News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: Dec. 11, 2007
Contact: Jeff Buettner, Communications Officer
Phone: (308) 995-8601

Central's Eagle-Viewing Facilities to Open Dec. 29

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District is continuing its tradition of inviting the public to watch eagles and other wildlife that congregate below its hydroelectric plants during the winter.

Central's eagle-viewing facilities at the Johnson No. 2 (J-2) Hydroplant near Lexington and at Kingsley Dam near Ogallala will open on Dec. 29 and will be open each weekend through Feb. 3.

J-2 will be open each Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hydroplant is located south of Lexington near the intersection of county roads 749 and 750.

The Kingsley facility, located on the shore of Lake Ogallala just below Kingsley Dam, will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST.

A limited number of spotting scopes and binoculars are available at the facilities, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own viewing equipment.

Central has been providing eagle-viewing opportunities at J-2 since 1988 and at Kingsley Dam since 1990. The eagles are attracted to feed on fish in the open water below the plants, particularly when rivers and lakes in the area are covered with ice.

Several factors influence the number of eagles seen from the facilities on any given day, including climatic conditions and whether the hydroplants are on-line. The best viewing times at both sites are normally earlier in the day. There is no charge to visit the facilities.

For more information about eagles and viewing opportunities, visit Central's Web page at www.cnppid.com.

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