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Endangered Species In the Platte River Basin in Central Nebraska, the whooping crane, piping plover, interior least tern, and pallid sturgeon are lis ted as threatened or endangered under the federal Endan- gered Species Act. The u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the habitat for these species has been reduced by water diversions and land use changes. The CWCB has worked as a member of a three-state partner- ship to (1) improve habitat for these species so water use and future development do not jeopardize these species, (2) help water users to comply with federal laws, and (3) prevent new species from being listed. An Action Plan is being developed to provide an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet per year for restor- ing habitat along the Platte in Central Nebraska. This water will be pro- vided in part by (1) restoring the storage capacity of Pathfinder Reser- voir in Wyoming, (2) establishing an Groundwater Compact Facts South Platte River Compact of 1923 Establishes Colorado's and Nebraska's rights to use water in Lodgepole Creek and the South Platte River. Nebraska has the right to fully use water in Lodgepole Creek before Lodgepole enters Colorado. Colorado has the right to fully use water in the South Platte River between October 15 and April 1. Between April 1 and October 15, if the mean daily flow of the South Platte River at Julesburg drops below 120 cfs and water is needed for beneficial use in Nebraska, water rights in Colorado between the western boundary of Washington County and the state line (the "Lower Section") with priority dates junior to June 14, 1897 are curtailed. In addition to prior perfected rights in Colorado in use at the time of the Compact in the Lower Section, Colorado reserves the right to develop 35,000 acre-feet of storage in the Lower Section. Republican River Compact of 1942 Establishes the rights of Colorado, Nebraska and IZansas to water in the Republi- can River Basin and makes specific allocations of the right to make beneficial consumptive use of water from identified streams. environmental water account in Nebraska's Lake McConaughy, and (3) developing a groundwater recharge and river re-regulation project near Tamarack State Wildlife Area in Colorado. These actions are expected to provide an additional approximately 70,000 acre-feet per year of water for the threatened and endangered species in Central Nebraska. The plan will identify other water conservation or water supply means for further enhanc- ing flow conditions by an additional 60,000 to 80,000 acre-feet per year from water conservation or new water supply sources within the three states. An Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared that analyzes these actions. Following completion of the EIS, the federal government and states may agree to participate in a 15-year implementation program. Designated Groundwater Basins Including the High Plains Aquifer Agriculture, municipal and domestic Wells can yield up to 2,000-3,000 gpm where the sands and gravels are thick and contain only a small percentage of fine materials. Approximately 8 million acre-feet of water is contained in the South Platte alluvium. Precipitation, irrigation return flows, canal seepage, and seasonally from the South Platte River and its tributaries Prior appropriation system with well pumping covered by plans for augmentation or temporary supply plans Source: Colorado Department of Natural Resources Alluvial Aquifer Along the South Platte and its Tributaries Aquifer Characteristics Width: 1 to 10 miles Thickness: < 5 to 200 feet Primary Uses Yield Recharge Source Water Rights Administration Denver Basin Bedrock Aquifers Consist of Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills sedimentary rocks Designated groundwater basins include Lost Creek, Kiowa Bijou, Northern High Plains and Upper Crow Creek. Agricultural and domestic Water in transient storage in the alluvial aquifers varies from 150,000 acre-feet (Upper Crow Creek) to 2.4 million acre-feet (Kiowa Bijou). Municipal, industrial and domestic Water contained in these aquifers within the five-county area in and adjacent to Denver Metropolitan area is approximately 467 million acre-feet, of which 150 million acre-feet is recoverable. 1998 level of use for the Denver Basin is estimated at 57,000 acre-feet/year, or 40.IcJ of the maximum recoverable annual appropriation. Recharge minimal, with the majority coming from outcrop areas Precipitation I imported water, and seasonally from streams Senate Bill 5, administered under a 100-year aquifer life Colorado Ground Water Commission and local management districts ( South Platte River Basin Facts - 4