Input Data - Pumping

There is a possible problem with the pumping data being input into the Model. 

The input data for the Model that determines Nebraska and Colorado compliance with the Republican River Compact is critical.  In 2005, WaterClaim requested all Excel worksheets used by the Department of Natural Resources regarding the Republican River Basin.  A hard drive was supplied to the DNR and the DNR under Roger Patterson, graciously copied some of the worksheets on to that hard drive and returned it to WaterClaim.  Included with that was a file called 12p7.out.  It used to be available online at http://www.republicanrivercompact.org/.  However, only 2005 data is online now and that does not include the complete well pumping files.  The 2005 files include the actual Upper Republican NRD pumping records and the power usage records for the Middle and the Lower.  However, the data file used by the simulation is no longer available.

In January of 2006, WaterClaim obtained a file from the DNR called nrd_impacts81_ongoing_pk.xls.  In also has pumping data for Nebraska.  The graph below shows the difference between the two data sources. 

The difference between the two data files is huge.  The file used by the RRCA shows pumping to be 3 times greater than what is actual.  We do not know which data source is used by the computer simulation but as of 2005 it appears that it was the inflated version.  This potential error would have significant negative repercussions for Nebraska’s ability to comply.

The DNR does not accept or reply to such questions from anyone but the NRDs, the Governor, and the State Senators.  The NRDs have not publicly requested such information.  It is possible that the NRDs have made the requests privately.  If a correction has been made, it has not been made public.

The Senators on the Natural Resource Committee which are responsible for overseeing the DNR have not asked for an explanation.   The Governor, for whom the DNR works, has not made public any comments on the question.

This is only a possible problem as we simply do not know what data the simulation has been given. 

A possible solution would be for the DNR to provide the public on its web site all of the input data used by the simulation so that anyone that wants to review the data for errors can do so.  Only the Governor, the Senators, or the NRDs can cause that to happen.  So far none of them are causing that to happen.