Ibach tours PC Canal with Pillen, officials

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

After taking a tour with other state officials of water resource sites in Western Nebraska on Friday, April 28, District 44 State Senator Teresa Ibach says she has a better understanding of how water flows into and through the state. She updated her constituents from District 44 about the trip and other Legislative news during her Tuesday call-in show. 

Ibach, Governor Jim Pillen, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Director Tom Riley and State Senators Bob Dover, Loren Lippincott, Steve Erdman, Brian Hardin and Mike Jacobson toured Lake McConaughy, NPPD Water Systems in Paxton, the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Diversion Dam in North Platte, along with existing Perkins County Canal and land around it that could potentially be used to finish the canal, she said. Potential canal sites are currently in the engineering phase, she said.

“I learned a lot during the day,” Ibach said.

Ibach was especially impressed to see where water flows into Nebraska from Colorado, and how the water is measured. 

“I was absolutely fascinated with how the water is measured, collected and then where the water in the South Platte River travels throughout the state,” Ibach said.

 “I knew we use water efficiently and effectively, but seeing it first hand was amazing.” 

In a press release, Pillen also said the day was a success. 

“Water is our state’s most precious resource and we’ve been blessed with an abundance of streams, rivers, and aquifers,” said Governor Pillen. “Successfully managing our water resources is key to help propel the economic engine of our state. The Perkins County Canal serves as the only means for Nebraska to control its future South Platte River water supplies. The project has my full support.”

“We were able to see several components of Nebraska’s existing water supply infrastructure today and hear directly from those stakeholders how critical that infrastructure is to supplying irrigation, cooling water for Gerald Gentlemen Station, hydropower, meeting environmental needs of the central Platte River, and water supply for our biggest cities as well,” said Director Riley. “The Perkins County Canal project is critical to ensuring we maintain the water supplies that provide those benefits and ensure that they are resilient into the future.”