Two new reservoirs planned

Post date: Jul 04, 2013 12:36:31 AM

Two new reservoirs planned in state

By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com | Posted: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 12:00 am

Two reservoirs will be created in central Nebraska to help manage habitat for threatened and endangered species along the Platte River.

The new bodies of water, otherwise known as the J-2 regulating reservoirs, will be located on the Phelps Canal between Overton and Lexington.

"The feasibility of this specific water project first arose after a considerable study was done five or six years ago," said Jeff Buettner, public relations coordinator. "So, it's been in the planning and discussion stages for quite awhile."

On Monday, the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District board of directors approved a 50-year water service agreement for the design, permitting, construction and operation of the reservoirs. It includes an option that would allow the contract to be extended for another 20 years after the initial term expires. The project is a joint venture between Central, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

The reservoirs will help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintain the flow levels it requires for the support of threatened and endangered species habitat. They will also be used for periodic short-duration, high-flow events to clean vegetation out of the river channel and to increase generation efficiency at Central's J-2 hydropower plant. "The Platte River being what it is, it sometimes carries more water than what is judged to be needed by the Fish and Wildlife Service," Buettner said. "Then, there are other times when it doesn't carry enough water for wildlife habitat."

The reservoirs will impound flows and release them back as needed. A yield of 40,000 acrefeet per year is expected from the retiming. The recovery program will benefit from 75 percent of the yield, and the state will receive 25 percent. "Basically, Central agreed to provide water for the reservoirs," Buettner said. The power district will also provide up to $2.5 million toward the estimated $75 million it will cost to construct the facilities.

Most of the funding will be federal and will be supplied through the recovery program. The NDNR will provide about 25 percent of the expense