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Where Imports Are Measured At - updated

This is an update to a post a couple of weeks ago. it is updated to include a couple more sections in the Agreement with Kansas about how and where water imports are credited at. The Agreement made with Kansas which Kansas has already agreed to and has been approved by the US Supreme Court specifies where and how imports are credited. You can read the documents for yourself. What the official documents say differs from what the DNR is telling the NRDs. I think the Supreme Court trumps the DNR.


Measurement Point of Imported Water

 

Excerpts from the Republican River Compact Administration Accounting Procedures and Reporting Requirements

 

http://tinyurl.com/2hllro

 

III.A.3

 

3. Imported Water Supply Credit Calculation:

The amount of Imported Water Supply Credit shall be determined by the RRCA Groundwater Model. The Imported Water Supply Credit of a State shall not be included in the Virgin Water Supply and shall be counted as a credit/offset against the Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use of water allocated to that State. Currently, the Imported Water Supply Credits shall be determined using two runs of the RRCA Groundwater Model:

 

a. The “base” run shall be the run with all groundwater pumping, groundwater pumping recharge, and surface water recharge within the model study boundary for the period 1940 to the current accounting year turned “on.” This will be the same “base” run used to determine groundwater Computed Beneficial Consumptive Uses.

 

b. The “no NE import” run shall be the run with the same model inputs as the base run with the exception that surface water recharge associated with Nebraska’s Imported Water Supply shall be turned “off.”

 

The Imported Water Supply Credit shall be the difference in stream flows between these two model runs. Differences in stream flows shall be determined at the same locations as identified in Subsection III.D.1.for the “no pumping” runs. Should another State import water into the Basin in the future, the RRCA will develop a similar procedure to determine Imported Water Supply Credits.

 

III.D.1

 

Calculation of Annual Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use

 

1. Groundwater

Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use of groundwater shall be determined by use of the RRCA Groundwater Model. The Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use of groundwater for each State shall be determined as the difference in streamflows using two runs of the model:

 

The “base” run shall be the run with all groundwater pumping, groundwater pumping recharge, and surface water recharge within the model study boundary for the period 1940 to the current accounting year “on”.

 

The “no State pumping” run shall be the run with the same model inputs as the base run with the exception that all groundwater pumping and pumping recharge of that State shall be turned “off.”

 

An output of the model is baseflows at selected stream cells. Changes in the baseflows predicted by the model between the “base” run and the “no-Statepumping” model run is assumed to be the depletions to streamflows. i.e., groundwater computed beneficial consumptive use, due to State groundwater pumping at that location. The values for each Sub-basin will include all depletions and accretions upstream of the confluence with the Main Stem. The values for the Main Stem will include all depletions and accretions in stream reaches not otherwise accounted for in a Sub-basin. The values for the Main Stem will be computed separately for the reach above Guide Rock, and the reach below Guide Rock.

 

 

From Republican River Settlement Stipulation - http://tinyurl.com/25z9ex

 

V. B. 2. a

 

Nebraska action in Water-Short Year Administration:

 

a. During Water-Short Year Administration, Nebraska will limit its Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use above Guide Rock to not more than Nebraska’s Allocation that is derived from sources above Guide Rock, and Nebraska’s share of any unused portion of Colorado’s Allocation (no entitlement to Colorado’s unused Allocation is implied or expressly granted by this provision). To accomplish this limitation, Nebraska may use one or more of the following measures:

 

i. supplementing water for Nebraska Bostwick Irrigation District by providing alternate supplies from below Guide Rock or from outside the Basin;

 

 

V. B. 2. b

 

Nebraska may offset any Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use in excess of its Allocation that is derived from sources above Guide Rock with Imported Water Supply Credit. If Nebraska chooses to exercise its option to offset with Imported Water Supply Credit, Nebraska will receive credit only for Imported Water Supply that: (1) produces water above Harlan County Lake; (2) produces water below Harlan County Lake and above Guide Rock that can be diverted during the Bostwick irrigation season; (3) produces water that can be stored and is needed to fill Lovewell Reservoir; or (4) Kansas and Nebraska will explore crediting water that is otherwise useable by Kansas.

 

 

 

From Republican River Settlement Stipulation – Appendix C http://tinyurl.com/2dr4py

I. Calculation of Imported Water Supply Credits During Water-Short Year Administration Years.

 

Imported Water Supply Credit during Water-Short Year Administration years shall be calculated consistent with Subsection V.B.2.b. of the Stipulation,

 

The following methodology shall be used to determine the extent to which Imported Water Supply Credit, as calculated by the RRCA Groundwater Model, can be credited to the State importing the water during Water-Short Year Administration years.

 

1. Monthly Imported Water Supply Credits

 

The RRCA Groundwater Model will be used to determine monthly Imported Water Supply Credits by State in each Sub-basin and for the Main Stem. The values for each Sub-basin will include all depletions and accretions upstream of the confluence with the Main Stem. The values for the Main Stem will include all depletions and accretions in stream reaches not otherwise accounted for in a Sub-basin. The values for the Main Stem will be computed separately for the reach 1) above Harlan County Dam, 2) between Harlan County Dam and Guide Rock, and 3) between Guide Rock and the Hardy gage. The Imported Water Supply Credit shall be the difference in stream flow for two runs of the model: a) the “base” run and b) the “no State import” run.

 

During Water-Short Year Administration years, Nebraska’s credits in the Subbasins shall be determined as described in Section III. A. 3.

 

2. Imported Water Supply Credits Above Harlan County Dam

 

Nebraska's Imported Water Supply Credits above Harlan County Dam shall be the sum of all the credits in the Sub-basins and the Main Stem above Harlan County Dam.

 

 

Final Settlement Stipulation http://tinyurl.com/25z9ex

III.B.1.K

k. Wells acquired or constructed by a State for the sole purpose of offsetting stream depletions in order to comply with its Compact Allocations. Provided that, such Wells shall not cause any new net depletion to stream flow either annually or long-term. The determination of net depletions from these Wells will be computed by the RRCA Groundwater Model and included in the State’s Computed Beneficial Consumptive Use. Augmentation plans and related accounting procedures submitted under this Subsection III.B.1.k. shall be approved by the RRCA prior to implementation.

 

IV.H

Augmentation credit, as further described in Subsection III.B.1.k., shall be calculated in accordance with the RRCA Accounting Procedures and by using the RRCA Groundwater Model.

 

 

Posted by Steve Smith on February 14, 2007 09:41 PM |

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