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<br />i <br /> <br />There has been during recent days a test run from the state line to <br />Kearney to show, "it is not feasible to deliver water to Kearney." This, test <br />has been interfered with, according to the papers. by Wyoming officials. <br />However, the record of natural flow in Nebraska will be of value for future <br />use. It may develop, that tributary inflow. of itself, will go far toward <br />maintaining a wet river channel which will deliver a substantial quantity of. <br />water. <br />Beneficial use of water was attested by farmers under the Kearney <br />Canal, who suffered losses on' account of shortage and UfCertain ~ter supplies. <br /> <br />There was a direct conflict of opinion concerning the question of <br />whether the Platte was a losing or a gaining stream. The "normal" for 10 year <br />average from 1923 to 1932 indicated gains from the State Line to Overton as <br />per State Biennial report. <br /> <br />Another conflict was on account of the efficient location of the <br />carrier stream for delivering irrigation water. Without r~ard to the <br />original efficiency of the Platte river, we feel confident that the natural <br />flow belongs in the river. We feel that the ground water is a factor of <br />importance and contributes by invisible inflow or seepage to the river for <br />mOst of the year. Hence, its maintenance and replenishment are not losses. <br /> <br />The question of pump irrigation and its effect upon river flow was <br />fully di scussed. The ultimate conclusion was" that satisfactory ground water <br />levels would be permanently maintained if the flow or discharge of the river <br />is undisturbed," end if a sufficient supply is allowed to pass North Platte in <br />the natural channel of the river. <br /> <br />The visible stream flows as a train of water waves, ga1n1ng momentum <br />by increments of tributary inflow and losing momentum by decrements of dis- <br />tributary outflow or diversions. The invisible stream, or underflow, is <br />equally important, but less understood. <br /> <br />Finally the Kearney Case should not depend upon side issues, since it <br />is demonstrated year after year that it is possible to deliver water to <br />Kearney when the natural flow is unmolested by Junior appropriators. <br />Normally the losses from North Platte to Overton aI'S comparable with other <br />sections of the river. So Kearney will get 162 cubic feet per second under <br />ordinary cDnditions when the Platte river channel is not depleted by upstream <br />diversions. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />Roy N. Towl <br /> <br />CSTr <br /> <br />- 3 - <br />