NorthPlatteBasinWaterSupplyandNeedsReport

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Section 9 Options for Meeting Future Water Needs '.IlL additional agricultural water rights will be needed to ensure adequate supply during below normal runoff conditions. . New reservoirs provide flat water recreation opportunities. Boating, swimming, and lake fishing opportunities are increased. . Storage often provides consistent flows below the storage facility that can provide ideal cold water fishery habitat Many of the Gold Medal fisheries in Colorado are below storage facilities. . There is the potential for hydropower generation. The potential issues and conflicts in developing new storage projects include: . There may be environmental impacts to the aquatic and terrestrial environment These impacts are likely to be more significant than those resulting from enlarging existing storage facilities. . Loss of recreation associated with free-flowing streams, such as fishing, rafting, and kayaking. . Water quality impacts can be associated with impounded water. . Cultural impacts associated with inundation of lands. . Permitting and mitigation can be more expensive and lengthy than other water supply options and have an uncertain outcome. . A significant amount of storage may be required to produce an acre-foot of firm yield. The amount of storage required will be basin and water rights specific. 9.2.3.2 Expansion of Existing Storage Facilities The expansion of existing storage facilities can be a cost- effective means to develop additional storage. Options for increasing storage in existing facilities include raising dam embankments, dredging of sediments, and deepening reservoirs and raising spillway levels. The expansion of existing storage facilities has several benefits including: . There are likely to be less environmental and recreational issues than for new storage, since the reservoir already exists. . Permitting and mitigation requirements may be less difficult than for construction of a new storage facility. CONI 9-12 . Existing water rights are not affected if the water is to be stored under a new water right . The expansion of storage to capture unappropriated water can potentially reduce the pressure to transfer water from existing uses (Le., agricultural water) to meet future water needs. . The expansion of storage for unappropriated water captures an unused resource. . The expansion of storage helps to maximize compact entitlements for beneficial use within the State of Colorado. . Overall system efficiencies are increased by minimizing system spills. . The yields of exchanges and non-potable reuse for irrigation are increased. Maximizing the reuse of consumable return flows requires storage, since return flows occur year-round, but the demand for irrigation is seasonal. . Storage is required to firm the yield of transfers of agricultural water rights. If additional storage is not constructed, additional agricultural water rights will be needed to ensure adequate supply during below normal runoff conditions. The potential issues and conflicts in expanding existing reservoirs include: . Environmental and recreation impacts can also occur here depending on the size of facility. . Expanding existing storage facilities does not diversify water sources and the risks of structural failures or water quality catastrophes are not reduced. . Permitting and mitigation, though typically less difficult than that for new storage, can still be expensive and lengthy with an uncertain outcome. . A significant amount of storage may be required to produce an acre-foot of firm yield. The amount of storage required will be basin and water rights specific. . There are a limited number of reservoirs that can be enlarged. Many reservoirs are not cost-effective to enlarge. . There is a limited volume of increased storage available through reservoir enlargements. . The enlargement of existing reservoirs may not be cheaper than new storage. The original dam embankments and spillways, in many instances, were S:\1177\Basin Reports\North Platte\S9_North Platte.doc