Proposal for Integrated Management of Water Resources within the Platte River Basin:
A Basin-wide Integrated Management Plan

In 2004, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources determined that the water supply in a large portion of the Platte River Basin is over-appropriated. The designation, pursuant to provisions in LB 962, requires the DNR and Natural Resources Districts in the affected areas to develop a basin-wide integrated management plan (IMP) to restore the balance between water use and water supply.

The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) believes that a basin-wide IMP is necessary to address existing and future conflicts and inequities among water users. Central believes that the objectives of a basin-wide IMP should include:

• Returning from over-appropriated to fully-appropriated conditions;
• Addressing conflicts and inequities; and
• Collaboration among the State, Natural Resources Districts, and stakeholders to develop a compromise that benefits the entire basin in a manner that encourages changes in uses and operations that cannot otherwise be mandated.

This proposal focuses on three key components because they have significant basin-wide consequences, deal with existing conflicts and are interrelated. These are (1) groundwater use in the Panhandle; (2) the “Tri-County” groundwater mound; and (3) use of Lake McConaughy storage water.

1) Groundwater use in the Panhandle – Over-development of groundwater has occurred in the North Platte NRD in part because of the area’s marginal aquifer and limited annual precipitation. Such over-development not only impacts groundwater/surface water use in the NPNRD, but also adversely impacts irrigation, reservoir storage, power production, recreation, instream flows and groundwater recharge downstream. Because of these existing conflicts and inequities, measures to address over-development in the Panhandle should be implemented quickly rather than phased in over an extended period of time.

2) “Tri-County” Groundwater Mound – The mound exists and is maintained because of recharge from Central’s irrigation project and its customers’ irrigation activities. However, if Central’s customers now wish to access the mound to offset a shortage of surface water, they will be individually responsible for offsetting new depletions without any assistance from others who freely benefit from the mound.

3) Lake McConaughy Storage Water Use – The primary purpose of the lake’s storage water is irrigation and power production, although other benefits exist (recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, etc.). A number of entities have requested that efforts be made to improve recreational and fishery benefits during times of drought. Central’s customers may be willing to limit withdrawals for irrigation if there is (1) sufficient protection of the water supply from upstream groundwater depletions and (2) Central and its customers have adequate access to the mound as an alternative source of irrigation water during times of shortage.

Central’s Proposal for a Basin-wide Integrated Management Plan

The following components are interdependent; the plan’s objectives can be met only if the measures are implemented concurrently.

North Platte NRD – Substantially reduce streamflow depletions caused by groundwater use and investigate the potential for recharge projects to improve water supplies.

• Fifty percent reduction in streamflow impact to be achieved during times of below normal streamflow.
• Fifty percent reduction may be achieved by allocations, crop rotations, land retirement, etc.
• Central would waive Lake McConaughy’s priority call over junior recharge projects during high-water years.
• Implement measures at earliest practicable date.

Groundwater Mound – Central’s customers would be allowed to access water from the mound to supplement deliveries of surface water during times of shortage.

• Supplemental wells would be subject to maintenance of water rights and delivery contracts
• Central’s customers would be entitled to the same allocation as other groundwater users in the area
• All groundwater users, not just Central or its customers, should share the obligation for offsets

Lake McConaughy Storage Water – The following limitations would be placed on irrigation deliveries from the reservoir:

• No water beyond delivery limits or contract amounts to Central’s customers or North Platte River canals.
• Central would waive right to priority call over upstream projects when Lake McConaughy contains more than 1.5 million acre-feet of water at the end of the previous water year.
• Central would make any necessary changes to its water rights and contracts and would consult with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to obtain approval for any operational changes.

Summary

Central’s basin-wide IMP proposal is a “package deal;” that is, each component is related to another. If implemented concurrently, the proposal would improve inflows to Lake McConaughy, allow fair use of the “Tri-County” groundwater mound as an alternate supply, and protect Lake McConaughy’s water level during periods of drought.

The basin-wide IMP also addresses important requirements and expectations of LB962 by returning the level of water use in the North Platte NRD to or beyond 1997 levels. It also moves the basin toward the goal of a fully appropriated level of use. Finally, it incorporates voluntary CNPPID water use restrictions beyond what can be mandated by the State or NRDs in exchange for other protections of the water supply. In doing so, it works toward “equity among water users,” a goal set forth by LB962.