The central platte natural resources district, located in hall county, nebraska, in partnership with the cozad ditch company and southside irrigation district, will replace 11 existing outdated manual…

This federal Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507), will fund the replacement of 11 outdated manual headgates along two irrigation canals in central Nebraska with automated turnout gates and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The $724,425 award, made on December 12, 2024, will enable the Central Platte Natural Resources District, in partnership with the Cozad Ditch Company and Southside Irrigation District, to install two additional automated gates to better control water flow. This project is expected to result in annual water savings of 5,140 acre-feet by reducing leakage and over-delivery currently caused by manual gate operation inefficiencies. The conserved water will remain in the Platte River for recreational use, water supply, and other beneficial purposes. This grant aligns with the WaterSMART program's focus on water conservation, efficiency, and sustainability initiatives in the Western United States.

The central platte natural resources district, located in hall county, nebraska, in partnership with the cozad ditch company and southside irrigation district, will replace 11 existing outdated manual headgates along two canals that divert irrigation water from the platte river with automated turnout gates coupled with a supervisory control and data acquisition system. The project also includes installation of two additional automated turnout gates to better control flow. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 5,140 acre-feet, currently lost to leakage and over-delivery at the canal gates due to operational inefficiencies such as manual gate operation. Conserved water will remain in the platte river for recreational use, water supply, and other beneficial uses.