Our economy is based on agricultural production and related activities. Croplands produce corn, small grains, sugarbeets, potatoes, soy beans, castor beans, milo, alfalfa, and other hay crops. Livestock feeding and dairying constitute primary farm operations, and the greater part of the corn and forage produced annually is fed locally. The Mid-State project was initiated nearly 20 years ago when local people employed Adolph F. Meyer, nationally known hydraulic and consulting engineer, Minneapolis, Minn., to make a preliminary report on project plans. After initial surveys of sites and office studies, the first set of project plans was completed in March 1944. Revisions and adjustments have been made over intervening years to conform to Federal planning principles and to keep abreast of changing developments in the project area. As now designed, the Mid-State project will consist of (1) a diversion dam on the Platte River, (2) a 15-mile main supply canal, (3) a series of 23 interconnected reservoirs across ravines on the north side of the valley, with an aggregate storage capacity of over 600,000 acre-feet, (4) 4 potential hydroelectric powerplants, and (5) a distribution system and series of district wells for the direct irrigation of 140,000 acres of cropland. These facilities and their operation are fully described in the project report submitted previously to this committee. Collectively, these facilities will provide as major benefits (1) irrigation, (2) replenishment and stabilization of the ground-water supply for farms, cities, and industry throughout the entire district, (3) flood control, (4) the production of hydroelectric power, (5) conservation of fish and wildlife, and (6) development of recreational facilities. Irrigation PROJECT BENEFITS The Mid-State project will supply surface irrigation water directly to 140.000 acres of croplands in the district, including 96,000 acres presently irrigated from wells and 44,000 acres of dry-farmed land. Gravity irrigation of this land will stabilize the ground-water supplies for an additional 163,000 acres of land presently irrigated from wells, and up to 223,000 acres in the future. Under the 1958 farm-to-farm survey, the owners of 113,000 acres of land signed "letters of intent" to use direct project water service. Engineers have established that the water supply available from the Platte River for the Mid-State project will be adequate for the acreage under consideration in the present proposal. The Mid-State board believes and accepts the opinion of Adolph F. Meyer, the consulting hydraulic engineer who conceived this project, as follows: "I believe that by force of necessity many more pump-irrigated acres will call for ditch water from Mid-State before a water balance is achieved in this area. In that kind of a competitive market, the value of water would be relatively high and, in my judgment, no difficulty will be experienced by the district in securing the necessary income to repay the irrigation loan." The Bureau of Reclamation report concluded that the total benefits of irrigation realized from the Mid-State project operation will be in excess of $3 million annually. The Board and its consultants believe that this appraisal is conservative. REPLENISHMENT AND STABILIZATION OF GROUND-WATER SUPPLY The number of irrigation wells in the district has increased tenfold from about 500 in 1930 to over 5,200 in 1962. One-fourth of all registered irrigation wells in the State of Nebraska are located within the district. Such accelerated and concentrated pumping has created critical conditions in many cases, particularly in the dry years of 1954-56, and if allowed to continue without artificial replenishment, this will have a serious economic effect on our present agricultural economy and could approach a calamity. Ground-water levels have dropped notably and continue to decline. Three charts have been prepared from figures secured from the district's engineer and information supplied through the local office of the Bureau of Reclamation to graphically illustrate the relationship between precipitation, static water levels, and irrigated acres. These charts are contained in this statement at page 7, being reductions of the charts to which I will now refer. TRENDS - PRECIPITATION, DEPTH TO WATER Illustrated on the chart are two 15-year cycles of precipitation, with lows in 1940 and 1955, for the Nebras- DEPTH TO GROUND WATER WITH AND WITHOUT NEBRASKA MID-STATE PROJECT With historical declines in ground-water levels in portions of the Mid-State Area projected to the future and BALANCED WELL-GRAVITY IRRIGATION SYSTEM The Solution In Perspective-A Balanced Well-Gravity System A solution to the water problem of the Mid-State Area has been formulated-it involves a balanced system The first chart shows two 15-year cycles of precipitation for the Nebraska Mid-State area, with lows in 1940 and 1955; the static water levels of seven representative wells in the district, and the trend of increase in acreage irrigated by wells in the district. There is always lag betwen precipitation and its effect on ground-water levels, and it will be noted that as the precipitation fluctuates up or down, a corresponding change will be found within a few years in groundwater levels. With 50,000 to 100,000 acres irrigated, the decline was far more pronounced and continues in many wells even with more favorable precipitation since 1955. Lands under well irrigation have trebled from 1945 to 1960, and illustrated is the overdraft by 5,200 or more wells on the natural ground-water supply of the area during the 1950's, causing a more serious decline in water levels than was true with the lesser acreages irrigated during the drought of the 1930's. Surface water supplies are adequate to service 140,000 acres directly and, by groundwater recharge and stabilization, indirectly serve 163,000 acres at present or 223,000 acres in the future by private-well irrigation. The second chart is an effort to project historical declines in ground-water levels in portions of the Mid-State area to the future. Without Mid-State, the well irrigators and other users of ground waters face higher well lifts, greater pumping costs, lesser well yields, and in time, deterioration of the ground-water aquifier to inadequate or exhausted water supplies. With Mid-State, groundwater declines can be arrested and levels stabilized within a practical zone of fluctuation, resulting in dependable water supplies at reasonable cost, and with many associated benefits. The third chart illustrates the solution to the water problems of the Mid-State area, and involves a balanced system of facilities and the coordinated use of water from both surface and ground-water sources. Shown are the district's reservoirs as planned to regulate surface water supplies for irrigation, groundwater replenishment, flood control, fish and wildlife conservation, hydroelectric power, and recreation; also, are shown canals, floodways, and laterals to carry water to the gravity-irrigated lands; and the district wells for operation when needed to augment surface waters, and private wells and land to regularly utilize ground water for irrigation and other uses. Operation of the Mid-State project and its distribution of surface water to croplands will replenish and stabilize ground-water levels over the entire district area of 550,000 acres, thus benefiting all irrigators, and domestic water users, including towns, cities, and industrial users. The restoration of groundwater levels can be accomplished and the present economy sustained only if works are built to regulate and distribute the unused waters of the Platte River. These important and far-reaching benefits, resulting from ground-water stabilization, are reflected in the evaluation statement of the Bureau of Reclamation as a part of total irrigation benefits. FLOOD CONTROL Following the earlier historical floods and the disastrous 1947 flood of the tributaries of the Platte River in the Mid-State area, which resulted in great damage within and outside the district, both rural and urban, the Mid-State board requested the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake studies concernng the annual flood control benefits which could be achieved by the construction and operation of the Mid-State project. This problem was highlighted by the floods, less serious than previously mentioned, of 1949, 1950, and 1951. As a result of these studies, the Corps of Engineers determined that flood control benefits accruing from the proposed works of the district would be $512,000 annually. This figure was used by the Bureau of Reclamation in its cost allocation after approval by the Secretary of the Interior. HYDROELECTRIC POWER The project includes plans for four hydroelectric powerplants with reversible pump turbines to insure the production of power, each installation to have a capacity of 16,800 kilowatts. The output of the one powerplant to be built initially will be used to meet the irrigation well-pumping requirements of the district and it will, therefore, be an irrigation feature. Construction of the three remaining plants will be deferred pending development of further powerloads in Nebraska. However, since these three plants will have a capacity to produce in excess of 50,000 kilowatts and 180 million kilowatt-hours of energy, and can be used for peaking, it is prudent to include penstocks so as not to preclude the potential development of this resource. This is in compliance with section 10 of the Flood Control Act of 1946 which states ****And provided further, That penstocks and other similar facilities adapted to possible further use in the development of hydroelectric power shall be installed in any dam authorized in this Act." FISH AND WILDLIFE AND RECREATION Interconnected reservoirs of the Mid-State project, with a combined water surface area of 25,000 acres, together with their shore areas, will provide important benefits to fish and wildlife, and for fishing, boating, swimming, other water sports, and hunting. The Fish and Wildlife Service estabilshed such benefits at $380,500 annually. This amount was approved by the Secretary of the Interior and supports the Bureau of Reclamation cost allocation to this function. The inclusion of minimum structures and other recreational facilities at certain adaptable reservoir areas, as proposed by the National Park Service, and by the Nebraska State Game, Forestation, and Parks Commission will provide these benefits not only to the citizens of the local area, but to those of eastern Nebraska and to the ever-increasing number of vacatioing tourists of the Eastern and Western States who now use U.S. Highway 30 and will use the Interstate Highway through the Mid-State area. Opportunities for recreational activity are few and facilities are inadequate in Nebraska, particularly in the central and eastern portions. SUMMARY Over the past 17 years, members of the Mid-State board of directors, the district's staff members, many interested citizens, and officials of the State of Nebraska, have made numerous trips to Washington, D.C., to present and coordinate the plans of the Mid-State district so as to fully meet the requirements of the Congress and the executive agencies of the Federal Government for a multipurpose project to satisfy the needs of the district area. A willingness of the citizens of the district to help in this undertaking is demonstrated by the $180,000 voluntarily contributed by individuals and firms. Further, the determination of the district to help itself is demonstrated by the raising and use of over $1,110,000 of tax money for the furtherance of the project, including surveys, plans, engineering, and feasibility reports. Pending authorization, the district has advanced to the Bureau of Reclamation $228,000 since 1959 for continuance of detailed engineering surveys in order to expedite final plans and construction. A month ago, the district committed itself for an additional $50,000 of tax money to be advanced to the Bureau of Reclamation in the next 6 months for continuance of such work. All property holders within the MidStates District are paying taxes for this project as a result of the ad valorem tax. Water users, who will be supplied with water, will pay for water service to the extent of their ability as determined by criteria established by the Bureau of Reclamation. When the Mid-State project commences operation, the taxpayers in the district will be obligated to pay approximately $300,000 annually as the result of the 2-mill ad valorem tax levy. The critical problem of declining water levels in the Mid-State district area must be solved, and this project as conceived will meet this need. The most important single reason for construction of the Mid-State project is the need to replenish and stabilize the ground-water supply, which, when accomplished, will preserve the large present investments in leveled lands, in farm buildings, wells, pumps, and machinery, and in the public and private facilities which are dependent upon the development and use of surface waters. The value of tangible property, both real and personal, in the district approximates $400 million, Under Nebraska law, assessed valuations for tax purposes are established at 35 percent of actual value. From the point of need and good timing, it is important that the construction of this project be undertaken immediately. Following authorization, 2 to 3 years will be required to complete detailed studies and a definite plan report by the Secretary of the Interior, and to accomplish other prerequisites. Construction will require 7 years in accordance with estimates of the Bureau of Reclamation. This gives no promise of relief to the overdraft on the ground-water reservoir until the early 1970's. With continued and ever heavier pumping, and more rapid drawdown of the ground-water level, our situation will become even more critical. This project merits consideration by the Congress as a program that can solve the problem on a planned basis rather than on an emergency or crash basis. |