Lakes in Nebraska
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District will start lowering water levels in Johnson, Jeffrey and Midway lakes to conserve storage water in Lake McConaughy. The plan is to reduce releases from Lake McConaughy and use water in the three downstream lakes for irrigation.
Because of low water supplies in Lake McConaughy, Central irrigators will receive 6.7 inches of water per acre this summer over eight weeks. Normal deliveries are 15 to 18 inches over 12 weeks. Similar measures to use storage water in the downstream lakes were used the past two summers, helping conserve water in Nebraska’s largest lake.
The schedule for drawdowns is as follows: Johnson Lake, starting July 30, lowered by up to 8 feet by the end of August; Jeffrey Lake, Aug. 6, a decline of approximately 4 feet by Aug. 21; and Midway Lake, Aug. 6, a decline of about 2 feet. The lakes will slowly rise again after diversions by Central and other irrigation canals along the Platte River end, with levels expected to return to normal by the end of October.
July 18, 2007 6:51 AM | Category: Drought