Flow 2008Don Kraus, P.E., General Manager

The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

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