Lake
McConaughy, Nebraska (Update, July 1, 2006)
A
Major Drought Continues to Severely Impact The Reservoir
Lake
McConaughy is falling below the level it was at last year at this time!
See
the person along the water's edge?
If
not, CLICK
HERE OR ON THE PHOTO.
Image
© D. Gutzmer, Kingsley Dam at Lake McConaughy, June 2006: High Plains
Regional Climate Center.
The
top of the white colored rock indicates the height of the standing water
under normal conditions.
NOTE:
The reservoir (lake) is full when the water reaches the level of the horizontal
boom
which
connects the outlet tower on the left and the spillway tower on the right.
Lake
McConaughy Elevation June 30, 2005 - June 30, 2006
Lake
McConaughy Statistics, June 30, 2005 vs June 30, 2006
| |
June
30, 2005
|
June
30, 2006
|
Difference
|
|
Elevation
|
3217.4 feet
|
3215.8 feet
|
-1.6 feet
|
|
Below max elevation
|
-52.6 feet
|
-54.2 feet
|
-1.6 feet
|
|
% Capacity
|
36.7%
|
35.1%
|
-1.6%
|
|
Volume
|
644,100 acre
feet
|
612,500 acre
feet
|
-31,600 acre
feet
|
|
Amount below
capacity
|
1,256,500 acre
feet
|
1,288,100 acre
feet
|
-31,600 acre
feet
|
Maximum elevation
is 3270 feet.
maximum volume
(storage) is 1,900,600 acre feet
Lake McConaughy Quick Facts:
-
The lake north of Ogallala on the North Platte River is Nebraska
's largest reservoir.
-
It was filled in 1952 after Kingsley Dam's completion in 1941.
-
Lake McConaughy was built for irrigation but it is also popular for
recreation.
-
Lake McConaughy is 22.1 miles long at maximum pool and is 142 feet deep
at maximum depth when full.
-
The Outlet Tower height is 185 feet
high and the Spillway Tower is 172 feet high.
-
The Spillway Tower has 12 gates which are 16 feet high and 22 feet wide.
-
The Outlet tower is used for normal water release (water enters the
tower at the bottom of the reservoir). Water enters the hydroplant
from this tower.
-
The Spillway Tower is used only in the event of very high water and
is a flood control outlet for the reservoir.
-
Kingsley Dam is 162 feet in height, 28 feet wide at the top and 3.1
miles long.
The information source for these data is the Central Nebraska Public
Power and Irrigation District. |
Links
to High Plains Climate Center Information about Lake McConaughy:
Photo
Gallery of Lake McConaughy on November 12, 2004.
Photo
Gallery (November 2004) of the Lost Town of Lemoyne which reimerged from
Lake McConaughy.
Links
to the UNL National Drought Mitigation Center Information:
What
is drought?
Current
Drought Monitor Map
Animation
of Drought Monitor Maps (last 12 weeks)
The following map
shows the lingering drought in most of Nebraska
LINKS:
Central
Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
Central
Nebraska Lake Levels
Climate
Prediction Center 8-14 Day Outlooks
Lake
McConaughy
Lake
McConaughy Web Cam
No-till
on the Plains
Nebraska
Public Power District
National
Drought Mitigation Center
Water
Resources Data for the Nation
Map
Showing Location of Lake McConaughy Relative to Interstate 80 in western
Nebraska
UNL
University
of Nebraska-Lincoln
High
Plains Regional Climate Center
|
RETURN TO: The
Nebraska Weather and Climate Home Page
RETURN TO: The
Lincoln, Nebraska Weather and Climate Home Page
