The "Tri-County" Project
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Wildlife Management at the Jeffrey Island Habitat Area

As part of its new license to operate its hydroelectric facilities, obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 1998, Central acquired a 4,000-acre island in the midst of the Platte River’s channel to improve and manage as wildlife habitat. The seven-mile-long Jeffrey Island, located between Lexington and Overton, is suitable habitat for waterfowl, sandhill cranes, least terns, piping plovers and many other species of wildlife.

One of the challenges Central faced in managing the island’s habitat was the removal and control of noxious weeds and invasive vegetation that, if left unchecked, would obstruct the growth of desirable plants and choke the river channel. By controlling weeds, removing trees and opening river channels, Central is creating habitat that is attractive for migratory birds.

The habitat improvement project included removal of more than 300 acres of trees — mainly mature cottonwoods — and digging shallow sloughs or channels where cranes can rest and feed.

Central has used both mechanical and chemical methods to control invasive plant growth, but is also trying a somewhat unusual method approach: goats.


Spanish and Boer goats pastured on Central's Jeffrey Island help control unwanted weeds, removing the need to use chemicals for weed control. The goats prefer to eat weeds, leaving grass and other desirable plants to flourish in the area managed as wildlife habitat. Source — Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.

Central introduced a herd of 2,700 Spanish and Boer goats onto the island in 2004. The goats prefer to eat weeds rather than the grasses on which cattle graze. The goats will eat leafy spurge, false indigo, dogwood, wild plum, buck brush, woody shrubs, seedling cottonwoods, red cedar, musk thistle, purple loosestrife and just about any other plant that is considered undesirable by habitat managers. In effect, Central is using goats in place of chemicals and mechanical methods of controlling weeds on the island.