A centerpiece of the multifaceted Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District will be undergoing a $100-$200 million repair project, possibly within the next five years, as Kingsley Dam, which created Lake McConaughy on the North Platte River north of Ogallala, will get a new face.
A 1960s-era dredge sat quietly in the water on a recent Monday afternoon near the point southeast of the city of North Platte where the North Platte and South Platte rivers meet to become the Platte River.
CNPPID Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke stands near a dredge, back left, used daily to remove sand from a site southeast of the city of North Platte where the North Platte and South Platte rivers converge. Sand must be removed before water is diverted through nearby gates into Central’s Supply Canal.
These gates divert Platte River water into the CNPPID Supply Canal for downstream uses that include hydropower generation at the Jeffrey, Johnson 1 and Johnson 2 plants, and irrigation in Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties. In the background is one of two large sandpiles created from material dredged from the water before it enters the canal.
A new CNPPID project is a screen and conveyor system on the E67 Canal southeast of Johnson Lake. Installed earlier this year, it prevents trash from entering the canal.
A $6 million controlled seepage system project to ensure Elwood Reservoir dam safety will be mostly completed by Sept. 14. This worksite is near the back side of the dam.
Vehicles used for a recent tour of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District projects are parked on top of the Elwood Reservoir dam. The reservoir is on the left and the back side of the dam is to the right.
The current 1941 E65 Canal siphon will be retired after completion of a $20 million project expected to be operational in 2026 or 2027 that also will change the canal’s route between Johnson Lake and Elwood Reservoir.
General Manager Devin Brundage, a longtime CNPPID employee, helped lead a tour of Central projects for Tri-Basin NRD staff, board members and other invitees.
At a tour stop at Lake McConaughy, Natural Resources and Compliance Manager Mike Drain, right, described CNPPID’s biggest future project — a $100 million to $200 million refacing of Kingsley Dam. Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke, left, led morning stops in the Elwood Reservoir area.
Area: Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties, including parts of the Platte, Republican and Blue river basins
Irrigation wells: Approximately 5,085, including 2,618 in the Platte Basin
Groundwater irrigated acres: 580,000-plus, including around 300,000 in the Platte Basin
Average annual inches-per-acre applied: Corn, an estimated 10
Groundwater irrigators also using surface water: Approximately 20 percent
Numbers of observation wells: 137 with data loggers, including 74 in the Platte Basin, and wells checked, 91, including 10 in the Platte Basin. CNPPID measures an additional 158 Platte Basin wells, and well data is shared between the districts.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER AND IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Website: cnppid.com
When operational: Initial infrastructure, including Kingsley Dam, irrigation canals and the three supply hydroplants, Jeffrey, J-1 and J-2, constructed from 1935-1942
Headquarters: Holdrege
Area: Keith, Lincoln, Dawson, Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties
Irrigation Division
Primary service area: Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties
By canal: E65, 413 accounts and 42,679 acres; E67, 42 accounts and 5,726 acres; Phelps, 617 accounts, 54,191 acres) ; Supply, 73 accounts and 5,714.97 acres
Total: 1,145 accounts and 108,310.97 acres
2024 surface water delivery amounts and rates: 0”- 9” at $42.79 per acre and 9”-18” at $1.49 per inch
Central irrigators also using groundwater: E65 – 78%; E67 – 72%; Phelps – 83%; Supply Canal – 59%. Total average – 79%
Canal miles: Supply – 75.5, canal; E65 – 102.2 canal and 80.9 pipe; E67 – 0.5 canal, 2.9 lined canal and 17.7 pipe; Phelps – 240.3 canal and 42.7 pipe
Total: 418.5 canal miles, 141.3 pipe miles and 17.2 other miles. Total miles - 577
Hydropower Division
Power plants' generation in megawatts: Kingsley, 50; Jeffrey, 22; Johnson 1, 21; Johnson 2, 23
Where sold: Kingsley, Nebraska Public Power District; other three, contract sales to other buyers
Some other system benefits: Wildlife habitat, recreation and groundwater recharge
A new CNPPID project is a screen and conveyor system on the E67 Canal southeast of Johnson Lake. Installed earlier this year, it prevents trash from entering the canal.
The current 1941 E65 Canal siphon will be retired after completion of a $20 million project expected to be operational in 2026 or 2027 that also will change the canal’s route between Johnson Lake and Elwood Reservoir.
A $6 million controlled seepage system project to ensure Elwood Reservoir dam safety will be mostly completed by Sept. 14. This worksite is near the back side of the dam.
Vehicles used for a recent tour of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District projects are parked on top of the Elwood Reservoir dam. The reservoir is on the left and the back side of the dam is to the right.
These gates divert Platte River water into the CNPPID Supply Canal for downstream uses that include hydropower generation at the Jeffrey, Johnson 1 and Johnson 2 plants, and irrigation in Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties. In the background is one of two large sandpiles created from material dredged from the water before it enters the canal.
CNPPID Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke stands near a dredge, back left, used daily to remove sand from a site southeast of the city of North Platte where the North Platte and South Platte rivers converge. Sand must be removed before water is diverted through nearby gates into Central’s Supply Canal.
General Manager Devin Brundage, a longtime CNPPID employee, helped lead a tour of Central projects for Tri-Basin NRD staff, board members and other invitees.
At a tour stop at Lake McConaughy, Natural Resources and Compliance Manager Mike Drain, right, described CNPPID’s biggest future project — a $100 million to $200 million refacing of Kingsley Dam. Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke, left, led morning stops in the Elwood Reservoir area.
