Basin-Wide Plan for 

Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of Overappropriated 

Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 1 of 12 

I. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS BASIN-WIDE PLAN

The purpose of this Basin-Wide Plan (Plan) is to meet the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. 

§ 46-715(4)(a) for those portions of the Platte River Basin upstream of the Kearney Canal 

Diversion designated as overappropriated by the Nebraska Department of Natural 

Resources (DNR) on September 15, 2004. This area is defined in the DNR’s Order, 

which also defines the area in which ground water is hydrologically connected to the 

overappropriated surface water basin (see map 1). The overappropriated basin and the 

hydrologically connected area will hereinafter be referred to as the “overappropriated 

basin.” 

This Plan applies to the designated overappropriated basin within the following natural 

resources districts (NRDs): the North Platte NRD, the South Platte NRD, the Twin Platte 

NRD, the Central Platte NRD, and the Tri-Basin NRD. These NRDs shall be collectively 

referred to below as the “Platte River Basin NRDs.” This Plan was adopted after 

consultation and collaboration with stakeholders, as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-715, 

and after the DNR and the individual Platte River Basin NRDs held the following joint 

hearings: 

• North Platte NRD, ________________, 2008 at ________________, 

• South Platte NRD, ________________, 2008 at ________________, 

• Twin Platte NRD, ________________, 2008 at ________________, 

• Central Platte NRD, _________________, 2008 at ________________, 

and 

• Tri-Basin NRD, ___________________, 2008 at ___________________. 

This Plan will be adopted, implemented, and revised as necessary by the Platte River 

Basin NRDs and the DNR through the authorities granted by Nebraska Revised Statutes. 

II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN 

A. Goals 

 

1. Incrementally achieve and sustain a fully appropriated condition. 

2. Prevent reductions in the flow of a river or stream that would cause noncompliance 

with an interstate compact or decree or other formal state contract or agreement. 

3. Keep the Plan current. 

4. Work cooperatively to identify and investigate disputes between ground water users 

and surface water appropriators and, if determined appropriate, implement 

management solutions to address such issues. 
Basin-Wide Plan for Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of 

Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 2 of 12 

B. First Increment Objectives 

The first increment of the Plan will not last more than 10 years. The Plan will take effect 

30 days after it is adopted by DNR and all five Platte Basin NRD boards of directors. 

Goal 1 Objectives: 

1. Offset impacts of streamflow depletions to (A) surface water appropriations and (B) 

water wells constructed in aquifers dependent upon recharge from streamflow to the 

extent those depletions are due to water use initiated after July 1, 1997. 

2. Actively pursue funding for offsets and develop and maintain data and analytical 

tools, such as the Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) and other programs and 

projects needed to implement this Plan. 

3. Continue to develop the methodology to calculate the difference between the current 

and fully appropriated levels of development in each NRD. 

4. Conduct a technical analysis as described in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-715(4)(d)(iii) for 

this Plan and the individual Platte River Basin NRDs’ integrated management plans 

(IMPs) after they have been in effect for at least five years, to determine whether the 

controls adopted in the respective plans or other management actions taken by the 

NRD are sufficient to offset depletions due to post- July 1, 1997, water uses and 

whether the provisions of this Plan and the IMPs are adequate to sustain progress 

toward a fully appropriated level of water use.

5. Use available funds to offset depletions due to water uses initiated prior to July 1, 

1997, that are identified as part of the overall difference between current and fully 

appropriated levels of development. 

6. Adopt and implement IMPs in each Platte River Basin NRD 

Goal 2 Objectives: 

1. Prevent streamflow depletions that would cause noncompliance by Nebraska with the 

Nebraska New Depletions Plan (NDP) included within the Platte River Recovery 

Implementation Program (Program), for as long as the Program exists. 

Goal 3 Objectives: 

1. Meet at least annually to review progress toward achieving the goals and objectives 

of this Plan and those portions of individual NRD IMPs that implement this Plan. 

2. Gather and evaluate data and information to measure the effectiveness of controls, 

incentives and/or other programs in the individual NRD IMPs used to implement this 

Plan. 

Goal 4 Objectives: 

1. Identify disputes between ground water users and surface water appropriators. 

2. Investigate and address issues between ground water users and surface water 

appropriators, based on investigation results. 
Basin-Wide Plan for Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of 

Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 3 of 12 

C. Subsequent Increment(s) Objectives 

1. Offset any remaining depletions due to water uses initiated prior to July 1, 1997, that 

are identified as part of the overall difference between current and fully appropriated 

levels of development incrementally, as described in Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 46-715 (d). 

2. Review and revise the Plan as necessary so that its provisions will allow achievement 

of the existing as well as any newly identified goals and objectives for subsequent 

Plan increments. 

3. Review available data and complete analyses of the actions taken in the individual 

IMPs to offset depletions to estimate progress toward meeting the goals and 

objectives of this Plan and whether the actions taken will be sufficient to enable 

continued progress toward achieving the goals and objectives for subsequent 

increments of this Plan. 

III. COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN

Goal 1, Objective 1: Offset impacts of streamflow depletions to (A) surface water

appropriations and (B) water wells constructed in aquifers dependent upon recharge from 

streamflow, to the extent those depletions are due to water use initiated after July 1, 1997.

(hereinafter referred to as “streamflow depletions” or “depletions”). 

Measures that can potentially be used to overcome the adverse effects of increases in 

consumptive use on streamflows include both those that reduce intentional consumptive 

use and those that enhance existing water supplies in other ways, or that increase the 

ability to use existing supplies more effectively. 

A. Offset depletions to streamflows for new or expanded uses initiated after July 1, 

1997, in the overappropriated basin. 

1. Identify depletions and accretions due to any of the following: 

a. changes in irrigated acres; 

b. changes in municipal and domestic uses of water; 

c. changes in livestock use of water; 

d. changes in industrial uses of water; 

e. changes in proportion of water provided by surface water and groundwater 

sources on commingled irrigated land; and/or 

f. any other relevant changes in water use that affect streamflows. 

2. Develop methodologies and gather and evaluate data that could be used to 

estimate depletions and accretions to streamflow. 

3. Identify projects that may be used to enhance water supply. These projects shall 

be pursued on a basin-wide level, when such projects will help achieve 

sustainable levels of supply and use and address water shortages in one NRD 

that affect more than one NRD. 

4. Reduce consumptive water use through retirement of irrigated lands, water use 

allocation, and/or other management options. 
Basin-Wide Plan for Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of 

Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 4 of 12 

5. Establish uniform methods for calculating depletions and offsets and for 

conducting water banking of both ground water and surface water, using tools 

developed as part of COHYST and other methods. 

6. Establish uniform methods for identifying and regulating water use on acres 

irrigated with both surface water and ground water. 

7. Ensure that offsets of depletions occur at the equivalent time, amount, and 

location of the depletion. 

B. Initial identification of depletions 

1. The COHYST model was used to estimate part of the depletions to streamflow 

due to development after July 1, 1997, and before December 31, 2005, in the 

overappropriated basin. 

a. The increase in ground water irrigated acres within the hydrologically 

connected area of the overappropriated basin, along with the stream 

depletions (table 1) associated with those increases, are identified by and 

reported for each individual NRD in five-year-average increments through 

the year 2048 in the COHYST Report1

. 

b. Multiple COHYST reports have identified various limitations to the 

model. As these limitations are addressed by COHYST, or by other 

technical efforts pursued by DNR and the NRDs, any associated changes 

have the potential to alter the resulting depletion values. DNR and the 

Platte River Basin NRDs will determine how the depletion estimates from 

the COHYST model, as well as any other methodologies, need to be 

revised when additional data or model improvements become available. 

c. Table 1 shows the 2043-2048 average annual streamflow depletion due to 

new ground water irrigated acres from July 1, 1997, to December 31, 

2005, as determined by the June 10, 2008, COHYST analysis for the 

entire area of each NRD as well as only the overappropriated area within 

each NRD. DNR and the Platte River Basin NRDs will determine whether 

the depletion estimates in table 1 should be revised as additional 

information is collected, as refinements are made to consumptive use 

estimates, as revisions are made in the COHYST models, or as deemed 

appropriate by the NRDs and DNR. 

i. For the purposes of the Basin-Wide Plan, depletions to 

streamflows estimated by the COHYST model will need to be adjusted 

to reflect the requirement to offset only those amounts needed to 

prevent depletions to (A) surface water appropriations and (B) water 

wells constructed in aquifers dependent upon recharge from 

streamflow. This analysis will take into account the methodologies 

used to develop the COHYST depletion values. 

 

1 Luckey, Richard R. 2008. Estimated Stream Baseflow Depletion by Natural Resources District 

in the Nebraska Platte Basin due to Gained and Lost Groundwater Irrigated Land after July 1, 

1997. Aurora, CO: High Plains Hydrology, LLC. Prepared for Cooperative Hydrology Study. 47 p. 
Basin-Wide Plan for Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of 

Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 5 of 12 

2. Estimates of other new uses have been calculated by the DNR and the Platte 

River Basin NRDs 

a. Changes in population will be used as an indicator of the change in the 

consumptive use of water for municipalities and domestic users in rural 

areas. Tables 2a through 2d show the change in population in each Platte 

River Basin NRD between 1997 and 2005. 

b. Changes in the number of livestock as reported by the Nebraska 

Agricultural Statistics Service or the Agricultural Census will be used as 

an indicator of the change in the consumptive use of water due to 

livestock. Tables 3a and 3 b show the changes in the number of cattle in 

each Platte River Basin NRD between 1997 and 2005. 

c. Changes in the industrial use of water will be estimated based upon 

registered well data and a survey of industrial uses in the Platte Basin. 

Table 4, which has not been developed at this time, will show the changes 

in industrial water use in each Platte River Basin NRD between 1997 and 

2005. 

3. Other data and methods may be used to determine consumptive use and 

depletions as long as DNR and the NRD(s) agree on the data or method used. 

Table 1: 2043-2048 average annual streamflow depletion due to new ground water 

irrigated acres from July 1, 1997, to December 31, 2005, as determined by the June 10, 

2008, COHYST analysis for the entire area of each NRD and the overappropriated area 

only within each NRD. 

Natural Resources 

District 

Average Annual Depletions in 

the Years 2043-2048 (for the 

entire area of each individual 

NRD) 

Average Annual 

Depletions in the Years 

2043-2048 (for the OA 

portion within each NRD) 

North Platte NRD 8,000 acre-feet 7,900 acre-feet

South Platte NRD 700 acre-feet 200 acre-feet

Twin Platte NRD 7,700 acre-feet 6,700 acre-feet

Central Platte NRD 3,400 acre-feet 1,400 acre-feet

Tri-Basin NRD 5,000 acre-feet 2,200 acre-feet

Other NRDs 1,500 acre-feet 0 acre-feet

Table 2a: Change in human population over the entire NRD between 1997 and 2005. 

NRD Name 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 121,977 129,586 7,609

North Platte 45,088 44,928 -160

South Platte 15,597 15,779 182

Tri-Basin 18,934 18,243 -691

Twin Platte 40,351 41,835 1,484

Total 241,947 250,371 8,424
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 6 of 12 

Table 2b: Change in total human population in the overappropriated area in each NRD. 

Total OA Pop by NRD 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 8,155 8,577 422

North Platte 37,680 37,600 -80

South Platte 10,762 10,806 44

Tri-Basin 2,918 2,838 -80

Twin Platte 36,627 37,796 1,169

Total 96,142 97,617 1,475

Table 2c: Change in city populations in the overappropriated area in each NRD. 

OA_City Pop by NRD 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 6,301 6,676 375

North Platte 29,445 29,333 -112

South Platte 10,064 10,095 31

Tri-Basin 1,626 1,618 -8

Twin Platte 31,712 32,395 683

Total 79,148 80,117 969

Table 2d: Change in rural human population in the overappropriated area in each NRD 

OA_Rural Pop by NRD 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 1,854 1,901 47

North Platte 8,235 8,267 32

South Platte 698 711 13

Tri-Basin 1,292 1,220 -72

Twin Platte 4,915 5,401 486

Total 16,994 17,500 506

Table 3a: Change in cattle population from 1997 to 2005 for entire area of the NRD. 

NRDs 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 552,560 486,580 -65,980

North Platte 425,280 408,210 -17,070

South Platte 100,980 83,160 -17,820

Tri-Basin 276,210 267,300 -8,910

Twin Platte 263,460 265,380 1,920

Other 938,970 857,880 -81,090

Total 2,557,460 2,368,510 -188,950
Basin-Wide Plan for Joint Integrated Water Resources Management of 

Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 7 of 12 

Table 3b: Change in cattle population from 1997 to 2005 for the overappropriated area of 

the NRD. 

NRDs 1997 2005 Change

Central Platte 78,660 68,290 -10,370

North Platte 218,650 208,630 -10,020

South Platte 18,320 15,470 -2,850

Tri-Basin 62,220 61,960 -260

Twin Platte 135,550 134,570 -980

Total 513,400 488,920 -24,480

Table 4 

At this time the DNR and the Platte Basin NRDs have not compiled data on the change in 

the consumptive use of water due to industrial activities in the Platte Basin. This data will 

be developed by DNR and the Platte Basin NRDs and brought to the first annual basinwide meeting as a proposed amendment to the Basin-Wide Plan. 

Goal 1, Objective 2: Actively pursue funding for offsets and develop and maintain data 

and analytical tools, such as COHYST and other programs and projects needed to 

implement this Plan.

A. Work together to maintain and improve COHYST. 

B. Work to secure necessary funding for existing and proposed projects that will 

advance the goals of this Plan. 

Goal 1, Objective 3: Continue to develop the methodology to calculate the difference 

between the current and fully appropriated levels of development in each NRD.

A. The determination of the overall difference between current and fully appropriated 

levels of development will: 

1. take into account cyclical supply, including drought; 

2. identify the portion of the overall difference that is due to conservation 

measures; 

3. identify the portion of the overall difference that is due to water use initiated 

prior to July 1, 1997; and 

4. identify the portion of the overall difference that is due to water use initiated or 

expanded on or after July 1, 1997. 

B. As a preliminary step in developing the overall difference between fully and over 

appropriated conditions, the DNR, CNPPID, NPPD, and CPNRD performed a 

preliminary estimate of the changes in stream reach gains and surface water demands 

affected by such reach gain changes entitled “Preliminary Estimate of Historical 

Stream Flow Reductions in the Overappropriated Portion of the Platte River in 

Nebraska.” The DNR and the Platte Basin NRDs are not in agreement that the 
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 8 of 12 

methodology used in that estimate is the most appropriate to determine the difference 

between fully and overappropriated, and accordingly, both the DNR and the Platte 

Basin NRDs will work to identify the overall difference between the current and fully 

appropriated levels of development. The estimate of the difference between fully and 

overappropriated, as identified in that preliminary estimate, also did not identify 

portions of the overall difference due to water use initiated prior to July 1, 1997, 

conservation measures and/or other possible causes including but not limited to 

drought, invasive vegetation, crop rotation, and canal operations, diversions and 

returns. These portions will be identified during the first increment. The preliminary 

estimate also did not contain specific requirements that an NRD would need to meet 

to achieve a fully appropriated condition, nor was it intended. The portion of the 

overall difference due to ground water use was not identified in this report. A peer 

review process of any analysis to determine the difference between the current and 

fully appropriated levels of development shall be required before final approval and 

adoption. 

C. The COHYST model, and other models or tools, will be used to refine estimates of 

the overall difference between the current and fully appropriated levels of 

development. The estimates will be adjusted as additional information is collected, as 

refinements are made to consumptive use estimates, as revisions are made to the 

COHYST model, or as deemed appropriate by the NRDs and DNR. 

D. A water budget/consumption approach may also be used to determine the overall 

difference as it can be a useful tool in that it allows for a comprehensive 

understanding of the water supplies and uses in the basin. 

Goal 1, Objective 4: Conduct a technical analysis as described in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-

715(4)(d)(iii) for this Plan and the individual Platte River Basin NRD IMPs after they 

have been in effect for at least five years, to determine whether the controls adopted in 

the respective plans or other management actions taken by the NRD are sufficient to 

offset depletions due to post- July 1, 1997, water uses and whether the provisions of this

Plan and the IMPs are adequate to sustain progress toward a fully appropriated level of 

water use.

A. In the second and any subsequent increments of this Plan, the IMP for each NRD 

shall specify the extent to which any remaining overall difference between fully and 

overappropriated status results from consumptive uses within each individual NRD. 

B. The IMP for each of the Platte River Basin NRDs that is adopted for any subsequent 

increment of the overappropriated basin planning process shall describe how progress 

toward the depletion reduction objective for that particular NRD is to be measured. 
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 9 of 12 

Goal 1, Objective 5: Use available funds to offset depletions due to water uses initiated 

prior to July 1, 1997, that are identified as part of the overall difference between current 

and fully appropriated levels of development. 

A. Cooperate with the federal government to utilize programs such as CREP and EQIP 

that promote reductions in consumptive use. 

B. Encourage Platte River Basin NRDs, agencies, and water users to participate in these 

programs. 

Goal 1, Objective 6: Adopt and implement integrated management plans (IMPs) in each 

Platte River Basin NRD. 

A. The IMP for each Platte River Basin NRD shall: 

1. Be consistent with this Basin-Wide Plan. 

2. Identify management options that will help to achieve the goals and objectives 

of this Plan. 

a. Management actions should take into account the cyclical nature of water 

supplies as well as the impact of conservation measures. 

b. Management options available to be used in the IMPs to address the 

objectives of the first increment are those found in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 46-

716 and 46-739. Other options that are not regulatory include, but are not 

limited to, augmentation/retiming projects; alternative management of 

canals; new storage reservoirs and/or underground storage; water banking; 

incentive programs for retiring irrigated acres and/or purchasing surface 

water; alternative management of existing reservoirs and drought 

management plans. 

c. Riparian and riverine vegetation control may be considered as a 

management option when a change in consumptive use can be 

scientifically proven and there is a comprehensive accounting of all 

changes in such vegetation over the development period. 

3. Ensure that depletions caused by new or expanded uses within each Platte River 

Basin NRD are offset. 

4. Describe how progress toward the depletion reduction objective for that Platte 

River Basin NRD is to be measured. Possible tools to use for such 

measurements include, but are not limited to the following: 

a. tracking reductions in irrigated acres; 

b. monitoring reductions in consumptive water uses; and 

c. making new COHYST model runs. 

5. Include actions that will offset depletive impacts of post- July 1, 1997, water 

uses outside the overappropriated area, to the extent that those new uses deplete 

streamflows within the overappropriated area. 

6. Allow for the transfer of certified acres across NRD boundaries, while not 

increasing streamflow depletions to the Platte River. 
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 10 of 12 

B. If DNR and a Platte River Basin NRD determine that management actions taken have 

not provided the offsets required to meet the goals of the Basin-Wide Plan they will 

revise the individual district IMP. 

1. As prescribed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-715(4)(d)(iv), a consultative and 

collaborative process shall, if necessary, identify goals and objectives for 

subsequent increments of the IMP. 

Goal 2, Objective 1: Prevent streamflow depletions that would cause noncompliance by 

Nebraska with the NDP included within the Program, for as long as a Program exists. 

A. Ensure that the ground water and surface water controls adopted in the individual 

district IMPs are sufficient to ensure that the state will remain in compliance with 

state and federal laws as well as decrees and other formal state agreements. 

B. Collectively, as defined in the Nebraska NDP, offset the new depletions caused by 

new uses within the Platte River Basin NRDs. 

Goal 3, Objective 1: Meet at least annually to review progress toward achieving the 

goals and objectives of the Basin-Wide Plan and those portions of individual NRD IMPs 

that implement this Plan.

A. The first annual meeting will be held within one year of when this Plan is adopted at a 

time and place designated by DNR and the Platte Basin NRDs. Thereafter, the annual 

meeting will be held in June or July of each year, unless agreed to otherwise. 

B. Discussion shall include, but not be limited to the following: 

1. revisions to this Plan; 

2. revisions to the IMPs (the individual IMPs may be amended more frequently); 

3. new data and information, including items like consumptive use calculations for 

municipal, livestock and industrial uses; 

4. disputes related to implementation of IMPs; and/or 

5. any other topic on which the DNR and the Platte Basin NRDs have mutually 

agreed. 

C. A proposed agenda will be made available to the public, along with any available 

supporting documents, at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting. 

D. As a result of actions taken at the annual meeting, the Plan may be revised as 

necessary. 

E. Stakeholder and/or public feedback concerning the Basin-Wide Plan or individual 

IMPs will be considered in the following process: 

1. Basin-Wide Plan 

a. Any ground water user, surface water appropriator, NRD, or DNR may, at 

least 30 days before the annual review meeting between the NRDs and 

DNR, send a written request to DNR or a Platte Basin NRD for revision to 

the Basin-Wide Plan. 

i. The affected Platte Basin NRD(s) and DNR will review the 

proposed issues prior to the annual meeting. 
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 11 of 12 

ii. Opportunity for input regarding the proposed issues will be 

provided to the party making the request during the annual 

meeting. 

iii. At a minimum, written requestors will receive a written response, 

regardless of whether the NRDs and DNR agree to consider 

proposed Plan revisions. 

b. If DNR and the Platte River Basin NRDs agree to consider potential 

revisions to the Basin-Wide Plan, then the public will be notified of the 

potential revisions to the Basin-Wide Plan, and input will be solicited. 

i. An advisory or stakeholder group may be convened, if the affected 

NRD(s) and DNR determine that the proposed changes warrant the 

formation of such a group. 

c. After receiving public comments, Basin-Wide Plan revisions will be 

considered for adoption. 

d. If the NRD(s) and DNR agree on revisions to the Basin-Wide Plan after 

the annual meeting, then a hearing will be held to solicit formal comment. 

Following the public hearing, the proposed changes will be considered and 

may be adopted. 

2. IMPs 

a. If the overappropriated Basin-Wide Plan is revised, then revisions to the 

overappropriated basin portion of individual Platte Basin IMPs will be 

made as necessary, in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 46-715(4). 

b. If the Platte River Basin NRD(s) and DNR agree on revisions to an IMP 

after the annual meeting, then a hearing will be held to solicit formal 

comment. The IMPs for each of the five Platte Basin NRDs shall be 

provided to all other NRDs in the overappropriated basin for comment 

before revisions are approved. 

c. DNR and any Platte Basin NRD may amend an IMP at more frequent 

intervals as more data and information become available, as provided in 

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-715(4)(d)(ii). 

Goal 3, Objective 2: Gather and evaluate data and information to measure the 

effectiveness of controls, incentives and or other programs in the individual NRD IMPs

used to implement this Plan.

A. Jointly conduct a study to identify the impact of soil and water conservation measures 

on streamflows. Specifically, assess the impact on streamflow depletions from 

conservation measures, as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-715(4)(c). 

B. Review current methodologies, as well as proposed new methodologies, and evaluate 

data at the annual meeting discussed in goal 3, objective A. 

C. Revise Plan, if such revisions will ensure that its goals and objectives will be 

achieved in the timeliest and most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. 
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Overappropriated Portions of the Platte River Basin, Nebraska 

March 3, 2009 12 of 12 

Goal 4, Objective 1: Identify disputes between ground water users and surface water 

appropriators.

A. Surface water appropriators or ground water users may present data and other 

supporting information identifying the nature and scope of potential disputes at the 

annual meeting. 

B. The Platte River Basin NRDs and DNR may present data and other supporting 

information identifying the nature and scope of potential disputes at the annual 

meeting. 

Goal 4, Objective 2: Investigate and address disputes between ground water users and 

surface water appropriators based on the investigation results. 

A. The DNR and the Platte River Basin NRDs shall determine whether specific disputes 

identified via goal 4, objective 1, have a hydrologic impact. 

B. The DNR and the Platte River Basin NRD(s) will investigate a given dispute in order 

to determine whether the issue should be addressed through modification of the 

Basin-Wide Plan or individual IMPs, or by other means. 

C. If it is determined, as a result of the investigation, that the issue is not a basin-wide 

issue, the issue will be turned over to the appropriate affected NRD(s) and/or DNR. 

D. The DNR and/or the affected Platte River Basin NRD(s), as determined in goal 4, 

objective 2, section B, working with the affected water user(s), shall develop 

management solutions, as appropriate, to address the issue(s). 

E. The DNR and the affected Platte River Basin NRD(s) shall update the Basin-Wide 

Plan and/or individual IMP, as appropriate. 

Map 1 
TWIN PLATTE 

SOUTH PLATTE

UPPER REPUBLICAN

UPPER LOUP

NORTH PLATTE

UPPER NIOBRARA WHITE

MIDDLE REPUBLICAN

MIDDLE NIOBRARA

Explanation

Overappropriated Surface Water AreaHydrologically Connected Surface and Ground WaterState BoundaryNRDs

Map P

Overappropriated Surface Water and the Geographic Area Determined to Have Surface Water Hydrologically Connected 

Planning Section Ground Water for the Purpose of Overappropriated Designati

0 25 50 75 

12.5

This map represents the areas described in the Order issued by the Department of Natural Resources 

on September 15, 2004 designating the surface water resources within the Platte River Basin above the Kearney Canal Diversion, the North Platte River Basin including Pumpkinseed Creek and the South Platte River Basin including Lodgepole Creek as overappropriated. Also represented is the geographic area within which it has been determined that surface water is hydrologically connected to ground 

water for the purpose of designating the surface water resources within this same area. Additional information regarding the designation can be found in the Order issued by the Department of Natural Resources on September 15, 2004.