KEARNEY, Neb. — Another sign of the changing seasons will take place this week in Kearney.

Nebraska Public Power District says it will return water to the Kearney Canal starting on Wednesday. The canal, which runs along the western and southern sides of the city, is emptied every year before winter so crews can do maintenance. A news release says water is typically returned to the canal in mid-April as the average temperatures begin to warm up. 

“The canal is currently empty outside of some standing ground water,” NPPD Water Systems Maintenance Technician Mike Koubek said. “There are many people that live or do activities along or downstream of the canal system, and we want to make sure they are aware water will soon start flowing through the system again.”

It will take several days for the canal to fill with water. It will stay filled until September, when it will run dry again for maintenance reasons.

The Kearney Canal is used for irrigation and feeds into the Kearney Hydro, a 1-megawatt hydro generation facility located near 15th Avenue and University Drive.