News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: Jan. 15, 2008
Contact: Jeff Buettner, Communications Officer
Phone: (308) 995-8601

2008 Holdrege Water Conference

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- Water Issues in Nebraska: 2008 Holdrege Water Conference Water has been called the "issue of the decade" for Nebraskans and, if nothing else, it is a constant topic for discussion.

The public is invited to hear and discuss current water issues at the Holdrege Water Conference on Thurs., Jan. 31 at the Phelps County Ag Center. The Water Conference, now in its 14th year, brings together experts involved with water issues to discuss topics important to area residents.

The conference is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and will conclude around 3 p.m. There is no admission fee, the public is invited to attend, and lunch will be served courtesy of the conference's sponsors.

Speakers and topics for the conference include:

. Derrel Martin, irrigation water resources specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, will address "Irrigation Strategies with Limited and/or Expensive Water."

. Suat Irmak, an assistant professor of biological systems engineering, will present information about water balance, evapotranspiration and yield comparison of tillage practices in south-central Nebraska.

. Curtis Scheele of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Holdrege, will deliver information about evapotranspiration demonstration sites in the area.

. Joel Christensen, vice president of water operations at the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) in Omaha, will present information about MUD and current water issues in the state's largest city.

. Ron Bishop, manager of the Central Platte Natural Resources District, will discuss the newly created water bank in the CPNRD and Sharon Falk, manager of the Big Bend Groundwater Management District in Stafford, Kan., will present information about how Kansas operates water banks to allocate and conserve water.

. Cindy Fay, a meteorologist with the Hastings Weather Service, and Al Dutcher, Nebraska's state climatologist, will discuss weather's impact on water resources and what to expect for the coming growing season.

The Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce joins with the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District, The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, and Phelps-Gosper Cooperative Extension to sponsor the event. Area merchants and agricultural suppliers will be on hand with booths and displays to discuss their products and services with conference attendees.

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