posted Mar 9, 2010 2:16 PM by Larry Ossenkop
Check out the website for the current information on
Elwood Resort and Campground located at the Elwood
Reservoir; which is currently being filled for the 2010
reservations or additional information. Ph: 308-440-4993
Just 5 short miles south of Johnson Lake on Highway 283... |
posted Feb 11, 2010 1:36 PM by Larry Ossenkop
HOLDREGE — Platte River water will start gravity flowing into Elwood Reservoir Monday, and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District officials plan to have it nearly full by June 1.
CNPPID Irrigation Division Manager Dave Ford told the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District directors Tuesday that pumps likely will be turned on March 1 to finish filling the reservoir.
Tri-Basin officials’ primary interest is that a full lake produces more groundwater recharge benefits for the Republican and Platte basins.
Central irrigators will see a full water supply — base of 15 inches per acre and limit of 18 inches — and full-length irrigation season in 2010 for the first time in six years. It’s also the first time in years that Elwood Reservoir has been needed for irrigation water deliveries.
Ford said the reservoir probably will go down 34 feet to 35 feet over the summer, but it has been much lower in recent years to the point of requiring additional riprap to protect the face of the dam.
The CNPPID irrigation delivery schedule runs from June 8-Aug. 31.
Ford reminded the Tri-Basin directors that Monday’s annual Central Water Users meeting at the Super 8 in Holdrege will start with a noon lunch and include presentations by state Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, CNPPID General Manager Don Kraus and Civil Engineer Cory Steinke, and a CWU business meeting.
Meanwhile, he said Lake McConaughy now holds 1.1 million acre-feet of water, which is 63 percent of full and 300,000 a-f more than at this time last year. The lake also is 14½ feet higher.
Ford also reported that a seepage concern at the Johnson Lake dam continues to be monitored, but it’s still believed to be the result of melting from a mile-long snowdrift, not a leak. “The ground is saturated and it just won’t take any more (water),” he said. |
posted Dec 3, 2009 4:46 PM by Larry Ossenkop
Elwood Reservoir’s hard times may endby HARRY G. PERKINS
World-Herald News ServicePublished: Friday, November 27, 2009 2:15 PM CST ELWOOD – The end may be in sight for Elwood Reservoir’s hard times.
The hard times began with the drought that in 2000, but Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District water is returning the reservoir to a full pool in 2010, and thousands of fish have been stocked there.
John Thorburn, general manager of Tri-Basin Natural Resources District, said his district and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission agreed to pay Central $115,532 to cover the cost of hydropower revenue Central will lose by diverting flow from its hydro system below Johnson Lake.
Thorburn said Tri-Basin’s interest is to replenish underground recharge that diminished in the Republican Valley watershed after the reservoir’s water level dropped.
“This is a win-win situation for Game and Parks, Central, and the people who will be able to fish at the reservoir again,” Thorburn said,
Central Water Manager Corey Steinke said the level of the reservoir was raised 20 feet in October using gravity flow from the supply canal at Johnson Lake. Direct pumping begins March 1.
Central Information Director Jeff Buettner said at full pool, the reservoir will have 40,000 acre-feet of water.
Fingerling-size fish have been stocked in the reservoir. Daryl Bauer, program manager for fisheries outreach for Game and Parks, said the intention is to see the reservoir become the recreation spot as it once was.
Bauer said almost 90,000 yellow perch, channel catfish, walleye and wiper fingerlings were stocked this year. Walleye led the stocking with 57,460 in June. |
posted Dec 3, 2009 4:36 PM by Larry Ossenkop
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updated Dec 3, 2009 4:38 PM
]
Cafe at Elwood Reservoir gets new owner and name
by HARRY G. PERKINS, World-Herald News ServicePublished: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:26 AM CST ELWOOD - New owner Brian Rae, a Kearney businessman, has renamed the former The Reverie at Elwood Reservoir as Elwood Resort and Campground.
The caf, bar and former bait shop were built at the east end of Elwood Reservoir 20 years ago. Rae purchased the property in August.
"I've always wanted to own a fishing and hunting resort. This is a dream that's come true," Rae said.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity to be a host to fishermen and hunters. Elwood is one of the best-kept secrets for fishing in Nebraska, and the amount of game for hunters is unbelievable. There are deer, pheasants and quail, and turkeys wander into our parking lot."
He is extensively remodeling the kitchen and bar, has rebuilt exterior walls, replaced roofs, re-wired part of the main building, installed new equipment for the caf and is finishing off the main building with imitation pine logs for a rustic appearance.
The property has a two-story motel with seven rooms and several mobile homes available for rent. Rae plans to add to his rental stock with two or three more mobile homes.
Rae plans on moving a modular home onto the property for his family. His wife, Jinny, has been a nurse at Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. in Lexington for three years. They have two sons.
"I'm going to have a limited amount of fishing tackle, but I'll have night crawlers and leeches and a live well for minnows," Rae said.
"I want people who come here to have a good experience. If someone comes in off the water at night and needs a hamburger, I'll get up and fix it for them."
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