WSP04731

• File Number: 8407.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Missouri River
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 8/1/1977
• Author: MRBC
• Title: Missouri River Basin Water Resources Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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. Reducing to sale and reasonable levels the pollution
and contamination of the water environments;
. Stimulating private industrial development and secur-
ing a sound agricultural economy;
. Holding annual ffood damages at the present average
annual level; and
. Providing safe and economical domestic water
supplies.

SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL WATER ISSUES

A great deal of attention is currently being focused upon
several important water issues in the Missouri River Basin. The
impacts of these issues are being analyzed by a multitude of
public and private entities, and their significance is highlighted by
special conferences called by the Basin States' Governors to
discuss potential strategies for their resolution.

These issues, which are characterized by a diversity of
problem types, impacts, and modes of resolution, include among
others:

. Interstate and intrastate water resources allocations
and controls, including the effects of Indian and Federal
reserve water;
. Management strategies for ground water use and
ground/surface water relationships;
. Determination and management of minimum
streamflow requirements;
. Alternative uses of the Basin's water resource, including
domestic, agricuilural, and industrial supplies.

Water Resources Allocation

The issue of water allocation involves the main stem areas
as well as the tributary subbasins. Although the issue is not now
critical on the Missouri River main stem, growing demands and
conflicts regarding water supplies throughout the Basin are pres-
sing all involved parties toward a better understanding of and
potential policies for ultimately resolving the problems of water
resources allocation. Solutions to these problems may involve
legal and institutional aspects related to inter- and intra-basin
transfers of water.

Development of water management plans forthe Missouri
River Basin requires a detennination of Indian and Federal re-
served water rights and their quantification. Affinnative steps are
necessary to sponsor programs that wili accelerate the determi-
nation of those water rights and quantification of the rights in-
volved.

Ground and Surface Water Management

Pumping of ground water, particularly for crop irrigation, is
increasing at a tremendous rate in many parts of the Basin.
Despite general optimism, ground water is often a finite and
limited resource, and several States have implemented or are in
the process of implementing regulations to control its use. How-

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ever, methodologies for detennlning and quantifying the compiex
relationship between ground water and surface waters are only
recently being considered by users, planners, and decision mak-
ers. In several areas. the mounting uses of ground water. are
adversely affecting surface water supply projects. Public pres-
sure, litigation, and basic legislation and administration to resolve
the conflicts are imminent. In other geographic areas, depletion of
ground water may not affect surface waters, but plans to utilize
these surface waters to recharge ground water supplies may
create conflicts. Extensive research is needed to determine the
hydrogeologic' properties of aquifer systems, the suitability of
using saline aquifers for storing fresh water, the feasibility of
adjusting the management of surface and ground water supplies
for fluctuations in climate, and the effects of impeding layers on
the disposition and movement of recharge water.

Instream Flows

Many uses of the Basin's waters, including navigation,
hydroelectric power generation, fish and wildlife habitat (some
with significance for international migratory birds), recreation,
and water quality maintenance are largely nonconsumptive in
nature. Although these nonconsumplive uses generally compete
with consumptive uses, they are often not legally recognized in
the appropriative system of State water rights and reservations,
although they are occasionally legally recognized in States with
the riparian system.

Extensive work is needed to develop methodologies for
detenninlng requirements for instream flow purposes, including
variations in levels of flow needs for each instream functional use.
Also, an acceptable approach for balancing competing out-of-

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