As you know the water levels at Lake McConaughy are higher than they have been in decades. Beach access is limited and there is not a large enough for launching, landing, dry land lessons, etc. Due to the added risks that high water levels create we have decided to cancel all lessons until further notice. This is purely a safety move and we don’t want to put any of our students at risk.
If you have any concerns about prior arrangements, please contact us. The shop will still be open to provide gear, accessories and other essentials so feel free to stop by. Below is the current status of Lake McConaughy.
Lake McConaughy Water Levels
June 2nd, 2011 3267.7 feet or 96%
Week Ago 3262.3 or 95.3%
Month Ago 3259.1 or 89.8%
Year Ago 3248.9 or 74.4%
New Projections Bring Higher Outflows from Lake McConaughy
(HOLDREGE, Neb.) — Outflows from Lake McConaughy will increase further this weekend after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased projections for runoff into reservoirs on the North Platte River in Wyoming by approximately 200,000 acre-feet.
Based on the revised projections, outflows from Lake McConaughy will be increased on Sunday, May 29 and on Tuesday, May 31. The higher flows in the North Platte River will begin reaching North Platte by Monday or Tuesday and will continue over several days. Increases will occur in steps of 700 cfs up to a flow at North Platte of approximately 6,000 cfs, a flood stage of 8.0 feet.
Flows could continue to increase to as high as 7,800 cfs over the next several days, which would be a flood stage of approximately 8.5 feet.
Current flows in the North Platte River at North Platte are about 4,650 cfs, with a river stage of about 7.3 feet. Flood stage at North Platte is 6.0 feet.
Whether flows peak at 6,000 cfs or continue to rise is dependent upon changing inflow forecasts, which are affected by uncertainty about how much water the Laramie River in Wyoming (a tributary to the North Platte River) will add to flows moving into Nebraska.
Lake McConaughy’s elevation has risen with the increasing inflows to 3262.5 feet above sea level. Releases continue to be less than inflows as Central tries to operate the reservoir in a manner that reduces peak flows downstream as much as possible. Central has permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to fill the reservoir to elevation 3267.0 feet if necessary, which would be two feet above the normal maximum elevation.
Central continues to communicate with officials from the city of North Platte, the National Weather Service, Twin Platte Natural Resources District, the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency, and other entities about the situation and how best to deal with the expected high flows.
