Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will be dewatering approximately fourteen miles of the Kearney Canal leading up to the Kearney Hydro to complete repair work inside the hydro.
NPPD began returning water to the Kearney Canal around two weeks ago, and after water began flowing through the system, a mechanical issue was discovered within the Kearney Hydro that was preventing it from operating properly.
“In order to fix the issue, the canal leading up to the hydro will need to be dewatered, so we can get inside the hydro to evaluate what needs fixed and make repairs,” said NPPD Water Systems Maintenance Technician Mike Koubek. “We know a lot of people enjoy recreational activities along the canal, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we complete this work safely.”
Water levels will lower through the weekend, and crews expect they will be able to enter the hydro to begin evaluating the issue early next week. Once crews have completed their evaluation, they will have a better understanding of the timeline required to make repairs and refill the canal.
NPPD will send out more details on the timeline to refill the canal once that information is available.
