Transcript Instream Flow Problem

Flow 2008
Don Kraus, P.E., General Manager
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
Central’s Hydro-Irrigation Project
Lake
McConaughy
North Platte River
South Platte
River
Supply Canal
Platte River
E67 Canal
E65 Canal
Phelps Canal
Gosper
Central Facilities
Area in Nebraska
Shown Above
Central Irrigated Area
NPPD Facilities
Other Irrigation Canals
Phelps
Kearney
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Expiration of 50-year license in 1987
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Relicensing goal: balancing interests
◦ Recreation
◦ Environmental
◦ Irrigation
◦ Hydroelectric power
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ESA recommendations, including
instream flows not subject to balancing
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Studies -– environmental impacts
and instream flow needs
Interveners
◦ Alternative studies, legal action
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Interim license conditions
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Impasse and delay at FERC
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Basin negotiations
◦ Negotiations among Neb., Col., Wyo., and DOI to develop a
basinwide approach to resolve ESA issues, including instream flows.
◦ Cooperative Agreement, 1997
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FERC settlement based on development of a
basinwide ESA program.
New FERC license, 1998
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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
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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
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Start early on a basinwide approach
◦ FERC now encourages settlement discussions
◦ Defer expenses on litigation and some studies
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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 have
been adjusted until protections
were in place