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WATER USE AND MANAGEMENT IN THE UPPER PLATTE RIVER BASIN INTRODUCTION The Upper Platte River Study is the culmination of many activities, which began in earnest in 1974 when the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed a wildlife refuge along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. Review and discussion of this proposal revealed a general lack of information on the basic hydrology of this reach of the river, the impact of upstream activities and adjacent ground-water development, and the interrelationships between streamflow and habitat conditions. It became apparent that data gathering for analysis of the resource base was necessary prior to any determi nat i on of resource use opt ions for the Platte River Basin. In 1 ate 1976, the Secretary of the Interior, in a letter to the Governors of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado, summarized a continuing series of meetings and discussions by stating that the Department would pursue initi ation of technical studies on the Pl atte River to fill information and data gaps. He charged Interior officials to continue discussions with appropriate state representatives and other interests leading to the conduct of these technical studies. These efforts led to three commitments by Interior: 1. Funding would be sought by the Bureau of Reclamation (BR) to conduct water operation and water use investigations; 2. Funding would be sought by BR for transfer to the Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct hydrologic investigations; 3. An administrative structure would be formed to coordinate these studies with the states, the Federal agencies, and other appropriate interests. Activities were initiated to seek congressional authority and funding for these commitments and to relate the field efforts being started by FWS. Public Law 95-482, approved October 18, 1978, authorized appropriations for BR and USGS to begin their Upper Platte River technical studies. Funding for both agencies started in fiscal year 1979. This study addresses and analyzes the present and potential water and re lated 1 and resources prob 1 ems, demands, issues, and confl icts in the Upper Platte River Basin. Alternative uses of water, both consumptive demands and nonconsumpt ive requi rements, and rel ated 1 and resources, were considered and evaluated along with the economic and environmental impacts. The techni cal i nformat ion deve loped and presented for the various alternatives can be considered in the future management of waters in the study area.