News Detail
More change orders OK'd on Kings Hydro project
2/8/2010 9:30:12 AM
By Lori Potter, The Kearney Hub
Change orders for the Kingsley Hydro rehabilitation contract keep adding up as engineers are able to see and test parts and equipment in need repairs.
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Board of Directors approved another change order for the project Monday worth $89,572. That brings the total contract with Voith Hydro of York, Pa., to $3,148,122.
CNPPID Engineering Services Manager Eric Hixon said, "On some items, there's no way to know (if repairs are needed) until you get in and test them." He said the project is approaching the $500,000 budgeted for change order costs.
Hixon expects the last of the major hydro parts to be shipped from Pennsylvania on Feb. 22, allowing re-assembly to start around Feb. 25. He said that should allow operations to resume April 15-21.
That's about a month later than originally planned. At the January board meeting, Hixon said the delays were occurring at Voith's repair shop.
Meanwhile, Civil Engineer Cory Steinke said Monday that Lake McConaughy now holds 1,090,000 acre-feet of water, which is 62 percent of a full volume and 300,000 a-f more than at this time last year. It's 15 feet higher than a year ago, but about one foot below his projections.
The Rocky Mountain snowpack that is the main source of Platte Basin water is at about 80 percent of normal, Steinke said, but it now needs to start climbing to ensure that the big federal North Platte River reservoirs in Wyoming fill in 2010. That's a key to enhancing inflows to Lake McConaughy.
"A normal snowpack would put them right at full," he said. "... It's not out of the question, but it looks less likely every day."
In a legislative update, CNPPID Public Relations Manager Tim Anderson said he's working with coalitions of interest groups on several legislative issues.
For example, power industry representatives are discussing transmission and integration issues related to LB1048, a wind energy bill, with Natural Resources Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Langemeier of Schuyler.
Anderson said the Revenue Committee doesn't seem to support Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen's LB932 that calls for the state to forgive a $10 million loan to three Republican Basin natural resources districts to pay for surface water purchased by the NRDs in 2007 for Republican River Compact compliance.
"I think that's doubtful," Anderson said. "I think the state will want that money back." When asked how the NRDs are supposed to repay the debt, he replied, "That's the $10 million question."
In other business Monday, the Central directors:
- Scheduled a Power and Recreation Committee meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at the Central office to discuss concerns about all-terrain vehicle use around Lake McConaughy that may disrupt critical habitat for nesting least terns and piping plovers. The committee may meet with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff later that day.
- Set a board retreat at 9 a.m. March 8 at the Super 8 in Holdrege.
- Was reminded that the Holdrege Water Conference starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Phelps County Ag Center and the Central Water Users annual meeting will begin at noon Feb. 8 at the Super 8.
- Were updated by attorney Mike Klein of Holdrege on efforts to consolidate into one case lawsuits filed against five Platte Basin NRDs involved in a basinwide integrated water management plan. The NRDs have denied Central's efforts to challenge the plan.
Klein said consolidation of the lawsuits would save time and money, especially since the issue likely will be appealed and ultimately require a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling.
