HOLDREGE, Neb. — The weekend snowstorm marginally improved snowpack conditions in parts of the Platte River Basin, members of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Board of Directors were told Monday in Holdrege.
Central's civil engineer Cory Steinke said improvements were seen in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. However, snow accumulation so far in the upper North Platte Basin, which is the primary source of runoff into the North Platte River and into Nebraska, is at only 69 percent of normal.
The lower part of that basin is at 94 percent of normal, and the South Platte River Basin stands at 80 percent of normal, Steinke said.
In another staff report Monday, Natural Resources Manager Mike Drain said three whooping cranes were spotted last week at Central's Jeffrey Island habitat area between Overton and Lexington.
It was the first time whooping cranes have been confirmed on the island since Central began managing the area for wildlife habitat more than a decade ago. The district acquired the land as part of conditions set in its new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license obtained in 1998.
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