WSP00209

• File Number: 8460.500
• Description: Platte River Recovery Plan
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 5/30/2000
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Draft Water Action Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

river. However, water quality could be degraded and fish and aquatic habitat negatively
impacted during the winter months if river flows are reduced. Pumping and recharge in
certain areas could result in the dissolution and mobilization of salts that are either native
to the geologic material or a byproduct offertilizers, which could have negative impacts
on water quality

The groundwater management programs described above would likely have minimal
impact on recreational opportunities. If recharge basins are used for a conjunctive use
project there could be some recreational benefits associated with the creation of
additional wildlife habitat areas.

5, DRY CREEK/FoRT KEARNY CUTOFFS

o Location:

The Dry Creek/Ft. Kearney Cutoffs consist of two projects within TBNRD, as shown in
Figure 1. The first project involves a cutoff from Lost Creek to North Dry Creek located
south of Kearney in Sections 9 and 16, Township 7 North, Range 16 West. The second
project involves a cutoff from Lost Creek to the Fort Kearny Improvement Project Area
(IPA) located south of Kearney in Sections 1 and 12 of Township 7 North, Range 16
West. Both of these projects are located within the area influenced by the groundwater
mound. Further evaluation and study is required to define the relationship between the
groundwater mound and these projects.

o Basic Description:

TBNRD has made some preliminary estil1Iates that the Lost-Creek cutoff projects. The
two projects presented below would be operated to return existing flows in Lost Creek or
releases from the Funk Lagoon to the Platte River. These cutoffs could also be operated
similar to active pumping from the grounliwater mound, described under groundwater
management. The potential yields from active pumping were not included for these two
cutoff projects since the yields were included under the groundwater management option.
,
If active pumping were included with theicutoff projects, well(s) could be installed in
high groundwater areas to pump water into Lost Creek during periods of target flow
shortage.

Option 1: Lost CreekINorth Dry Creek Cutoff. Through an agreement with the North
Dry Creek Drainage Board, TBNRD inst~lled a 20-cfs cutoff from Lost Creek in May
1998 to divert discharges from Funk Lagoon into North Dry Creek. North Dry Creek
enters the Platte River about 1-1/2 miles ~est of the Kearney Bridge on Highway 44. A
water management plan for Funk Lagoon is currently being developed among FWS,
TBNRD, and CNPPID that will set target elevations for the lagoon's pools throughout the
year for the benefit of migratory waterfowl. Opportunities within the FWS's mandate for
management of the Funk Lagoon Wildlife Protection Area (WP A) may exist for the
lagoon to be drawn down at times of the year when the discharged water will benefit the
critical habitat along the Platte River. The water released from the lagoon would be
routed to the Platte River via the existing: connection between Lost Creek and North Dry
Creek. Lowering lagoon levels in the su(nIIler could reduce shortages in the critical

C:\Draft Waler Action Plllll (Mo.)' 30, 2000)\wllpc I"port (Version 6 BND2)~.doc 42