immediately downstream of the North Platte Hydro. Boaters and swimmers are restricted from the tailrace canal. Kearney Canal Trail The City of Kearney and Buffalo County Parks and Recreation Department constructed an -wide concrete trail along NPPD's Kearney Canal in 1996. The scenic corridor is a gradual downhill grade from Cottonmill Park to the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. The -long canal was built in the 1880s to divert Platte River water for irrigation and electrical generation. Cottonmill Lake once served as a reservoir for a cotton mill and now is a city park. The Kearney Dam & Hydro date to 1889. The 1.485-megawatt hydro-generator in the turret-looking tower was refurbished by NPPD in 1996. Access to NPPD's dam and hydro areas near the trail is restricted with no swimming or boating allowed. Districts Served by NPPD Wholesale Communities Served by NPPD Retail Communities Served by NPPD References External links Nebraska Public Power District Nuclear power companies of the United States Power districts in Nebraska Electric generation and transmission cooperatives in the United States 1970 establishments in Nebraska