WSP03132 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

" '.'1' :, ,J 0 CEDAR RAPIDS DIVISION' . The potential Cedar Rapids Division is located in central Nebraska in Greeley, Boone, Nance and Wheeler Counties. The Division would extend along the Cedar River from Ericson to the confluence of the Cedar and Loup Rivers, then along the north side of the Loup River from Fullerton to Genoa. The Cedar Val ley Reclamation District is sponsoring development of this potential multi purpose project. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation is planning the project. Current Status A feasibi I ity report is undergoing review within the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The project was found to be economically feasible and development now depends upon construction authorization and appropriation of funds by the Congress. Description of Project Area Surface sol Is are generally si It and loess except north and west of the project lands in the Upper Cedar Val ley, where the mantle is dune sand. Annual precipitation has ranged from 13 to 38 inches, averaging about 24 inches. Precipi- tation from Aprl I through September averages about 19 inches, or 80 percent of the annual total. However, in the critical crop production months of July, August, and September, and occasionally June, there are extended periods of I ittle or no moisture. The economy of the area is bui It around agriculture and associated retal I and service trades. Extent of Project Investiqations The Cedar Val ley Public Power and Irrigation District conducted a reconnaissance level study and publ ished two reports in 1943. The first report described the general possibi I ities of irrigating approximately 35,000 acres of val ley lands. A second report contained maps, reconnaissance plans, and cost estimates for the irrigation project. The Bureau of Reclamation conducted prel iminary investigations of the Cedar Rapids Division during the 1940's and the late 1950's. Further investigation in 1961 through 1965 resulted in the formulation of the feasibi lity plan by the Bureau of Reclamation. Plan Features The principal feature of the plan is the Spalding Dam and Reservoir, which would be located in Wheeler and Greeley Counties on the southeastern edge of the Sandhi I Is area. A dike section wi I I extend 2,920 feet from the north abutment of the dam. The Spalding Reservoir conservation pool would extend up the Cedar River approximately 17 mi les. The river outlet works would have a capacity of 810 c.f.s. at the maximum water surface elevation. During periods of normal operation, the river outlet works would be used to release water as needed for the Belgrade Diversion Dam and for bypasses if required. The canal outlet works in the left abutment of the dam would del iver irrigation water to the Spalding Canal at a maximum rate of 380 c.f.s. Spalding Canal would be about 45 mi les long and would del iver the water to 51 laterals serving 21,300 acres of land. About 39 mi les of the canal wi I I be earth II ned. Fish and wi ldl ife plans include fee acquisition of 255 acres at Spalding Reservoir for upland game management, and 210 acres of land adjacent to Spalding Canal for construction of three fish and wi Idl ife subimpoundments. Four waterfowl habitat ponds are planned for con- struct-ion. The recreation, fish and wi ldl ife features of this project wi II provide 50,000 recreation days, 16,850 fisherman days and 450 hunter days annually. A headworks to be located at the right- abutment of the dam would divert flows up to 120 c.f.s. at normal water elevations and serve about 5,500 acres of irrigable land. The Timber Creek Canal Pumping Plant would receive water from Belgrade Canal and serve 1,085 irrigable acres in the Timber Creek Valley. It would include four vertical turbine pumps having a total capacity of 29 c.f.s. . , "Cedar Rapids Division Nebraska1l, March 1966. For information, write: Bureau of Reclamation, Grand Island, Nebraska. Area E ng i neer , 7-1