Final Minutes
Water Management Committee Meeting
Kearney, Nebraska
The Water Management Committee (WMC) meeting began at 9:10 a.m. in Kearney, Nebraska. Future WMC meetings were discussed. The starting time for the April 20, 1999, WMC meeting was changed from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The April meeting will be held in the Barrett Building (4th floor conference room) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The June WMC meeting will be held in Lakewood, Colorado, on June 1, 1999, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If the Governance Committee meeting is moved to June 3, the WMC meeting will be held on June 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The minutes of the February 9, 1999, WMC meeting were approved with the corrections provided at the meeting.
Jon Altenhofen announced that Colorado has developed a program called Streamflow Depletion Factors (SDF) View. Water managers use SDF to determine the lag time from when irrigation well water is pumped and consumed from, or water is recharged to an alluvial river aquifer, and when a depletion or accretion happens in the river. Comments or questions regarding the use of SDF View should be directed to Mr. Altenhofen.
Blaine Dwyer reported to the WMC on the status of the Water Conservation/Supply Reconnaissance Study (Reconnaissance Study). The Water Budget Spreadsheet has been posted on Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation's (Central) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site. The Spreadsheet is a Microsoft Excel 97 spreadsheet and is the tool the Boyle Team will use to route water contributions to the habitat. Some members do not have Excel 97 and asked that the Spreadsheet also be made available in Excel 5.0 format. Any comments regarding the Spreadsheet should be provided directly to Mr. Dwyer with a copy to the WMC Chair.
The long list of alternatives originally contained 77 different types of alternatives. The long list of alternatives was reduced to 69 alternatives because several alternatives were similar in concept and were, therefore, combined. The 69 alternatives are grouped into seven (7) categories:
- Category 1 - Reservoirs;
- Category 2 - Water Conservation;
- Category 3 - Reuse;
- Category 4 - Incentive Based Reductions in Agricultural Water Use;
- Category 5 - Ground Water;
- Category 6 - Systems Integration and Management; and
- Category 7 - Watershed Management.
After initial screening based on the general screening criteria, the long list has been reduced to a short list, which consists of 36 alternatives. Three of the 36 alternatives, which include relocation of return flows, transbasin diversions, and forest management, do not apply to all three regions.
The presentation of the analysis/screening results of the alternatives was discussed. Proposed tables prepared by the WMC Chair for the display of the results were handed out and discussed: one set of tables to display the results of the analysis and another set of tables to display the scoring of the alternative based on the screening criteria. The WMC discussed how the analysis results should be presented with respect to costs. Suggestions included adding a column showing the capital costs, a column that shows the capitalized costs divided by the average yield at the habitat or reduction to target flow shortages, etc. The estimates of yields and costs should be kept simple and comparable, while being as accurate as possible. It was noted that the score of any alternative would be an integer number between 5 and 25 (i.e. 5, 10, 21, etc.) and the overall score of an alternative would be the sum of the average score received in the Physical, Legal/Institutional, Economic, Social, and Environmental screening categories.
The alternatives will be analyzed on a stand alone basis. The Boyle Team anticipates preparing a table that identifies alternatives that are mutually exclusive and which alternatives may be compatible for combination to achieve the goal of 60,000 to 80,000 acre-feet of shortage reduction on average. While the favorable combinations will be identified, the evaluation of these suggested combinations will be done as part of preparation of the Action Plan.
The WMC recognized the sizable amount of information that will be generated as the 36 alternatives are evaluated by the 19 reaches that have been identified and discussed how this amount of information could be efficiently reviewed. It was suggested that a master table containing all the information for the alternatives be created in a spreadsheet. This master table could then be sorted electronically to display the information ranked from high to low for any parameter such as cost per acre-feet, yield, overall score, reduction to target flow shortages, etc. Mark Butler will prepare a sample of the suggested master table and provide it to the WMC Chair.
The WMC agreed this approach for presentation of the supporting data for the analysis/screening results was appropriate. The final form for presentation of this supporting data will be provided by the Boyle Team and included in the draft Reconnaissance Study report.
Mr. Dwyer discussed with the WMC the schedule for the delivery of the draft analysis/screening results for each category for review by the WMC. The draft information will be provided to the WMC Chair on the dates shown below and will consist of the narrative and supporting data presented in table format.
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Reservoirs |
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Conservation |
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Reuse |
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Agriculture Reduction |
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Ground Water |
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System Integration and Management |
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Watershed |
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The WMC Chair will distribute the information to the WMC as received. The supporting data will be available in tabular format in an Excel 5.0 spreadsheet file on Central's FTP site. Comments regarding the draft analysis/screening results for all categories are to be provided to
the WMC Chair no later than close of business June 17, 1999. Mr. Dwyer requested the comments be provided to the Boyle Team by June 21, 1999.
Meetings to present the Boyle Team's short list of alternatives were discussed. The meetings will be conducted by each state and will review the Boyle Team's short list of alternatives and seek input regarding the Boyle Team's draft analysis/screening results of the short list of alternatives. The Boyle Team will attend these state conducted meetings to present the process employed to develop the short list of alternatives and discuss the screening results. The Boyle Team's attendance at these meetings will be made available by the Governance/Water Management Committees. It is anticipated that input received by the states regarding the short list of alternatives will be incorporated into the comments prepared by their respective WMC member and provided to the WMC Chair for distribution to the Boyle Team for consideration. The Executive Director stressed the need to deliver a consistent message at these meetings.
One meeting will be held in each state, with one combined meeting for eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, for a total of four meetings. The states will set the time and location of these meetings. Nebraska and Wyoming will jointly arrange the combined meeting for eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. Nebraska anticipates that some Nebraska water users on the South Platte River may attend the meeting held in Colorado and asked that Colorado inform them of the time and location of Colorado's meeting. It is anticipated the meetings will be held the week of June 7 or the week of June 14. The meetings must be complete no later than June 21, to fit with the review schedule for the short list of alternatives. The WMC reached consensus regarding the approach to the meetings for the short list of alternatives. It is anticipated that another set of meetings regarding the draft Action Plan will be held.
After a lunch break from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., the meeting continued with a discussion regarding the high ground water flooding. Information for this topic is needed for:
- Reconnaissance Study (limited detail);
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Process (enough detail to identify potential impacts); and
- WMC monitoring and baseline information, as well as operations of the Environmental Account (EA) in Lake McConaughy.
The Ground Water Flooding Subgroup Chair, Duane Woodward, provided a report dated March 11, 1999, to the WMC that contained estimates of time and cost to analyze the ground water flooding problem in the Central Platte River valley. Four (4) areas of analysis were discussed:
- Surface Water Stage Analysis;
- Analysis of Ground Water Levels;
- Ground Water Recharge; and
- Survey the Extent of Problem Area.
The estimated overall time and cost associated with these analyses was 260 hours and $20,800, respectively.
The EIS Manager, Curt Brown, discussed with the WMC what the EIS Team will do to address the ground water flooding problem. The EIS Team anticipates examining historic trends in ground water and river flows, establishing current conditions, and analyzing the river stage versus ground water levels at selected sites on the Platte River. The EIS Team does not plan to survey the extent of the flooding problem.
Mr. Woodward also identified that approximately 30 ground water level recorders are being installed in existing wells to obtain continuous background water level data. Current funding for the operation and data collection from these data loggers expires in July. It was suggested that this effort be funded through the irrigation season to log the response of the ground water over the entire irrigation season. Mr. Brown indicated the EIS process may be able to provide funds to continue the use of the data loggers throughout the irrigation season.
Since the EIS Team will be preforming analyses similar to those identified in Mr. Woodward's report, it was agreed the WMC will collaborate with the EIS Team through the Flooding Subgroup to complete the analyses. It is anticipated the analyses will include at a minimum the components described below.
Surface Water Stage:
- select historical period for monthly analysis;
- develop historic river stage at river gauging station for selected period; and
- estimate river stage for Program water, assuming an operation of the first Program increment maximum stage change.
Ground Water Levels:
- develop depth to ground water maps for select high water years, spring 1987, spring 1994, and spring 1997; and
- using Glover bank storage function, estimate effect of the river stage on changes on ground water levels from the river banks to distances away for the river.
The use of existing models (Grand Island and Kearney Wellfields models) to estimate the effect of seasonal or long term average monthly river stage changes on ground water areas within the models was discussed. Potentially, Mr. Woodward would be able to use the Grand Island model, if needed. Mr. Woodward will report back to the WMC at the April meeting regarding the best candidate available to use the Kearney Wellfields model.
Ground Water Recharge:
- assemble ground water recharge data (i.e., precipitation, soils, land use, Evapotranspiration (ET), etc.); and
- develop recharge estimates for areas of concern.
If the data assembled by the EIS Team is anticipated to be at a insufficient level of detail for the WMC, Mr. Woodward will notify the WMC Chair.
The WMC will not undertake the task of surveying the extent of the problem area, as other entities have and are currently collecting this type of information. The EIS Team may explore the use of Satellite imagery to project areas of land with high ground water levels.
Next, the WMC discussed water conservation/supply demonstration projects. A Subgroup to identify potential demonstration projects was formed. The subgroup members are Mike Drain (Nebraska), Jon Altenhofen (Colorado), and Becky Mathisen (Wyoming). Mr. Drain will Chair the Demonstration Projects Subgroup. All members of the WMC were encouraged to provide ideas regarding potential demonstrate projects to Mr. Drain. The Demonstration Projects Subgroup will be looking to identify rapidly implementable projects in all geographical areas. The Boyle Team as part of their contract is also working to prepare of list of potential demonstration projects and anticipates this list will be available by June 1, 1999. The Demonstration Projects Subgroup and Boyle Team are free to share information in the process of identifying demonstration projects. The potential demonstration projects identified will be brought forward to the WMC for consideration.
Mr. Drain shared with the WMC a paper he prepared in response to questions from a local landowner directed to Central regarding target flows and ground water flooding. This paper reflects Mr. Drain's responses as a Hydraulic Engineer for Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and is not a work product of WMC.
The development of the Tracking/Accounting Procedures identified in Milestone W14-1 was discussed next. The WMC discussed the need to hold a workshop with the water administrators from each state to review current water administration and how potential water contributions to the Program could be credited and tracked under existing administration. The date for the water administration workshop was set for April 20, 1999, and will be incorporated into the regularly scheduled WMC meeting. The workshop will be held in the Barrett Building (4th floor conference room) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end around 3:00 p.m. The WMC Chair will extend an invitation to the Governance Committee at their March 16 meeting to attend the workshop. The workshop will discuss current administration of the river and integration of tracking Program water with respect to conveyance losses, hydrologically connected ground water, and accretions/depletions. Mike Purcell, Jon Altenhofen, and Ann Bleed will prepare a proposed outline for the workshop for use by the respective water administrators to prepare for the meeting. This outline will be provided to the WMC Chair no later than March 29, 1999, for review by the WMC. It is anticipated the outline will be sent to the state water administrators in early April.
The WMC reviewed and discussed its schedule. The Reconnaissance Study remains on schedule to deliver the draft Reconnaissance Study report on August 9, 1999. It is anticipated the final report will be slipped from mid-September to mid-October to facilitate the Peer Review Process. The tracking/accounting procedures are scheduled to be completed by implementation of the Program. The WMC is on schedule to complete its tasks by implementation of the Program.
Workshop No. 7 with the Boyle Team regarding Associated Issues (Task 6) was scheduled for June 14, 1999, in Lakewood, Colorado. The workshop will also provide a forum for the WMC and States to discuss the analysis/screening results provided by the Boyle Team. The workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Milestone W13-3 was discussed. The WMC understands this Milestone regarding depletion impact analysis to be the WMC's review of each state's Accretion/Depletion Plans (as was done for Colorado's Depletion Plan). The WMC will review Nebraska's and Wyoming's Plans when available and report their findings to the Governance Committee.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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