Report on the Platte River Basin, Nebraska Level B Study

• Description: related to the Platte River Endangered Species Partnership ‎(aka Platte River Recovery Implementation Program or PRRIP)‎
• State: NE
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 6/1/1976
• Author: Missouri River Basin Commission
• Title: Report on the Platte River Basin, Nebraska Level B Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Guidelines and Assumptions
To conduct a study of this nature, certain
guidelines and assumptions are necessary. The
following were established and observed during the
course of the study.
1. The year 1970 was used as a base to
represent existing conditions and to develop
projections.
2. OBERS' Series C population projections
were used as representative of future conditions
and the resultant demands for water and related
lands. Two additional population projections
developed by the State of Nebraska were used to
estimate the sensitivity of various functions to
population.
3. Only projects and programs completed as of
1970 were considered as existing. Projects
authorized or underway were considered in the
planning process.
4. Transfer of water into or out of the Platte
Basin was not considered. Transfer of water
from one subbasin to another was considered.
5. Cost estimates of programs and projects
were based on 1974 prices. Future operation,
maintenance, and replacement costs were also
estimated at 1974 prices when required.
6. All existing legal constraints were recog-
nized and observed. Where changes or adjust-
ments appeared to be warranted, they were
identified.
7. Future water development in Wyoming and
Colorado would be within the Court Decree on
the North Platte River and the Interstate Com-
pact on the South Platte River.
8. The evaluation of future conditions without a
plan assumed continuation of historic trends and
programs now in effect. Such trends may or may
not be attained with changes in public needs and
desires.
9. No major technological revolutions or break-
throughs were considered.
10. Fish and wildlife demands for the Omaha
Metropolitan Area and recreation demands were
assumed to be exerted uniformly in every direc-
tion from population centers and were not limited
to the subbasin of origin. In any given direction,
however, visitations declined the farther one had
to travel from the population center.
OBERS is an acronym representing a joint project of the Office of
Business Economics, (now the Bureau of Economic Analysis) U. S.
Department of Commerce, and the Economic Research
Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
11. It was assumed that a market existed for any
agricultural product produced and that irriga-
tion with ground water would continue where
both suitable water supplies and lands were
coexistent.
12. The period of economic analysis was 100
years except for those major features whose
useful life would be less, in which case their life
expectancy was used.
Organization
The study was organized under directives pro-
vided by the U. S. Water Resources Council. It was
supervised by the Water Resources Council until
the Missouri River Basin Commission (MRBC)
became operational and accepted study manage-
ment in June 1972. Figure 2 shows how the study
was organized.
MISSOURI RIVER BASIN COMMISSION
The Missouri River Basin Commission accepted
responsibility for management of the Platte River
Basin Study and provided a Study Director for
study management and coordination at the field
level. The MRBC is a state - federal commission with
membership consisting of representatives from 10
states, 10 federal departments, and two interstate
compact organizations.
STUDY DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
The Study Director was given authority and
responsibility for conduct of the study. He was
responsible for study management and coordina-
tion of activities and served as chairman of the
planning board. An Assistant Director was provided
by the State of Nebraska to assist in management of
the study. He served as vice - chairman of the
planning board and was responsible for execution
of plan formulation.
STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
A State Advisory Committee was formed to pro-
vide State needs and desires to the Assistant Di-
rector; membership is shown in Figure 2. The
Committee conducted a public attitude survey of
1,000 people early in the Study to help identify
public preferences and objectives for use in plan
formulation.
The results of the survey indicate Nebraska resi-
dents in the Platte River Basin felt that economic
problems such as inflation and increased food