WSP08290

• File Number: 8449.916
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/1/1997
• Author: McLaughlin Water Eng
• Title: Platte River Basin Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Section J - Introduction and Purpose

McConaughy accounts for approximately 1.74 million acre-feet in addition to
the storage on the North and South Platte. Figure 2 presents additional data
on reservoir storage in the Platte River basin.

Critical Water Problems

The critical water problems in the Platte River basin that are analyzed in this
report include:

. Flows for endangered species habitat in the central Platte: A federal
and interstate problem

. Flows for wildlife in the lower Platte: An intrastate problem

. Non-point pollution of the central and lower Platte reaches from
agricultural chemicals

. The Nebraska v. Wyoming dispute

. Denver Metro water supply needs

. The central Platte watershed: A case study

These problems are described to provide some basis for the analysis that
follows. Analysis of the effectiveness of federal, state and local programs to
resolve these water resources problems is then presented with concentrations
on:

. Governance structures that promote collaborative efforts of local
groups, jurisdictions and levels of government.

. The possibility of employing a revived U.S. Water Resources Council to
resolve the existing and expected future water resources policy and
planning problems in the Platte River basin.

. The possibility of using a Title II River Basin Commission type of
entity to resolve the existing and expected future water resources
policy and planning problems in the Platte River basin.

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