively little information available <br /> <br />CONI <br /> <br />8-16 <br /> <br />about their yield or other characteristics. In most cases, <br />additional studies or information would be needed to <br />advance these water management options toward <br />implementation. <br /> <br />Depending on the nature of each of the storage projects, <br />it may be possible to broaden their purpose to include <br />storage and releases for environmental and recreational <br />needs. However, as noted throughout SWSI and in each <br />basin, cost allocation and funding/financing for such <br />modifications and beneficiaries would need to be <br />addressed before these enhancements could be <br />incorporated. In addition, storage limitations under the <br />decree may limit future options. <br /> <br />Environmental and recreational water management <br />solutions were discussed conceptually in SWSI, with <br />many of the concepts aligning with the approaches (such <br />as "conserve, protect, and restore") highlighted in <br />Section 6.1.3. No specific recreational projects were <br />brought forth through the Basin Roundtable process for <br />the North Platte Basin. However, CDOW has proposed <br />an environmental enhancement option for the North <br />Platte Basin. CDOW suggests that expanding Lake John <br />could be accomplished by raising existing dams by <br />4 feet This could in turn provide additional augmentation <br />water for the North Platte River and address <br />evapotranspiration losses from the reservoir. CDOW <br />anticipates that this option could then eliminate the <br />problems associated with winter kills of the trophy sport <br />fishery in North Park. Listed as a medium priority by <br />CDOW, this project is conceptual at present, and no <br />project authorization or expansion filing is in place to <br />date. <br /> <br />S:\1177\Basin Reports\North Platte\SB_North Platte.doc <br />