Irrigation Tunnel Flow Returns to 97% Capacity

Four North Platte Valley irrigation districts are delivering water near normal levels after repairs to a collapsed canal tunnel.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Current Conditions

Concrete irrigation canal tunnel portal in a flat Nebraska landscape, with clear water flowing toward green cropland under open sky. — Repaired tunnels on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie main canal now deliver 1,400 cubic feet per second, or 97% of prior capacity, to four North Platte Valley irrigation districts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tunnel flow on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie main canal has been restored to 1,400 cubic feet per second, or 97% of its previous maximum of 1,450 cfs. Pathfinder, Gering-Fort Laramie, Goshen and Farmers irrigation districts are delivering water in the North Platte Valley.

Why it matters

The canal tunnel collapse in 2019 cut water supply to growers in the Panhandle of Nebraska for multiple seasons. Restored flow allows near-normal deliveries, though permanent tunnel repairs have not yet been completed.

Irrigation district flow measurements show the tunnels now carry 1,400 cfs, 97% of the previous 1,450 cfs maximum, up from about 1,200 cfs during the 2020 season. Permanent repairs and the full effect of reduced reservoir storage on future supply remain unresolved.

The players

Pathfinder Irrigation District

Pathfinder Irrigation District is one of four major irrigation districts delivering water in the North Platte Valley of western Nebraska.

Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District

Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District operates the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie main canal serving growers in the North Platte Valley.

Goshen Irrigation District

Goshen Irrigation District is one of four major irrigation districts delivering water in the North Platte Valley and shares the affected canal system.

Farmers Irrigation District

Farmers Irrigation District is one of four major irrigation districts delivering water in the North Platte Valley of western Nebraska.

The details

Tunnel No. 2 on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie main canal collapsed in 2019, and temporary repairs were made to Tunnels No. 1 and 2. Steel ribs were installed inside the tunnels to support the concrete walls, and metal sheeting was added over the ribs during the winter of 2020-21 to reduce water turbulence and increase flow.

2019: Tunnel No. 2 collapsed on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie canal.
2020 growing season: Tunnel flow was reduced to about 1,200 cfs.
Winter of 2020-21: Metal sheeting was installed over the tunnel ribs.
Through the first week of September: Irrigation districts expect to deliver water to growers.

Seasonal Patterns

The tunnel collapse of 2019 forced flow down to about 1,200 cfs during the 2020 growing season, and the current restoration to 1,400 cfs marks a partial return to the canal's prior capacity. Restored flow now sits near the 1,450 cfs previous maximum, though permanent repairs remain pending.

Growers in the North Platte Valley can expect near-normal water deliveries through the first week of September. Irrigation districts may need to allocate water or reduce delivery days if temperatures stay above normal for an extended period.

The takeaway

Growers should plan for possible water allocation or reduced delivery days if heat persists, since permanent tunnel repairs have not yet been completed and reservoir storage is reduced.

What happens next

Irrigation districts expect to deliver water to growers through the first week of September, and may cut delivery days if temperatures run high for an extended period.