University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. Bureau of Land Management Papers U.S. Department of the Interior 2005 Lower Republican River Basin: Nebraska and Kansas Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usblmpub Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Plant Sciences Commons "Lower Republican River Basin: Nebraska and Kansas" (2005). U.S. Bureau of Land Management Papers. 38. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usblmpub/38 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of the Interior at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in U.S. Bureau of Land Management Papers by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Appraisal Report Lower Republican River Basin Nebraska and Kansas January 2005 Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ............................................................................................ vii Chapter 1 ─ Introduction......................................................................................1 1.1 Authority ..................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose and Scope of this Appraisal Study .............................................1 1.3 Objectives.................................................................................................1 1.4 Project Area and Description ...................................................................2 1.5 Prior Studies, Reports, and Existing Water Projects ................................4 1.6 Consultation and Meetings.......................................................................5 Chapter 2 ─ Problems and Needs.........................................................................7 2.1 Republican River Compact ......................................................................7 2.2 Republican River Compact Litigation and Settlement.............................7 2.3 Settlement Provisions ...............................................................................8 2.4 Problems and Opportunities .....................................................................9 2.4.1 Existing Conditions..........................................................................9 2.4.2 Expected Future Conditions...........................................................10 2.4.3 Opportunities..................................................................................11 2.4.4 Problems Warranting Federal Participation...................................11 2.4.5 Planning Objectives and Planning Constraints ..............................12 2.4.5.1 Planning Objectives ...................................................12 2.4.5.2 Planning Constraints ..................................................12 Chapter 3 ─ Alternative Plans............................................................................13 3.1 Management Methods ............................................................................13 3.1.1 Winterize Superior-Courtland Diversion Dam and Courtland Canal .............................................................................13 3.1.2 Automate Superior-Courtland Diversion Dam and Courtland Canal .............................................................................13 3.1.3 Renovate Courtland Canal (Restore the Courtland Canal to Design Capacity)............................................................................14 3.1.4 Provide for Increased Conservation Storage in Lovewell Reservoir........................................................................14 i Lower Republican River Basin Appraisal Report ─ Nebraska and Kansas 3.2 River System Operation Model..............................................................16 3.3 Description of Baseline and Alternatives...............................................16 3.3.1 Alternative A ─ Courtland Canal to Design Capacity, Winterize .18 3.3.2 Alternative B ─ Automate, Winterize Courtland Canal ................18 3.3.3 Alternative C ─ Automate, Winterize, Courtland Canal to Design Capacity .............................................................................19 3.3.4 Alternative D ─ Automate, Winterize Courtland Canal; Raise Lovewell 16,000 ac-ft ..........................................................19 3.3.5 Alternative E ─ Automate, Winterize, Courtland Canal to Design Capacity; Raise Lovewell 16,000 ac-ft..............................19 3.3.6 Alternative F ─ Automate, Winterize Courtland Canal; Raise Lovewell 35,000 AF ............................................................19 3.3.7 Alternative G ─ Automate, Winterize, Courtland Canal to Design Capacity; Raise Lovewell 35,000 ac-ft..............................19 3.3.8 Alternative H ─ Raise Lovewell 16,000 ac-ft ...............................19 3.3.9 Alternative I ─ Courtland Canal to Design Capacity; Raise Lovewell 16,000 ac-ft ..........................................................19 3.3.10 Other Storage Alternatives..........................................................19 3.4 Evaluation of Alternatives......................................................................20 3.4.1 Hydrologic Evaluations .................................................................20 3.4.1.1 Changes of Water Supply into Lovewell Reservoir ....20 3.4.1.2 Minimum Desirable Streamflows Analysis .................20 3.4.1.3 Farm Delivery Changes ...............................................21 3.4.2 Alternative Design and Cost Estimates..........................................21 3.4.2.1 Canal Components .......................................................21 3.4.2.2 Components to Increase Storage Capacity in Lovewell Reservoir......................................................23 3.4.2.3 Other Storage Alternatives...........................................27 3.4.2.4 Recreation Mitigation ..................................................29 3.4.2.5 Cost Estimates..............................................................31 3.4.3 Economic Benefit Evaluation ........................................................35 3.4.3.1 Irrigation Benefit Estimation .......................................36 3.4.3.2 Evaluation of Recreation Benefits ...............................38 3.4.3.3 Benefit-Cost Analysis ..................................................42 ii Lower Republican River Basin Appraisal Report ─ Nebraska and Kansas 3.4.4 Environmental Evaluations .............................................................44 3.4.4.1 Alternatives A, B, and C: Alternatives That Only Involve the Diversion Dam and Canal.........................46 3.4.4.2 Alternatives D, E, H, and I: Alternatives That Also Involve Raising Lovewell 16,000 Ac-Ft......................46 3.4.4.3 Alternatives F and G: Alternatives That Also Involve Raising Lovewell 35,000 Ac-Ft...................................46 3.4.5 Socioeconomics ..............................................................................47 3.4.5.1 Overview...................................................................47 3.4.5.2 Agricultural Production and Value ............................47 3.4.6 Cultural Resources Evaluations .....................................................47 3.4.6.1 Alternatives A, B, and C: Alternatives That Only Involve the Diversion Dam and Canal.........................48 3.4.6.2 Alternatives D, E, F, G, H, and I: Alternatives That Also Involve Raising Lovewell Reservoir...................48 3.4.6.3 Other Storage Alternatives...........................................49 3.4.7 Legal and Institutional Evaluations ...............................................50 3.4.7.1 Legal ............................................................................50 3.4.7.2 Institutional ..................................................................55 3.4.8 Summary of the Evaluation of Alternatives...................................56 3.4.9 Uncertainties ..................................................................................57 Chapter 4 ─ Findings...........................................................................................61 4.1 Findings ..................................................................................................61 4.1.1 Recommendations..........................................................................61 4.2 Preliminary Plan of Study ─ Feasibility Study.......................................61 Appendices Appendix A Hydrology Report Appendix B Cost Estimate Worksheets Appendix C Recreation Mitigation Costs Appendix D Benefit Estimation Appendix E Recreation Analysis Appendix F Preliminary Plan of Study ─ Feasibility Study iii Lower Republican River Basin Appraisal Report ─ Nebraska and Kansas Figures Figure 1 Study Area .........................................................................................................3 Figure 2 Lovewell Reservoir Existing Allocations ........................................................14 Figure 3 Lovewell Reservoir Allocations for 16,000 ac-ft Enlargement .......................15 Figure 4 Lovewell Reservoir Allocations for 35,000 ac-ft Enlargement .......................15 Figure 5 Schematic Diagram of Lower Republic River Basin.......................................17 Tables Table 1 Summary of Model Runs .................................................................................18 Table 2 Average Discharge from Courtland Canal into Lovewell ...............................20 Table 3 Average Annual