News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: Feb. 4, 2008
Contact: Tim Anderson, Public Relations Manager
Phone: (308) 995-8601

Feb. 4 Board Meeting Summary

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's Irrigation Division manager informed the board of directors at Central's monthly meeting Monday that more than 830 water service agreements covering 26,739 acres have been processed under Central's temporary transfer policy for the 2008 irrigation season.

Dave Ford said the numbers are similar to those posted during previous years under the policy.

"This will be the fourth year of the policy which was designed to provide flexibility to customers' irrigation operations," Ford said. "The temporary transfer policy has been well received by our customers, as evidenced by the number of participating producers and acres involved."

The policy allows for transfers to and from tracts of land irrigated by the same customer, or to and from tracts of land irrigated by different customers with the agreement of both parties.

The policy was formulated in response to drought conditions and groundwater development above Lake McConaughy that have depleted the supply of storage water in the lake. Central plans to deliver 6.7 inches per acre in 2008, the fourth year in a row that irrigation customers have been limited to less than normal water deliveries.

"We understand the difficulty that short water supplies present to area producers," Ford said, "and we appreciate their willingness to participate in efforts to conserve water supplies in Lake McConaughy."

In other action:

• The board approved a change order to a contract with Kleinschmidt Energy & Water Resource Consultants in the amount of $1,700 to cover additional work required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of regular inspections of District facilities. The board also approved final payment of the $71,299 contract.

• The board accepted a bid from Pfeifer's Machinery Sales of Norfolk, Neb., for $45,675 to purchase a previously-owned farm tractor. The bid was approved subject to inspection of the tractor by District personnel.

• The board approved a purchase requisition for $44,350 to General Fire and Safety Equipment Co., of Omaha for installation of a carbon dioxide fire suppression system at the Kingsley Hydroplant.

• The board reviewed the schedule for filling the vacancy on the board created by Adams County director O.J. McDougal's recent retirement. The deadline for applications is Feb. 8. Review of the applications and interviews of the applicants will be scheduled later this month.

• Civil Engineer Cory Steinke reported that Lake McConaughy's water level is 5.7 feet higher than at this time last year. Inflows continue to lag behind average for this time of year, running around 1,000 cubic feet per second. Average inflows for this period are about 1,200 cfs.

Steinke also said that snowpack in the upper North Platte Basin are 112% of average and 91% of average in the lower North Platte Basin. Snowpack conditions in the South Platte Basin are about normal for this time of year.

• The board authorized participation in an interlocal agreement with several other entities to review and provide comments on the adequacy of studies and opinions on conditions in the lower Platte River as they pertain to habitat for pallid sturgeon, least terns and piping plovers.

• The board approved a revision to the lease agreement with the Lakeview Acres subdivision at Johnson Lake. The revision automatically cancels the lease on the 22-foot strip of District property between the shoreline and deeded lots in the subdivision if a deeded lot changes ownership. The new owner of the deeded property would then enter into a new lease with Central for the adjoining lakefront property. The action is intended to streamline the paperwork process involved with the sale of deeded property at the subdivision.

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