GGS Well Field ResolutionHistory
- NPPD drought planning initiated in 2003
- Gerald Gentleman Station wellfield available August 1, 2005
- Wells were utilized in 2005 and 2006 for temperature mitigation
- Modifications to GGS cooling system planned for 2007
Generally Western Nebraska is experiencing the eighth year of prolonged, severe (in some cases extreme) drought. In 2003, NPPD formed a Platte River Drought Management Team to explore, study, analyze and arrive at a strategy (or strategies) for NPPD to lessen the drought's impact on the District's hydropower and Gerald Gentleman Station operations and its customers.
After review of numerous alternatives, the Team arrived at a strategy for Gerald Gentleman Station water supply, which combines water conservation practices, the installation of a well field in the vicinity of Sutherland Reservoir, and modifications to the GGS cooling system. The conservation practices in place include minimizing non-irrigation season releases of water from Lake McConaughy (in cooperation with the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District) and from Sutherland Reservoir, closely monitoring water usage, and promoting water conservation among NPPD's irrigation customers.
The Gerald Gentleman Station Well Field has two purposes. It is intended to keep the reservoir at a level adequate to support the continued operation of Gerald Gentleman Station, and to help GGS maintain compliance with temperature limits for its cooling water discharge into Sutherland Reservoir.
This website includes more information about the wells' location, how the wells have been operated during the summer of 2005 and 2006 and a Q& A section.
Questions/Comments: Please submit your questions/comments regarding well field operation to Frank Kwapnioski at (308) 535-5922, cell phone at (308) 530-1261, or e-mail: fskwapn@nppd.com; for questions regarding landowner mitigation call Todd Klein at (308) 535-5323 or e-mail: tjklein@nppd.com; for media-related questions, please contact 1-877-ASK-NPPD
