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4.2 Water Leasing in Nebraska <br />Nebraska has not yet identified specific irrigation districts or individual farmers that are <br />willing to participate in a leasing program in conjunction with the Program. The <br />willingness to participate is also unknown at this time. Due to these conditions, a leasing <br />program was evaluated for Reaches 10 (Julesburg, CO gage to South Platte at North <br />Platte, Nebraska gage) and 14 through 19 (Keystone Diversion gage to Grand Island, <br />Nebraska gage). It was assumed that representative leasing projects are located at the <br />mid-point of each reach because specific irrigation districts and lands willing to <br />participate in the Program are not yet known. The reaches are defined as follows: <br />• Reach 10: Julesburg, CO gage to South Platte at North Platte, Nebraska gage <br />• Reach 14: Keystone I)iversion gage to North Platte at North Platte, Nebraska <br />gage <br />• Reach 15: North Platte at North Platte, Nebraska, gage to Brady, Nebraska <br />gage <br />• Reach 16: Brady, Nebraska gage to Cozad, Nebraska gage <br />• Reach 17: Cozad, Nebraska gage to Overton, Nebraska gage <br />• Reach 18: Overton, Nebraska gage to Odessa, Nebraska gage <br />• Reach 19: Odessa, Nebraska gage to Grand Island, Nebraska gage <br />In general, water would be leased from an irrigation district or farmer with storage rights <br />in Lake McConaughy. The reduction in consumptive use will likely be added to the EA <br />when storage space is available and released during times of shortage at the critical <br />habitat. The leasing program that has been analyzed considers leasing approximately <br />25,500 ac-ft annually, which corresponds to a reduction of approximately 17,000 ac-ft/yr <br />delivered on farm and a reduction in consumptive use of about 8,400 ac-ft/yr. <br />F30VLE <br />Page 41 of 58 <br />January 29, 2008 <br />PRRIP - Draft Water Management Study, Phase I