KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Bureau of Reclamation has notified the Corps that it expects to request the Corps release water from Harlan County Lake in December, pursuant to an irrigation contract and an interstate water compact call from the state of Nebraska.
The Corps of Engineers anticipates the Bureau will request the release of approximately 15,000 acre-feet of water. This release would lower the lake level by about 1.8 feet. The current lake elevation is 1,929.7 feet, and it has been slowly dropping due to the continued dry conditions. The Corps anticipates that the release to the river might begin in early December and will require about three weeks to complete at a rate of 350 cubic feet per second.
The need for the Harlan County Lake release is subject to change, but downstream and lake interests should remain aware of the possibility when preparing for winter conditions.
For questions, please contact the Public Affairs Office at (816) 389-3486.
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Release no. PA-2013-67