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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Drought Update - October 8, 2007

Lake McConaughy and the Platte River at Grand Island

Lake McConaughy is 62.7 feet below maximum elevation!

October 8 Lake McConaughy

October 8, 2007: Elevation today is 3207.3 feet, Elevation one year ago today was 3200.2 feet.

Lake McConaughy, October 8, 2007

This Year: October 8, 2007:
Lake McConaughy Surface elevation 3207.3 feet (62.7 feet below maximum elevation)
Volume = 475,000 acre feet
% of Maximum volume = 27.3%

Last Year: October 8, 2007:
Lake McConaughy Surface elevation 3200.2 feet
Volume = 374,500 acre feet
% of Maximum volume = 21.5%

Maximum elevation is 3270 feet.
maximum volume (storage) is 1,900,600 acre feet

Lake McConaughy elevation

 

Lake McConaughy elevation

Drought impacts the sandhills region of Nebraska

October 8, 2007: Nebraska Sandhills along Nebraska Hwy. 61 between Hyannis and Lake McConaughy.
This is similar to much of the region upstream from Lake McConaughy which is still in drought conditions.

Drought conditions in western Nebraska

October 8, 2007: Nebraska Sandhills along Nebraska Hwy. 61 between Hyannis and Lake McConaughy.
This is similar to much of the region upstream from Lake McConaughy which is still in drought conditions.

sandhills drought

October 8, 2007: Nebraska Sandhills and Panhandle remain in drought.

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The Platte River, Central Nebraska - Drought Update October 8, 2007

The Platte River central Nebraska

October 8, 2007: The Platte River, looking northeast at the I-80 bridge south of Grand Island, Nebraska.
The October 8, 2007 discharge was 655 cfs or about 50% of the mean for this date, and it was slightly
elevated due to overnight rainfall in the area.

 

The Platte River central Nebraska

October 8, 2007: The Platte River, looking south from the Nebraska Hwy 34 bridge east of Grand Island.
The October 8, 2007 discharge was 655 cfs or about 50% of the mean for this date, and it was slightly elevated due to overnight rainfall in the area.

 

The Platte River central Nebraska

October 8, 2007: The Platte River, looking north from the Nebraska Hwy 34 bridge east of Grand Island.
The October 8, 2007 discharge was 655 cfs or about 50% of the mean for this date, and it was slightly elevated due to overnight rainfall in the area.

October 8, 2007:
Platte River October 8, 2007 discharge at Grand Island: 655 cubic feet per second cfs).
One week ago discharge at Grand Island = 317 cfs.
One year ago discharge at Grand Island = 331 cfs.
Minimum October 8 discharge: 0 cubic feet per second in 1942.
Mean October 8 discharge = 1300 cfs.
Maximum October 8 discharge: 8650 cfs 1974 .

 

Graph of Platte River Discharge

Platte River discharge October 3, 2007 through October 10, 2007
The Platte River photos above were taken on October 8 at the peak
of the rainfall discharge from the storms overnight October 7-8, 2007.

 

Platte River Discharge last 12 months

Platte River discharge October 8, 2006 through October 8, 2007

drought monitor