Lake Mcconaughy, Box Butte Reservoir at higher water levels

Regional News

OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) _ Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska is at its highest level since 2002. So visitors to the reservoir near Ogallala have plenty of water to enjoy over the July 4th holiday weekend. The lake is roughly eight feet higher than it was last year at this time thanks to a wet spring and healthy snowmelt runoff from the Rocky Mountains. The lake is at 54 percent of its capacity

July 4 weekend visitors to Box Butte Reservoir north of Hemingford enjoyed a lake that continues to fill due to heavy rainfalls that have been recorded along the Niobrara River Valley west of the lake. Also the Mirage Flats Irrigation district has not begun releasing water from the dam for the 2009 irrigation season.

According to the Bureau of Reclamation’s web site, on August 13, 2008 the lake only held 3,608 acre feet of water; while on July 4, 2009, the Box Butte Reservoir held 13,271 acre feet of water, which is still about 1,800 acre feet less than the reservoir’s historic July 4th average. On July 4, 2009, the lake held 3,700 more acre feet of water than it did on July 4, 2008.

The lake’s elevation rose nearly 13.2 feet between August 13, 2008 and July 4, 2009. The July 4, 2009 elevation was nearly four feet higher than what was recorded on July 4, 2008.

While the water level continues to rise in 2009, it still remains low as compared to nine years ago. On Memorial Day weekend, 2000, the lake stored 23,800 acre feet of water, and its elevation was five feet higher than it is today.

The Bureau of Reclamation reports the reservoir at 43 percent capacity.