Kearney Canal, (Nebraska Public Power District, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is preparing to return water to the Kearney Canal early next week.
NPPD plans to start releasing water into the canal system as early as Tuesday, May 13, and water will fill the canal over the course of several days.
“The Kearney Canal is used for irrigation and feeds into the Kearney Hydro. It’s a great feature within the city and supports activities along or downstream of the canal system,” said NPPD Water Systems Maintenance Technician Mike Koubek. The Kearney Hydro is a 1-megawatt generation facility located near 15th Avenue and University Drive.
NPPD then plans to dewater the canal again in October, so Water Systems crews can conduct necessary maintenance on the system. The canal, which runs along the western and southern sides of Kearney, is emptied every year before winter so crews can conduct maintenance activities.
Water is typically returned to the canal in mid-April to early May as the average temperatures begin to warm up.