HOLDREGE, Neb. – The Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation Board of Directors held their monthly meeting on Tuesday highlighted by water savings achievements and a vote to approve the irrigation water rates along with a normal delivery schedule for the 2027 irrigation season.
The board voted to maintain the same rate as the 2026 season of $44.96 for the base 9-inch allocation per acre and $1.57 per acre/inch above that base allotment up to 12 inches in the incremental pricing program (IPP).
Directors did approve an increase of $3.14 per inch for each inch over 12 inches and capping all deliveries at 18 inches. This recommendation was in response to the lower water levels in Lake McConaughy as part of the comprehensive conservation plan with the District’s partners.
Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke told the board that 88% of Central’s contracted acres have used 12 inches or less over the past seven irrigation seasons, however some producers in certain soil areas require more water usage. Based on average six-month (Apr-Sept.) rainfall of 17.65 inches the past seven seasons, the nine inches of delivered irrigation water allows the producer to reach the targeted goal of 26 inches of optimal growing conditions.
Steinke highlighted the District’s successes in conserving water over the last twenty years. He noted that the District’s IPP program that was implemented in 2010 incentivizes irrigators to not use more water than they need. This program charges for a base allotment of 9 inches then irrigators only pay for each additional inch of water delivered.
In addition to the IPP rate structure, one of the biggest water savings practices was the efficiency improvements made by Central customers along with canal efficiency investments made by the District. In 2010, there were 348 pivots on the system compared to 769 during the past irrigation season. Transition from gravity irrigation to pivot irrigation can save an average of 65 acre/feet of water per 130-acre plot of land. Since 2003 prior to the last major drought, Central customers have saved an estimated 424,550 acre/feet of water due to pivot installations. Additionally, canal efficiency investments through the installation of canal liners and pipelines have saved 131,00 acre/feet since 2003. Steinke noted “conservation achievements made by Central and its irrigators is water you see in Lake McConaughy right now and that is a success story not to be overlooked, but rather applauded.”
The board discussed how customers and the District have changed their operations since the last drought period by finding ways to adapt and become more efficient. They emphasized the water savings achievements by the producers and the District canal investments that helped create this tremendous water savings since the last drought. Recognizing these achievements the Board recommended a full irrigation delivery year in 2027 along with the IPP rates that further incentivize water saving for the upcoming year.
Of the total releases out of Lake McConaughy, Central’s Irrigation Supply water accounts for roughly 23% of total releases in 2025. Information on water releases along with diversions can be found on the Central’s “Colors of Water” website.
Directors also approved the 2027 irrigation schedule to begin the week of June 7, 2027, and end the week of August 29, 2027.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
- A purchase requisition was approved in the amount of $118,383 for the early purchase of chemicals from Van Diest, Inc. By purchasing early for the 2027 season, the District receives a discount.
- The board approved amendments to purchase requisitions in the amount of $53,000 each for the purchase of two canal gates from Eilers Machine & Welding of Lexington, Neb., for the replacement of the Phelps head gate and the river return gate below Jeffrey Hydro.
- Nolan Little of the Tri-Basin NRD gave a static water report for the basin to highlight groundwater levels throughout the basin. He shared that 94% of the wells in the basin have recorded decreases.
- Dave Jarecke of Woods Aitken Law Firm gave an update on the general manager search process. The hiring committee has narrowed down the list and the full board now has access to information on each of the six remaining candidates.
- Irrigation and Water Services manager Scott Dicke reported that the head gates to the Phelps, E65 and E67 Canals were closed on Sept. 4, and the drawdown of the canal system is occurring rapidly. The irrigation department is now planning for end of year maintenance to the system.
- Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3,201.3 feet on Tuesday (22.3 % of capacity. Inflows are around 770 cubic feet per second (cfs) while outflows were at 975 cfs, down 960 from the working meeting on Aug. 28. Most of the outflows are to fill the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) system for an outage at the Keystone Diversion Dam scheduled for Sept. 20.