News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: Dec. 3, 2007
Contact: Tim Anderson, Public Relations Manager
Phone: (308) 995-8601

December 3, 2007 Board Meeting Summary

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's board of directors voted to join an ongoing integrated management study of Platte River water resources at Monday's monthly meeting.

The study is designed to develop and evaluate conjunctive management scenarios for a significant portion of the Platte River Basin extending from the west end of Lake McConaughy and the Colorado state line in Deuel County to the Duncan river gauge in Platte County.

Central's participation in the study will add the area to which Central delivers water in Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties.

Sponsors of the study include the Central Platte Natural Resources District, Nebraska Public Power District and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. The Twin Platte Natural Resources District in North Platte also recently joined the study after its initiation, adding portions of the South Platte River watershed to the study area.

Central's objectives in joining the study are to develop modeling tools and identify and evaluate conjunctive management scenarios that could improve overall management and sustainability of water resources. The study will enable Central to evaluate opportunities that will optimize water supplies in its area for existing customers and potential new uses.

Conjunctive management refers to the recognition of the hydrologic relationship between surface water irrigation and groundwater resources and the efficient, sustainable use of both resources.

The estimated cost to Central for joining the study is $224,518. The board also approved an application for grant funds to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for $107,100 to help defray study expenses. The cost to conduct the study throughout the entire area identified by project sponsors is $768,248.

HDR Engineering, Inc., has been retained by the study's sponsors to coordinate the study and assist with development of conjunctive management scenarios.

In other action at Monday's meeting:

• The board voted to increase irrigation delivery service rates by $2 per acre beginning in 2008 as recommended by staff.

Following considerable discussion and a number of motions, a final motion to increase rates from $24.49/acre for a base amount of 15 inches to $26.49/acre passed on a 10-5 vote. Directors Robert Dahlgren of Bertrand, O.J. McDougal, Jr., of Hastings, Martin Mueller of Ogallala, Robert Garrett of Minden, and Dave Rowe of Johnson Lake cast the dissenting votes, with the latter four directors favoring a larger increase.

• The board awarded a bid to build additional security fencing around the Kingsley Hydroplant at Lake McConaughy to Elkhorn Fence Co., of Elkhorn, Neb. The company submitted the low bid of $22,971.

• The board approved a budget for the 2008 fiscal year that anticipates total revenues of $11.1 million, including $4.5 million from the sale of hydroelectric power, $2.9 million from irrigation delivery service and $3.7 million from other sources.

• The board approved three-year leases to Kurt and Erin Kugler of Elwood for two parcels of dryland farm ground near Johnson Lake totaling 196.4 acres for a total of $8,702.75 per year.

• The board approved a three-year lease of 134 acres of dryland farm ground and pasture adjacent to the Jeffrey Island habitat area to Peterson Land and Cattle Co., of Bassett for a total of $3,818 per year.

• Curtis Scheele, irrigation water management specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Holdrege, presented report on his annual activities to the board. Included in the report were summaries of Environmental Quality Incentive Program activities, a special initiative program that encourages producers to convert pivot corners to grassland, on-farm demonstration sties, and the Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Demonstration Network (NAWMDN).

• Central Conservation Director Marcia Trompke reported to the board on conservation activities in 2007. Included in the summary was activity with the NAWMDN program, sub-surface drip irrigation demonstration sites, and a surge fertigation demonstration site.

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