1.25.06
Elwood's fish get more water
by Larry Porter, Omaha World-HeraldElwood Reservoir's valued fish species, including walleye, muskies, wipers and spotted bass, began receiving water Tuesday that should ensure their survival through the remainder of the year.
Elwood Reservoir guide Dan Ferguson holds a 12-inch Kentucky spotted bass.
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District officials received permission Monday night from the State Natural Resources Department to override the Platte River's instream flow appropriation and began the diversion process Tuesday morning.
Elwood, the state's hardest-hit reservoir by the prolonged drought, is currently 43 feet below full pool. It will receive a flow of 190 cubic feet per second through Feb. 15, which is expected to raise the level by 10 to 12 feet.
At this time of year, the Central Platte Natural Resources District owns the right to a flow in the river of 500 cubic feet per second from Lexington to Columbus. The Platte's daily flow last week averaged about 600 cfs. The diversion of 190 cfs into Elwood reduces the river's daily average flow below the appropriation, which required Central Platte NRD to waive its right to the water.
The instream flow of 500 cfs at this time of year is needed to keep alive the prey fish and invertebrates that will feed piping plovers and least terns - which are on the list of threatened and endangered species - when they return to nest along the river this spring.
If the water hadn't been diverted into Elwood, the reservoir's water level probably would have plunged to the point where its fish population would have died later this summer.
"It's a tough decision when you pit one wildlife decision over another," said Larry Hutchinson, a fisheries biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Chad Smith of Lincoln, director of the Nebraska field office for American Rivers, a conservation group, has misgivings about the diversion of water from the Platte into Elwood.
"I grew up in Lexington and have fished Elwood most of my life," Smith said. "I'm also a duck hunter on the river in that area. But the bottom line is that I'm concerned about the precedent being set. I'm worried that in the long term those types of requests will happen more frequently.
"From a precedent standpoint, I'm concerned that what little water is in the Platte for fish and wildlife can be so quickly traded around when push comes to shove. What does this mean for the long term when we need more water in Elwood and McConaughy? You start to wonder how secure those instream flows are."
Don Gablehouse, chief of the commission's fisheries division, said he hopes the decision does not set a precedent.
"I hope we don't make a habit of it," Gabelhouse said. "A lot of our people - and others - put a lot of effort into getting that instream flow appropriation. But I'd also hate to see the fish that are in Elwood go floating belly up. It still may happen, but it won't be because we didn't try."
Jeremie Kerkman, civil engineering supervisor for Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, said this seemed to be the most convenient time to suspend instream flow rights.
"It is our belief that the instream flow rights are of least value at this time before the spring migration," Kerkman said.
Elwood is a unique reservoir, Kerkman added, because it is managed strictly as a fishing lake. Recreational boating is illegal because of a speed limit of 5 mph.
"While this will mean less water running through Johnson Lake and through hydro plants that will result in less generation and less revenue," Kerkman said, "it will help keep the fish population in Elwood alive for at least another year and, hopefully, will outlast the drought.
"There are still some long-term concerns about the fishery at Elwood, but this will alleviate a lot of concerns for this year."
Beginning March 1, the Central Platte NRD's instream flow right increases from 500 cfs to 1,100 cfs to provide for sandhill crane roosting habitat. The appropriation increases to 1,300 cfs April 1 for whooping crane and sandhill crane needs. The commission also has an additional appropriation of 50 cfs from April 1 through April 14 for whooping crane needs.
From April 15 through May 3, Central Platte NRD owns an instream flow right of 1,500 cfs, which is primarily to serve the needs of whooping cranes.