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The Sprlngvtew pumping plant would serve 7300 acres and would be located about 800 feet northeast of the Forebay Dam. This plant would contain six units with a total design capacity of 132 c.f.s. The QINei I I Canal would be about 60 mi les long and have an Initial capacity of 1400 c.f.s. Five sub-canals would either deliver water to laterals or serve lands directly. Approximately 4,697 acres (including 880 acres on Fairfield Creek) are to be acquired and managed for wi Id turkeys, other wi Idl jfe species, and fish. . Project Benefits The direct benefits of the project wi I I be derived from Irrigation, flood control, fish and wi ldllfe and recreation. Irrigation of some 77,000 acres would constitute one of the primary functions of the proposed project. The recreation, fish and wildlife features of this project wi I I provide 125,000 recreation days, 20,200 fisherman days and 3,800 hunter days annually. Remainlnq Water Resource Problems and Needs This project would help alleviate the present need for irrigation water In the area. Emerging problems of aquifer depletion need close watching and perhaps additional study. Project Costs The total estimated cost of the project would be $72,503,000. This cost would be assigned to the functions of Irrigation, recreation, fish and wildl ife, and flood control. The local Irrigators would repay $15,235,000 of the irrigation cost. AI located recreation and fish and wi Idl ife costs would be $3,327,000. Operation. Maintenance and Replacement Operation, maintenance, and replacement wi I I be the responsibility of a local contracting district for irrigation faci tities and a state agency for recreation, fish and wi ldl ife. Loca I I nterest and Support Initial support for feasibi lity investigation came from officers and members of the Niobrara River Basin Development Association. The DINei I I Chamber of Commerce formed an Irrigation committee In January 1960 and sponsored a series of educational meetings In an effort to Inform the people of the purpose and progress on the proposed development. Farmers and landowners indicated interest In support of the proposed irrigation development by signing statements of intent to irrigate. The North Central Nebraska Reclamation District was organized In 1963. This dlstr"lct has levied a tax upon al I tangible property within the district resulting in the collection of a total assessment of $12,540 through 1967. Exlstlnq Resource Development In the Area About 300 acres of land were Irrigated from wel Is In Holt County In 1948. On January 1, 1961, about 6800 acres of land in the OlNei I I Unit area were developed for deep wel I Irrigation. Since then, increased areas of Irrlgable land have been developed for Irrigation from wel Is. The possibility of securing Irrigation wells which produce sufficient quantities of water for Irrigation over an extended period of time is limited to a relatively sma I I area north and east of Atkinson. The Director of the Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska, has Indicated it Is unlikely that Intensive ground water pumping can be sustained In the area without ground water recharge from surface water. Effect on Water Supplv In Project Area This project should not affect the municipal and domestic water supply, as existing private, public and Industrial water requirements are now, and wi I I continue to be, adequately served by pumping from ground water aquifers. The major problem associated with development of the O'Ne; I I Unit results from water depletions which wi I I Interfere with the operation of a small downstream hydro-electric plant having a total Installed capacity of 2,640 kilowatts. Repayment for lost power revenues wi I I be subject to negotiation after project authorization and after construction funds become available. . 4-10