BOARD00498

• Board Meeting Date: 3/10/1998
• Description: South Platte River Basin Issues - Endangered Species Issues - 3 State MOU Implementation - Status Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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water related activities in'the basin.

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The first phase of the proposed Program (10-12 years) would:

. Reduce shortages to the c;urrent target flows by an average of 130,000 to

150,000 acre. feet per year. The proposed Program would restore the original

storage capacity of Pathflllder Reservoir in Wyoming; establish an

em-ironmental water account in Lake McConaughy in Nebraska; and develop

a groundwater recharge and river re-regulation project near Tamarack State

Wildlife Area in Colorado. These tlll'ee actions are expected to reduce

shortages by approximatelY 70,000 acre-feet of water. A basin-wide study

will look for ways to provide an additional 60,000 acre-foot reduction in flow

shortages through water conservation and water supply options.

. Protect or restore, through acquisition, lease, or easement, 10,000 acres of .

habitat in the Central Pl!j.tte River area between Lexington and Chapman,

Nebraska. The Nebraska public Power District's Cottonwood Ranch between

Overton and Elm Creek (2,650 acres) will contribute to that goal. 3

All water conservation, habitat management, leases, easements, or acquisition of

lands to meet these goals would be undertaken only with willing sellers and participants. ,

Progress made under this initial phase of the proposed Program would be closely

monitored. The cooperating entities would then evaluate the results of the first phase and

3 In later phases of the proposed Program, the holdings of the Platte River Whooping
Crane Maintenance Trust, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nature Conservancy,
and the Audubon Society, totaling approximately 9,000 acres of habitat, will be included toward
the long-term goal of29,000 acres.

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