AGENDA

Nebraska Water Leaders Academy
Hampton Inn, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
301 West Highway 26, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
July 16-17, 2015
[All times MDT]

Thursday, July 16:

8:00 a.m. - Fracking - Steve Sibray, UNL, CSD

8:45 a.m. - Nitrates - Sarah Pistillo, NDHHS

9:15 a.m. - Development of the Integrated Water System and the Political Structure in The North Platte Basin [new lands projects] - John Lawson, USBR (Retired), Dept of Interior & J. Michael Jess, Consultant [retired Director, NDNR]

10:00 a.m. - Short briefing & transport coordination

10:30 a.m. - Depart Hampton Inn & Suites; travel (via US 26) to Whalen Diversion Dam

11:45 a.m. - Arrive at Whalen Diversion Dam - site of irrigation diversions for Ft. Laramie Canal (Gering-Ft. Laramie Irrigation District - NE & Goshen Irrigation District - WY) and Interstate Canal (Pathfinder Irrigation District - NE)

12:00 p.m. - Depart Whalen Division Dam; travel (via US 26) to Lingle

12:15 p.m. - Arrive at Lingle; box lunch picnic at Town Park (intersection of US 26 & US 85)

1:15 p.m. - Depart Lingle; travel (via US 26, US 85 & US 92) to Mitchell-Gering Diversion Dam

2:00 p.m. - Arrive at Mitchell-Gering Division Dam - site of irrigation diversions for combined Mitchell & Gering Canals (Mitchell Irrigation District and Gering Irrigation District)

2:15 p.m. - Depart Mitchell-Gering Diversion Dam; travel (via US 26 & US 92) to Scottsbluff National Monument - enroute, view Tri-State Diversion Dam (Farmers Irrigation District & Northport Irrigation District) and return flows carried in Sheep Creek and in other "drains"

3:00 p.m. - Arrive at Scottsbluff National Monument - Inspect Visitors Center & proceed to summit for view of North Platte River valley

3:45 p.m. - Depart Scottsbluff National Monument; travel (via US 92) to McGrew

4:15 p.m. - Arrive at McGrew- Observe return flows in Nine Mile Creek; instead of diverting irrigation water from North Platte River, Short Line Irrigation District diverts from Creek

4:30 p.m. - Depart McGrew; travel (via secondary roads & US 26) to Scottsbluff

5:00 p.m. - Arrive at Hampton Inn & Suites

7:00 p.m. - El Charrito

Friday, July 17:

8:00 a.m.- Team Projects Review and Discussion

8:45 a.m. - Nebraska's Irrigation and Public Power & Irrigation Districts-Dave Ford, President, Nebraska State Irrigation Association; Dennis Strauch, General Manager, Pathfinder Irrigation District

9:45 a.m. - Break

10:00 a.m. - Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts - a history and current examination of programs and projects- Rod Horn, Manager, South Platte NRD; John Berge, Manager, North Platte NRD; Pat O'Brien, Manager, Upper Niobrara-White NRD

11:45 a.m. - North Platte Valley water policy research and study programs and projects - Steve Sibray, UNL, CSD; Thad Kuntz, North Platte NRD

12:30 p.m. - Closing remarks and interim assignments

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE HERE