“Twin Platte and Central Platte NRDs Offer Solution to Platte Basin Water Issues”

At a joint meeting of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD) and the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) boards of directors, both boards took action to direct the managers of the respective districts to approach the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (CNPPID) with an offer to assist them to convert to conjunctive use water management. The proposal calls for converting the service area to groundwater irrigation and using the surface water for groundwater recharge.  The proposal addresses the most serious water availability issues facing the region.  The proposal would allow all existing irrigated acres to maintain irrigated status, provide beneficial flows for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP), increase hydro-electric power generation and provide recreational benefits for Lake McConaughy and other lakes in the canal system.  The existing canal structure would also remain, providing beneficial recharge for the area.

The decision came after analysis completed by Brown and Caldwell Engineering Consulting Firm showed that converting most of the system to groundwater recharge and converting the 100,000 acres served by the CNPPID canals in the E65 and Phelps service areas from surface water irrigation to groundwater irrigation could return the Platte River Basin below Lake McConaughy from over-appropriated to a fully appropriated status. The proposal would also allow all existing irrigated acres to maintain irrigated status, provide beneficial flows for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Programs (PRRIP), increase hydro-elected power generation and provide recreational benefits for Lake McConaughy and other lakes in the canal system.  The existing canal structure would also remain, providing beneficial recharge for the area.