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

2. Background • Irrigation development in Dawson & Western Buffalo County areas started in late 1800s • Surface Water irrigation began with development of canals & lateral system • 7 irrigation companies: • Gothenburg, Dawson Co. & Kearney owned/operated by NPPD • Thirty Mile, Six Mile, Cozad, Orchard-Alfalfa privately owned but purchase NPPD storage water • Supplies approximately 83,000 acres • Average annual storage and natural flow diversion is approximately 230,000 AF

3. Background Surface Water

4. Background • Ground Water irrigation initially began during drought of 1930s • Developed well drilling & irrigation pump technology • By June 2001 well registration records show 2900 wells have a permit to irrigate 300,000 acres • The ground water aquifer has an average saturated thickness of 390 feet with a total storage capacity of approximately 29,400,000 AF

5. Background Ground Water Dots are irrigation wells

6. Background Major Stakeholders: • Ground Water Irrigators • Surface Water Irrigators • Municipal & Industrial Suppliers

7. Benefits of Conjunctive Mgmt • Improve reliability of water supply • Maximize economic return by optimizing the total water supply • Maintain quality of water supply • Minimize potential for conflict • Maintain a balance between water quantity and quality and major stakeholders

8. Conjunctive Management Study Purpose: • Develop comprehensive conjunctive surface and ground water management plan • Phased approach for study • Phase I: Data collection and evaluation • Phase II: Plan development • Phase III: Plan implementation

9. Conjunctive Management Study Funding: • Phase I: $120,000 • In-kind services and cash from Coalition • Phase II: $626,000 • $311,000 in-kind services from Coalition • $315,000 from Environmental Trust • Phase III: Contingent on Phases I and II

10. Conjunctive Management Study Phase I Resource Information Management Information Management Tools Existing Conditions Report Issues and Objectives Case Studies Existing Models Meta-data Base Survey of Users Synoptic Data Survey Institutional Analysis Conceptual Models Valley Water Budget Phase II Scope

11. Conjunctive Management Study Anticipated Phase II activities: • Hydrologic modeling, analysis, and planning • Water quality analysis • Development of plan implementation process • Hydrologic and water quality monitoring program • Public education

12. Conjunctive Management Study Anticipated Phase III activities: • Assess Phase II work products • Implement the plan • Monitor the effectiveness of the plan

13. Questions?