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The projects provide a valuable contribution to meeting the energy needs of Nebraska by <br />generating an average of about 450 gigawatthours (GWh) of electrical energy annually. <br />Any reduction in the dependable capacity provided by the projects' five hydroelectric <br />powerplants (116 megawatts [MW]) would advance the time when additional, higher cost <br />generating resources would need to be constructed. Further, the energy generated by the <br />projects precludes the need to satisfy current energy needs by means of increased coal -fired <br />generation. This is beneficial in terms of both cost - effectiveness and minimization of <br />atmospheric pollutants. <br />The projects also provide a significant portion of Nebraska's statewide recreational <br />resources. Lake McConaughy, in particular, is of regional importance, drawing a majority <br />of its 500,000 to 700,000 annual visitors from neighboring Colorado. Sandhill crane <br />viewing on the mainstem Platte in March and early April of each year is also a major visitor <br />attraction. Water, fish, and wildlife oriented recreational activities along the Platte River <br />contribute to the economies of the counties and cities along the mainstem Platte. <br />In addition to the No- Action Alternative, nine alternatives are evaluated in the FEIS. <br />• Districts' Proposal <br />• State of Nebraska Plan <br />• Modified Nebraska Plan <br />• Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) Plan <br />• Trust Plan <br />• Conservation Intervenors Plan <br />• Instream Enhancement Alternative <br />• Interior Plan <br />• Interior Plan (Program) <br />Each of the alternatives would modify the current project operating regime and require <br />additional resource protection and improvement measures. The FEIS compares the effects <br />of these alternatives to the conditions that would occur under the current operating regime. <br />Comparisons are made using a computer simulation model of river flows and lake levels <br />over a 49 -year period. <br />The current operating regime, or Baseline, emphasizes irrigation deliveries in the irrigation <br />season and storage releases for maintaining canal integrity and hydropower generation in <br />the nonirrigation season. Carryover storage from one year to the next for drought protection <br />and reservoir recreation is also an important aspect of the Baseline. The result is relatively <br />low summer and autumn flows and high winter and spring flows in the Platte River <br />downstream of the projects from Overton to Grand Island (Figure ES -1). The relatively <br />high Platte River winter flows are advantageous to overwintering bald eagles because the <br />high flows provide open ice -free areas for foraging. In the summer, however, low flows <br />frequently cause poor habitat conditions for aquatic plants and animals and for terns and <br />ES -2 <br />