Because of extremely dry conditions and low flows in the North Platte and South Platte rivers, there just wasnt enough water coming downstream to meet the needs of irrigators.

"If it stays hot and dry, it looks like we will have to close up some people there," said Susan France, division manager for water administration for the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

Potentially, more than 100 surface water irrigators could be shut off. Additional restrictions could be placed along the Elkhorn and Loup rivers.

Last week was the second round of shutoffs this summer. In mid-June, the Department of Natural Resources shut off water to about 50 surface water irrigators below Gothenburg and all way to the town of Duncan.

The shutoffs affect only those irrigators who pump directly from the Platte River and its two tributaries, the North and South Platte. A shutoff means they cant take water until further notice from the agency.

France said the shutoff notices were issued to junior water rights holders because there was not enough water coming down the Platte River system to meet a water appropriation for the Dawson County Canal.

The administrative action surprised many because it came so early. State officials usually issue such orders in early August. But its been a very hot summer in parts of central and western Nebraska.

"The last 60 days have been very dry," said Mark Svoboda, with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He said some parts of the state, especially areas west of Kearney and the southwest corner of the state, have received very little precipitation.

McCook, he said, has had only 7 inches of precipitation since April 1, about 73 percent of normal. Its also been one of the hottest areas in the nation in terms of triple-digit temperatures.

Other areas of the state, including eastern Nebraska, are also experiencing dry conditions but not as severe as the southwest.

While the rest of the state was taken off drought maps this spring, the southwest corner remained in a "hydrological" drought because of low reservoir levels and stream flows.

Lake McConaughy dropped 28 feet last year, the largest decline in its history. Irrigators are worried that if conditions dont improve this fall and winter, the states largest reservoir could experience even more drastic declines next year.

Tim Anderson, a spokesman for the Central Public Power and Irrigation District in Holdrege, said flows in the South Platte River are "virtually zero." He said water coming into the reservoir from the North Platte River are about 20 percent of normal.

"If we dont have some improved conditions next year we will have a train wreck," Anderson said.