WSP02973

• File Number: 8449
• Description: Platte River Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 11/1/1955
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Accomplishments of Irrigation, North Platte Project, Wyoming - Nebraska
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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5 regulating reservoirs, and nearly 2,000 miles of canals,

laterals, and drains. A full supply of water is provided

to four irrigation districts for 226,324 acres of land. Ten

water-user associations having an irrigated area of 108,715

acres bought surplus storage rights in the project. other

private ditch companies have, in time of drouth, bought

storage water from the project. In 1950 more than 357,000

acres of land utilized water from project storage. These

lands extend 110 miles along the river valley from near

Guernsey, Wyoming, to east of Bridgeport, Nebraskaa

Electricity from two small hydro plants, situated

so as to utilize the head created by irrigation features, is

supplied to many towns, rural cooperatives, and industries

in the project area. Electric draglL'les replaced the horses

and scrapers in the later stages of construction of the

canals. This electric power now provides III\lch of the means

and incentive for increased domestic and industrial electri-

fication in the project area. Net revenues from the sale of

this power have assisted considerably in the liquidation of

the irrigators' construction obligation.

other incidental benefits are creditable to the

project. The project reservoirs have been effective in re-

ducir.g damage to property and loss of life from floods. A.

direct result of flood control is the increased utilization

of river valley lands made safe and productive by the re-

gulation of river flov>s. Also, the reservoirs have become

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