One of the most crucial elements of the District’s system received a much needed upgrade when a new dredge was purchased and put into operation late this summer at Central’s Supply Canal Diversion Dam just southeast of the confluence between the North and South Platte River.
Central’s board approved the purchase of a $1.7 million dredge that was custom made by VMI, Inc., of Cushing, Oklahoma. It replaces the old dredge that had been in operation for over 50 years.
The new dredge provides the ability to reduce the cost of pumping sediment longer distance and is more efficient in removing the sediment. Central’s dredging crews remove sand and sediment before water is diverted into Central’s supply canal to eventually produce energy at downstream hydropower plants and irrigate farmland.
“Our new dredge is designed for exactly what we need,” said Jeremy Hendricks, Central’s Supply Canal Operations Supervisor. “This modernized our entire system from the dredge to the pumping and we’ve improved our entire operation. We are doubling the amount of material we are moving.”
Central also reached an agreement with a Nebraska company to remove all the sediment that is piled up at the diversion dam. A new 30-year agreement was signed with GRIT Group who has found solutions to use the sediment as a marketable product for construction and recreational uses. They have agreed to pay royalties to Central for the sediment.
GRIT Group will also boost economic development in the North Platte area as they applied to be the first tenant of the Inland Port Authority Port of the Plains project in Lincoln County. Initial processing will be done near Central’s sandpiles, then packaging and shipping will take place at Port of the Plains.
