The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District is a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska organized under public power and irrigation district laws of Nebraska passed in 1933. Central was created to enable the people of south-central Nebraska to develop the state’s irrigation and electric power potential.

Central delivers irrigation water to more than 109,000 acres on the south side of the Platte River between North Platte and Minden and also provides supplemental water from Lake McConaughy (Central’s main storage reservoir) to irrigation projects serving more than 100,000 acres along the North Platte and Platte Rivers.

Central generates electricity for homes, farms and industry at four hydroplants, one at Kingsley Dam and three on Central’s Supply Canal.

Recreation is another benefit of Central’s hydro-irrigation project. Nebraskans and visiting vacationers enjoy the excellent fishing, boating, swimming, camping and other recreational opportunities provided by Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Johnson Lake and many other small lakes along the Supply Canal.

Central’s system of canals and laterals also provides groundwater recharge that helps stabilize groundwater supplies for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses.

The project also provides habitat for many species of fish and wildlife, a result of Central’s active role in creating and preserving habitat in the Platte River Valley.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District is to sustainably serve the region by utilizing our natural resources for irrigation, energy and recreation while enhancing our quality of life and environment.

VISION STATEMENT

It is our vision that The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District implement its Mission by becoming a national and worldwide leader in the area of integrated water resource management.

To realize this vision, we must pursue and adopt coalition opportunities, management techniques, technological advances, and sustainable practices that promote conjunctive water use, water quality protection, agricultural efficiencies, effective water conservation, abundant recreation opportunities, fish and wildlife habitat diversity and integrity, and efficient energy generation.

It is important that these activities be undertaken with the abiding conviction in, and understanding of, our overriding obligation to be good stewards of the region’s environment and its land and water resources.