Conjunctive Management of Surface and Ground Water in Dawson and Buffalo Counties

1. Conjunctive Management of Surface and Ground Waterin Dawson and Buffalo Counties Sponsors Study Area

2. Introduction The development of ground water and surface water irrigation has provided positive benefits for the Central Platte valley Study Area Dots are irrigation wells

3. Study Area Irrigation Surface Water • 7 irrigation canals • 83,000 acres • 230,000 AF average annual diversion Ground Water • 2,900 wells • 120,000 acres ground water irrigated • Ground water also used to supplement surface water

4. Study Area Problem • Relationship of surface water delivery and ground water recharge • Numerous ground water wells in Study Area benefit • Surface water recharges aquifer and prevents degradation of ground quality – nitrates • Ground water mining prevented • Changes in surface water delivery could change this balance • Parts of Study Area are declared over-appropriated by NDNR • Temporarily limits the development of new wells

5. Conjunctive Management Program • NPPD, CPNRD, and NDNR effort • Study, develop, and implement a conjunctive surface and ground water management program. • Optimize the total water supply • Sustain the surface water delivery system • Manage for surface and ground water quality • Public Involvement • Program development • Education • Phased approach

6. Conjunctive Management Program • Phase I: Data collection and evaluation • 2004 – 2005 • $120,000 cash and in-kind • Decision to proceed to Phase II • Phase II: Plan development • 2005 – 2007 • $311,000 cash and in-kind (~$100K from NPPD) • $315,000 from Environmental Trust • Decision to proceed to Phase III • Phase III: Plan implementation • 2007 and beyond • Cost contingent on Phase II

7. Questions?