WSP03539

• File Number: 8407.400
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Nebraska
• State: NE
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 9/1/1968
• Author: Nebraska Soil and Wa
• Title: Nebraska State Water Plan - Big Blue River Basin - Appendix
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

.., ().,",:-) ,-, r-
II'. d,

- 7 -

zero. (b) closed p1plng systems will be used, (c) irrigation water loss
under recommended reuse system practices will nct exceed 10% of deliv-
ery to the field, (d) annual irrigation water need as computed by the
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation .85 feet per acre + .085 (10%) = .935 ft.
per aCre annual water need, (e) tabl~ 2 estimates are near actual fig-
ures, (f) sprinkler irrigation accounts for 25,000 aCres of the
712,733 irrigated crop aCres as reported by the Econo~ic Research Ser-
vice leaving 687,733 acres irrigated by surface methods, (g) irriga-
tors using a specific management practice in table 2 have equal irri-
gated acreages.

Table 4

Potential Annual Irrigation Water Saving with Reuse System

Compared to Estimated Present Use, Blue River B8sin~~

Irrigation
Management
Practice(Table 2) Acreap:e
1 66.773
2 247,584
3 309,/;80
/; 61,696
TOTAL 687.733

Acre Feet of
Pre Ben t
Use

Irri.l2:a ti on
Future
Need

Hater, Annual
Potential
Saving

77,163
312,/;51
318,455
57,673
765,942

6/;,303
231,/;91
269,364
57.673
643.031

12,860
80,960
29,091
o
122,911

* Based upon farm irrigation efficiency.
entirely to the basin because of seppage
water at some point downstream.

Runoff water may not be lost
Or redistribution of runoff

The saving of water by better management could more than offset the
estimated additional 50,))1 acre feet for grain and 18,455 acre feet
for alfalfa which may be needed in the near future for top production.