HOLDREGE, Neb. – The Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation Board of Directors heard a report from the first meeting of the Kingsley Dam project Board of Consultants at their monthly board meeting on Monday (June 1) in Holdrege.
Natural Resources and Compliance manager Mike Drain gave the summary of the initial report that was prepared by the independent board after they gathered at Kingsley Dam in May.
Drain reported that the Board of Consultants were in concurrence with project engineer RJH that the riprap on the dam is undersized, inadequately bedded and the problem varies by location and elevations throughout the dam. They stressed that the magnitude of waves is similar to coastal protection and that Kingsley Dam has the largest internal waves in North America.
The Board of Consultants agreed with earlier findings that there is no immediate safety risk at the dam, a point Drain emphasized to the directors. They said the issue has been identified and should be addressed, but it does not pose a near-term threat.
As part of the information gathering process, the board recommends using historical photos and data from previous damages to further analyze locations and elevations on the dam. They also proposed geophysical explorations, including helicopter mounted testing to improve knowledge of riprap thickness. The coastal expert on the board provided various technical recommendations on wind and wave data analyses and calculations.
Through their review, the board has determined that the focus should be on riprap and Xbloc as the most viable for the facing of the dam. Other explored ideas likely can be excluded because they have never been used in a project with the size and importance of Kingsley Dam. The board’s report also suggests considering combinations of approaches, such as benches or berms with Xbloc in areas needing more protection and riprap in areas needing less protection.
Drain said the next step in the process is Central and RJH will file the report to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week that they are in concurrence with the board of consultant’s recommendations. A new plan and schedule will be developed to modify the scope of work.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
- Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3,225 feet on Monday (44.7% of capacity) which is 3.2 feet below the elevation reported at the working meeting of the board on May 21. Inflows are around 165 cubic feet per second (cfs), while outflows were at 2,950 cfs. Thulin stated the inflows are the lowest he has ever seen at this time of year.
- Thulin reminded the board that 1,580 cfs of the releases out of Lake McConaughy are being made at the request and direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its Environmental Account. On Monday, 1,580 cfs was being released, with the USFWS goal of maintaining 1,500 cfs at Grand Island on the Platte River to help prevent seeds from germinating on sandbars along the river. The releases are scheduled to continue through the end of June.
- The board approved the purchase of head gates for $121,052 a piece from Eilers Machine & Welding of Lexington, Neb., for the replacement of head gates at both the Phelps Canal headgate and a Supply Canal steel gate.
- Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke reported that the scheduled irrigation season begins on June 8 and will run through August 30. He said irrigation demand has dropped off this week due to the recent rain events.
- Directors approved moving the location of the June working meeting of the board to Friday, June 26, 2026 to the Lake McConaughy Visitor Center north of Ogallala.
- The board agreed to a $30,000 contribution towards the Nebraska Prairie Museum’s “Project Prairie Power” exhibit that is in production.
- Hydraulic Operations Manager Cory Steinke gave an update on weather damage that occurred at Johnson Lake over the weekend. Steinke said Central staff is currently assessing the damage to see what repairs may be needed.