Water Management Study: Phase 1 Report

• File Number: 8461.100
• Description: Adaptive Management Workgroup
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 1/29/2008
• Author: Boyle Engineering, Ecological Resource Consultants, BBC Research & Consulting, Lytle Water Solutions
• Title: Water Management Study: Phase 1 Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

water through the Platte River system, NPPD's system, and CNPPID's system
given many physical and administrative constraints. In addition to applying
these limitations and constraints to the routing of flows, this study provides a
basis for a critical analysis of which of these constraints is limiting, and to
what extent modifications or relaxations are possible.
• Another issue related to the framework of the tools developed as a part of this
study is how Program water will be administered by the State of Nebraska.
Program water is administered separate from natural flows, similar to other
storage releases. This water is charged a pro-rata amount for river losses, but
in the case of a gain in the river, it does not accrue gains. Program water run
through the NPPD and CNPPID (the Districts) systems is administered the
same losses as if it were to remain in the river. Similar to this administration,
the travel times are assumed to be equivalent to travel times in the river.
• Since the development of the Water Conservation/Supply Reconnaissance
Study, the Reconnaissance Water Action Plan, and the EIS, the Platte River
has seen significant changes in hydrology and flows. The recent dry years
coupled with the spread of Phragmites has changed the regime of the river.
These changes reemphasize the need to consider how Program water can be
used to benefit the critical habitat and target species.
• These meetings and future meetings with Program participants are valuable in
framing the operations and benefits of the current alternatives identified in the
Water Action Plan and additional alternatives to be considered in Phase II to
aid in providing the target flows of 5,000 cfs and 800 cfs of Program water.
3.0 EVALUATION OF PROGRAM FLOW TARGETS
3.1 Program Water
A long-term objective of the Program is to reduce shortages to specified target flows
by an average of 130,000-150,000 acre-feet (ac-ft) per year in the Platte River in
central Nebraska (Platte River valley area from Lexington to Chapman, Nebraska).
The following list describes three initial Program projects and a reference to the
930WLE Page 5 of 58 January 29, 2008
PRRIP - Draft Water Management Study, Phase I