Physical History of the Platte River in Nebraska

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1 2.1 Water Resources Development History Precipitation is generally too low for many types of crops in the plains region of the Platte River Basin where temperature and soil conditions are otherwise acceptable for agriculture. Water production from the mountains produces significant runoff that provided the basis for irrigation as a means to develop an agriculturally -based modern economy by using runoff from rivers. As various groups or individuals began to settle the area, water from the tributaries and eventually from the Platte River itself was put to beneficial use beginning in the mid- 1800s. Initially, water was diverted from these streams onto the adjacent floodplain during times of moderate to high runoff. Since the need for water extends throughout the summer when agricultural water demand is greatest and natural runoff recedes to very low levels, water storage and management projects were subsequently developed. Due to the relatively small amount of available water, the semi -arid region west of the Missouri River was once believed to be a desert that could not support human civilization. Eschner et al. (1983) attributes the naming of this portion of the country as "The Great American Desert" to Long in 1820. To grow many types of crops in this area, irrigation was needed to supplement the low precipitation in the plains region of the Platte River basin. Runoff from snowmelt in rivers from the mountains flowing through the plains provides a source for water for irrigation. Diversion of water out of the rivers for irrigation purposes became the initial step in significant water resources development. 2.1.1 Canal Building Canals were built starting in the 1800's to convey water diverted from rivers and streams to arable land as described below, and subdivided into various segments or sub -basins of the Platte River system. South Platte River Basin Now The earliest irrigation development in the Platte River basin took place in 1838 on the Cache la Poudre River, a tributary of the South Platte River ( Eschner et al., 1983). These irrigators dug ditches directly from the river to irrigate lands within the floodplain. With the discovery of gold and early settlement in the region in the 1860's, small irrigation projects were started and larger canals were constructed. Between 1861 and 1870, 376 rirrigation canals were constructed in the South Platte River basin (see Table 2.1 taken from Eschner et al., 1983). This was followed by 533 canals between 1871 and 1880, r and 364 additional canals between 1881 and 1890. 1