(HOLDREGE, Neb.) - The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors heard a structural analysis report on the supply canal hydroplants at their July board meeting that was held on Tuesday (July 8) in Holdrege.
Central Civil Engineer McKinley Harm reported on several items from a report that was compiled by Mead & Hunt from a structural analysis of the Jeffrey, Johnson No. 1 and Johnson No. 2 hydroplants.
Harm discussed the request for proposal to develop solutions or complete further study on areas noted with a higher level of concern within the plants. There were several other items noted of lower level of concern that will only require continued monitoring.
It is expected to provide to the results of the proposal request and have the board select a firm to address the repairs needed within the plants to ensure structural integrity of the hydroplants which are over 80 years old.
Also at Tuesday’s Meeting:
- Board president Kyle Shepherd gave an update on the general manager search process. Woods Aitken law firm has narrowed down the initial list of applicants and will begin conducting more robust interviews. The board hiring committee will meet at the end of July to go over results of the interviews and select a group of applicants to advance to the next stage of the process.
- Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke told the board the new dredge at the CNPPID Diversion Dam is performing well and operations are ahead of schedule. He also reported that the maintenance project on a gate structure near the outlet of Midway Lake was completed on July 2 in time to assure normal water levels at the lake for the holiday weekend.
- Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke reported that irrigation demand has peaked this week and the E65 and Phelps Canal are both operating smoothly to deliver water to customers. Irrigation water is also expected to be released from Elwood Reservoir to supplement water supply from Lake McConaughy.
- Controller Rochelle Jurgens gave the board a thorough review of the 2025 financial performance of the district. Energy generation operations under the new contracts as well as irrigations acres contracted and the water billing were highlighted.
- Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3,215.8 feet on Tuesday (35.1% capacity). Inflows are approximately 215 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is historically low but still double of one month ago. Outflows are at 1,950 cfs.