24 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN March 2025 The South Platte Compact and Perkins County Canal The only legal means for Nebraska to ensure South Platte River water continues to flow out of Colorado and into Nebraska is the South Platte River Compact. The Compact, formally enacted into federal law in 1926, splits the year into the two seasons: an “irrigation season,” between April 1 and Oct. 15; and a “non-irrigation season,” between Oct. 15 and April 1. During the irrigation season, Colorado must curtail their water rights junior to June 14, 1897, when flows at the state line drop below 120 cfs. During the non-irrigation season, Colorado must similarly curtail certain water rights junior to Dec. 17, 1921, when flows in the river drop below 500 cfs. While Colorado has acknowledged the irrigation season 120 cfs requirement, it has refused to honor the 500 cfs requirement in the non-irrigation season. A Dec. 12, 2022, letter from Colorado’s state engineer stated that, “Because Nebraska has not constructed the Perkins County Canal, there is no basis for Colorado to administer junior water appropriations in the Lower Section of the South Platte River,” meaning without the canal Nebraska has no way to protect South Platte flows for much of the year. That’s where the Perkins County Canal project comes in. Specifically authorized by the Compact, the project would have the ability to address several of the issues. Because the canal would carry a 1921 water right during the non-irrigation season, it could significantly limit Colorado’s current and future use of water. The Compact also allows the canal to divert surplus water under certain conditions. For example, had the canal been in place when high flows were experienced during the 2023 irrigation season, an estimated 72,500 acre-feet of additional water could have been stored, the equivalent of the annual water supply for the cities of Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney and North Platte Geotechnical testing in Nebraska for the Perkins Canal Project. THE PERKINS COUNTY CANAL PROJECT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 Black Hereford & Angus Registered Logan & Jen Hill (970)629-8807 Stapleton, NE hislashcattle.com HORSE RACE FINISH 7:30AM-8:00PM cst Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Selling Age Advantaged, Forage Developed Bulls Efficiency Hardiness Color hosted online by
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