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<br />The "with agreement" simulation examines the flows that would have occurred <br />had the reservoir been operated according to the agreement. We find that the <br />depletions of the "without agreement" simulation have been cut approximately <br />in half; the flow at the mouth of the Laramie is reduced by 21 000 acre-ft/yr, <br />on average, which would reduce average flow at Overton by 1. 5%. However, <br />during the years 1957 and 1958, when downstream users were trying to recover <br />from the drought, reservoir replenishment under the terms of the agreement <br />would have caused a 4% decrease in flow at Overton. <br />The agreement does more than simply moderate the effects of the reservoir; <br />it provides legal guarantees of certain minimum flows. The minimum guaranteed <br />flow varies with the pattern of inflows and the reservoir level, but in all <br />cases will exceed 23 000 acre-ft/yr. These flows take priority even over water <br />use at the power plant itself. Without the agreement, there is no such guar- <br />antee. Furthermore, without the agreement there is nothing to prevent addi- <br />tional diversions of storage water from Grayrocks Reservoir, which would even <br />further reduce the flow delivered into the North Platte. <br />In the simulation of the reservoir operation with the agreement, no account <br />was taken of the Corn Creek Irrigation Project. The agreement stipulates that <br />Corn Creek, if it is ever built, is entitled to 22 500 acre-ft/yr from the <br />reservoir. This obligation is to be met by reducing the minimum flows deliv- <br />ered into the North Platte. In that event, however, MBPP may meet this obliga- <br />tion either by releasing additional flows from Grayrocks or by buying up water <br />rights in Wyoming to be delivered into the North Platte. MBPP will probably <br />decide to purchase additional water rights rather than increase its releases <br />from Grayrocks because even without Corn Creek there may be times when opera- <br />tion of the power plant will have to be curtailed due to lack of water. <br />These additional releases mean that Corn Creek, when and if it is built, <br />will have only a small impact on the minimum flows guaranteed in the agreement. <br />In fact, again assuming a return flow of 7500 acre-ft/yr, Corn Creek will only <br />reduce the deliveries into the North Platte by about 3750 acre-ft/yr. More- <br />over, even this decrease is not certain. Corn Creek ~ay use the 10 000 acre-ft <br />remaining in Wyoming's share of Glendo Reservoir. Use of this allotment at <br />Corn Creek will return perhaps 2000 to 4000 acre-ft to the North Platte; use <br />of this water for any other purpose mayor may not return flow to the North <br />Platte. <br /> <br />50 <br />