WSP06696 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

"'J,.,.... .. , I;, II (0 SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The Supplemental Water Supplies policy issue study is one of a series of water policy studies that are part of the Nebraska State Water Planning and Review Pro.. cess. The product of this study is a report which pro- vides information 10 decision makers on methods 01 facilitating the development of supplemental water supplies in Nebraska and Ihe impacts of lhose methods. This report examines supplemental waler. its uses. lIS sources of supply and constraints to its developmenl. The report concludes with a review of present policies for development of supplemental water and an examination and impact analysis of thirty alter. natives that might facilitate ils development. SUPPLEMENTAL WATER Supplemental waler is additIonal water provided to supply that which is lacking, i.e., needed or desired. It is considered to be water which is made available for use within a specific area by moving it from one area 10 another and/or storing it for use at a later time. Sup- plemental water can be provided by constructing surface-water reservoirs, by adding to groundwater storage and by importing groundwater or surface water from another area. In this study, natural streamflow that is diverted to riparian land and groundwater that is used within one mile of the point of withdrawal are not considered supplemental water. Certain sources and methods for supplementing water supplies were considered in the study but not in- cluded in detail in this report. These Include using the soil profile as a source and storage site, reducing evapotranspirallon, modifying the weather and reduc- ing losses tram surface water, Surface water and groundwater are traditional sources of supply for developing supplemental water. This study, in addition to considering them as indepen- dent sources, also considered the inlegrated. or con- junchve use of water from these two sources. Such in- tegrated management may result in the most efficient use of Nebraska's water. Supplemental water whICh is made available through integrated management is sug- gested to be a new class of water. The opportunities for use of supplemental water now and in the future in Nebraska are many and varied. The greatest demand undoubtedly will continue to be for its use in irrigation. The priority of use for supplemen- tal water will continue to be set by needs, desires and economics. An important part of economic considera- tions will be the willingness or ability of the beneficiaries to pay an increased portion of the project cost. The public will make the final decision through the political process. SUPPLEMENTAL WATER USE The variations in the precipitation panern in the state create an opportunity for use of supplemental water. The low annual rainfall in western Nebraska of 15 to 21 inches makes irrigation necessary to maintain most agricultural production. The departure in annual rain- fall from the average (up to 7.6 inches), plus the incon- sistent weekly and monthly panem of rainfall in any year create an opportunity for improving production by ir- rigation in the entire state. The inadequacy of direct sources of water for irrigation in many parts of the state create a need for supplemental water supplies. The declining water levels in some portions of the state create a second major opportunity for use of sup- plemental water. Frequently these have occurred in areas where direct application of groundwater is a ma- jor means for meeting irrigation requirements. The result is a need for improved management and/or in- troduction of water from outside sources. The soil types and slopes in most areas of Nebraska are very suitable for irrigation development. Because many highly suitable lands are located away from available and sufficient surface water or groundwater, they present another opportunity for the use of sup- plemental water should other constraints such as economic factors be overcome. There are other uses, in addition to irrigation, that present opportunities for the use of supplemental water in Nebraska. They include municipal uses, livestock and rural domestic uses. uses which arise from electric power generation, Industrial uses and fish, wildlife and outdoor recreation uses. XI