J. Lake trail gets good share of CNPPID funds

Post date: Jul 07, 2009 9:38:0 PM

By LORI POTTER , Hub Staff Writer, July 7, 2009, Kearney HUB on line at: http://www.kearneyhub.com

HOLDREGE — Budget revisions were made Monday to provide Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District as much as $200,000 for improvement projects at Johnson Lake and Lake McConaughy.

The total includes $100,000 unspent in fiscal year 2008 and $100,000 in the current budget.

Central directors approved $186,000 worth of projects at Johnson Lake: $26,000 for sanitary improvement district service connections for the EMS building and meeting hall, $2,000 for hike-bike trail road signs, and $158,000 for trail work along the E65 canal.

The board’s trail work motion said that $223,000 could be spent on the project, but Central’s share won’t exceed $158,000. Public Relations Manager Tim Anderson said other local and regional entities are being contacted about providing the other $65,000.

Director Neal Hoff of Hastings was hesitant to approve trail road crossing caution signs because of concerns for Central’s liability. Anderson showed the board a sign, patterned after ones used by the Loup Public Power District for a Columbus area trail, that has a dual warning for vehicles and trail users.

Legal counsel Charles Brewster said trail easements are in the hands of Gosper and Dawson counties, which have liability for what happens on the roads.

Central also is protected by a state law that makes recreation projects subject to liability claims only for “gross negligence for failure to warn,” he said. “So, by putting the signs up, we’re better covering ourselves,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lake McConaughy improvements are $10,000 for signs in and around cabin areas, and $4,000 for electrical work.

In another Johnson Lake-related issue, Hoff asked if more water could be left in Johnson Lake this August because lake residents pay fees to Central for the lake area lots.

In recent years, the lake has been drawn down to provide the final irrigation run for downstream farmers.

“I like lakes, too, but Johnson Lake was built to be a re-regulating reservoir,” said Director Scott Olson of Minden. He added that Central irrigators continue to get about half the water supply they’re paying for, “so everybody has to pay in times of drought.”

Irrigation Division Manager Dave Ford said there have been problems getting a high enough volume of water through the E65 siphon, downstream of Johnson Lake, so a “pig” clearing device was sent through the structure four times last week to remove debris.

That improved flows by only about 10 cubic feet per second, so it’s possible that eight Central wells along the E65 Canal might have to be operated for the first time in four years to enhance downstream flows. Ford said they’ll try to avoid that option because of the added expense.

Some irrigators have started a second irrigation run, he said, while those on a four-run schedule were getting their first water today.