1. J2 Regulating Reservoir Project

2. J2 regulating Reservoir Concept
The J2 Reservoir would be on the river-side of the Phelps County Canal.
Excesses would be used to fill the reservoir.
Water that currently flows out the J2 return would be routed through the reservoir to provide hydrocycling benefits.
Water source = excess flows
Total storage area of AF
Two-cell concept allows for flexibility in operations (hydrocycling during irrigation)
Located close to upstream end of associated habitat
Meeting target flows
Increasing SDHF releases
- Detailed operations analysis shows potential score of 40,000 AFY plus hydrocycling mitigation benefits
Platte River
CNPPID Diversion
J2 Return
J2 Regulating Reservoir J2
Phelps County Canal

3. J2 Reservoir Purpose Regulate J2 Hydro Releases
Beneficially manage reservoir releases for the project participants

4. Important Project Points
Project will not create “NEW” water
Project will not affect Supply Canal diversions
Project will not affect irrigation deliveries
Minor changes to Supply Canal operations
J2 Hydro timing
Johnson Lake operations
No planned recreational benefits

5. Participants Platte River Recovery Implementation Program
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
Twin Platte NRD
Tri-Basin NRD
Central Platte NRD
Central Nebraska Public Power and
Irrigation District

6. Location Northwest Phelps County Downstream of J2 Hydropower Plant
Between the Phelps Canal and Platte River

8. RIVER ROAD
BERTRAND HWY

9. Preliminary Design 2 cells 1,000 land acres 15,000 acre feet capacity
Clay liner and drains
Soil cement slope protection
Inlets on Phelps Canal
Outlets to Platte River

11. Operations CNPPID will be owner/operator
Route water to reservoirs through Phelps Canal
Regulate J2 Hydro releases
Retime excess flows
River fluctuations
Irrigation demand

13. Schedule Completed work Moving forward
Many years of study and investigations
2+ years of feasibility-level design work
Operating agreement signed in July 2013
Moving forward
2-3 years of design and permitting
2 years of construction starting in

14. Funding $75 million estimated cost CNPPID pays 5%, up to $2.5 million
Remainder is split
PRRIP 75%
NDNR 25%

15. Project Benefits CNPPID PRRIP NDNR Increased generation efficiency
Smooth river fluctuations
PRRIP
Reduction to target flow shortages
Short Duration High Flow (SDHF) events
NDNR
Offset for post 1997 groundwater depletions to stream flows

16. Program’s Water Plan J2 Regulating Reservoir works toward all three
Address New Activities
State and Federal Depletion Plans
Address Existing Activities
Reduce deficits to USFWS Target Flows
Flows for testing river management strategies
Assists in Short Duration High Flow (SDHF)
J2 Regulating Reservoir works toward all three

17. Addressing New Activities
3 States and Federal Depletions Plans
Handles post 1997 depletions
Not counted toward the Program’s water action plan goals – replacing impacts from new activities
Important element of the Program; not the focus of this presentation

18. Addressing Existing Activities
Reducing Deficits to FWS Target Flows by average annual of 130,000 to 150,000 AFY
Handles depletions existing before 1997
3 Initial Projects:
Tamarack I (CO),
Pathfinder Modification (WY), and
Lake McConaughy Environmental Account (NE)
credited 80,000 AFY
New water conservation/supply projects
need 50,000 to 70,000 AFY
Reduction to USFWS deficits to target flows (AVG/WET/DRY pattern)
3 Initial Projects underway and on schedule
Tamarack I – reregulating water so times of excess flows at the state line (but D/S of last Colo diversion) can be used to return at times of shortage; net accretion of 12,000 AF
Pathfinder Modification – reservoir improvements allowing additional storage under original 1904 storage right and yielding 34,000 AF in an environmental account
Environmental Account in Lake Mac from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing for power
Current pulse study of 5,000 cfs for 3 days

19. USFWS Target Flows and Retiming Excesses

20. Water Acquisition Retime excesses Acquire by lease or purchase
Storage
Acquire by lease or purchase
Transfer from agricultural use to environmental use
Water Management Incentives
Reduce CU and increase return flows

21. Questions?