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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />20;:'/ <br /> <br />Hydrology <br /> <br />The historic flows used in the studies reflect depletions from <br />upstream diversions. <br /> <br />Several upstream municipalities in the basin are now importing <br />water from the Colorado Ri'~r Basin or have rights to make importations <br />in the fUture. Expansion of this practice either by increased use of <br />existing facilities or through additional facilities will tend to <br />increase the project water supply due to unavoidable operational <br />wastes and increased return flows to the South Platte River. <br /> <br />In the future, some upstream rights historically exercised for <br />agricultural use are expected to be converted to municipal and industrial <br />use. These conversions would not adversely affect the project water <br />supply because noninjury to other rights by such practices is guaranteed <br />by Colorado law. <br /> <br />Ground-Water Supplies <br /> <br />Ground water constitutes a significant SO\ITce of water in the <br />South Platte River Basin. The quantity used in 1961 on lands under <br />ditches in the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District totaled <br />l07,000 acre-feet. The average quantity used in this same area during <br />the 1947-l96l study period ~as in excess of l03,OOO acre-feet per year. <br />This quantity was judged to be reqresentative of future ground water <br />utilization because ground water usage is expected to remain at the present <br />level in all parts of the unit area except in the extreme lower part where <br />the full potential has not yet been developed. <br /> <br />,"'ATER RIGHTS <br /> <br />From Kersey, Colo., to the Colorado-Nebraska state line, water rights <br />have been adjudicated for 8,04l.06 second-feet of direct flow and 296,453 <br />acre-feet of storage. The use of these rights, as measured by historic <br />diversions was recognized in the analysis of storable flows. <br /> <br />The Colorado-Nebraska Compact, dated April 27, 1923, requires that <br />the 120-second-foot right of the Western Canal in Nebraska under its <br />priority of June l4, l897, be recognized during the summer months by <br />Colorado ditches below Balzac. The potential Narrows Unit is not <br />affected by the Compact, since its water supply originates above Balzac. <br />The unit would not injure the Western Canal right because return flows to <br />the river would increase the supply available for diversion during low- <br />flow periods of the irrigation season. <br /> <br />62 <br />