flow 2008 don kraus, p.e., general manager the central nebraska public power and irrigation district
TRANSCRIPT
Central’s Hydro-Irrigation ProjectCentral’s Hydro-Irrigation Project
Lake Lake McConaughyMcConaughy
South Platte South Platte RiverRiver
North Platte RiverNorth Platte River
Supply CanalSupply Canal
Phelps CanalPhelps Canal
E65 CanalE65 Canal
E67 CanalE67 CanalPlatte RiverPlatte River
GosperGosper PhelpsPhelps KearneyKearney
Area in Nebraska Area in Nebraska Shown AboveShown Above
Central FacilitiesCentral Facilities
Central Irrigated AreaCentral Irrigated Area
NPPD FacilitiesNPPD Facilities
Other Irrigation CanalsOther Irrigation Canals
Expiration of 50-year license in 1987 Relicensing goal: balancing interests
◦ Recreation
◦ Environmental
◦ Irrigation
◦ Hydroelectric power
ESA recommendations, including instream flows not subject to balancing
Studies -– environmental impacts and instream flow needs
Interveners◦ Alternative studies, legal action
Interim license conditions Impasse and delay at FERC
Basin negotiations◦ Negotiations among Neb., Col., Wyo., and DOI to develop a
basinwide approach to resolve ESA issues, including instream flows.
◦ Cooperative Agreement, 1997
FERC settlement based on development of a basinwide ESA program.
New FERC license, 1998
Platte River Recovery & Implementation Program◦ Governance Committee: Three states, DOI, USBR, wildlife
conservation groups and water-users
◦ Incremental approach
◦ “Adaptive management” research; peer-reviewed studies
◦ Offset new streamflow depletions in each state after July 1, 1997
◦ Provide for future water development
◦ Reduce shortages to target flows by 130,000 a-f
◦ Provide 10,000 acres of habitat
No instream flow process required “Environmental Account” dedicated
for ESA purposes established in Lake McConaughy
FWS manages EA Central contributes 10% of inflows
each year “Program” water from upstream
states managed in the EA Central’s releases for generation
purposes tiered with higher releases during “wet” years and lower releases during “dry” years
Start early on a basinwide approach◦ FERC now encourages settlement discussions
◦ Defer expenses on litigation and some studies
Difficult to implement changes in state laws◦ Program requires depletions to stream flows by groundwater
pumping to be offset after 1997
◦ Contributions to EA should havebeen adjusted until protectionswere in place