Recent heavy rains, combined with snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains, are causing high flows and predictions of flooding along the Platte River. Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (NRD) Directors voted during their regular board meeting on May 12 to take advantage of those high flows and hopefully lessen the impact of flooding by diverting and storing Platte River water for the purpose of groundwater recharge. Tri-Basin Directors entered into a contract with Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (CNPPID) to divert at least 2,000 acre-feet of Platte River flows. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) will cost-share with Tri-Basin NRD to pay for these diversions.

Because of the timing of this rain event, CNPPID's irrigation canals are not available for storing the diverted water. According to John Thorburn, Tri-Basin NRD's General Manager, 1,800 acre-feet will be stored in Elwood Reservoir and 200 acre-feet will be stored in the Cottonwood Waterfowl Production Area. If high flows continue for more than ten days, Elwood Reservoir could be filled to capacity with diverted floodwater.

"We're hoping to divert up to 5,000 acre-feet if high flows persist," said Thorburn.