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<br />SYNOPSIS
<br />
<br />GENERAL
<br />
<br />This is the twenty-third consecutive year that an Annual Operating plan has
<br />been prepared for the federally owned reservoirs serving an irrigation func-
<br />tion in the Niobrara, Lower Platte, and Kansas River Basins. There are 15
<br />dams and reservoirs in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. These reservoirs with
<br />10 diversion dams, 10 pumping plants, and 22 canal systems serve app:r.oximately
<br />268,600 acres of project lands in Nebraska and Kansas. A map in the back of
<br />this report shows the location of these featnres. The reservoirs in the
<br />Niobrara and Lower Platte River Basins are operated by either irrig.nt.ion or
<br />reclamation districts, and the reservoirs in the Kansas River Basin are
<br />operated by either the Bureau of Reclamation or the Corps of Engineers. The
<br />diversion dams, pumping plants, and canal systems are operated by either ir-
<br />rigation of reclamation districts.
<br />
<br />In addition to irrigation, these features serve flood control, municipal and
<br />industrial water, recreation, and fish and wildlife purposes.
<br />
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<br />
<br />The "Headlines 75" follov...ing this Synopsis is indicative of the awarene.ss of
<br />local people of natural resource development and conservation in the Niobrara,
<br />Lower Platte, and Kansas River Basins.
<br />
<br />1975 SUMMARY
<br />
<br />Climatic Conditions. 'rhe total precipitation during 1975 ranged from 65 to
<br />128 percent of normal over the operating area. The temperatures during the
<br />irrigation season were generally normal.
<br />
<br />Storage Reservoirs.
<br />
<br />A. Conservation Operations - The 1975 inflows were within the range of fore-
<br />casted dry, normal or wet years for all reservoirs with the exception of
<br />Lovewell, which was slightly above the wet-year foreca'st, and Box Butte
<br />and Merritt which were slightly below the dry-year forecast. The active
<br />conservation stol.-age \'Jas evacuated from Box Butte and Sherman Reservoirs
<br />in 1975. The carryover storage in Box Butte and Norton Reservoirs and
<br />the availv.l?le inflows and streamflows below these dams were inadequate to
<br />fully supply the irrigation requirements of the projl2ct lands served by
<br />the reservoirs.
<br />
<br />B. Flood Control Operations - Harlan County and Waconda Lakes, Lovewell, Kir-
<br />win, Webster, and Cedar Bluff Reservoirs prevented an estimated $2,779,000
<br />flood damages on the lower Republican and Kansas Rivers. The following
<br />table gives an individual breakdown by reservoir:
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