LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As previously announced, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Louisville District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with support from The Nature Conservancy, will resume work to complete removal of Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 in Kentucky this month. Demolition efforts are scheduled to resume as early as the second week of July depending on appropriate river levels and weather conditions.
Dam removal was temporarily suspended in July 2022 due to concerns from the Edmonson County Water District (ECWD) regarding water levels. Since that time, there has been a collective effort from our partners, federal officials, and ECWD to advance this project while ensuring ECWD has interim alternatives in place to address potential water supply challenges as well as long term plans for new water supply infrastructure. For example, a submersible pump was provided by The Nature Conservancy and tested by ECWD to ensure continuous water supply even in low-water conditions. The partners, with assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey, also relocated river gauges to ensure accurate and constant monitoring of river levels.
“We have been fortunate to be a part of a tremendous team of local, state, federal and inter-agency partners that has steadily worked through challenges and identified interim and long-term solutions that will serve all parties,” said Louisville District Commander Col. L. Reyn Mann. “We are ecstatic to have reached this pivotal point, which allows us to collectively move forward with renewed momentum and purpose—for the common goal of a safer, healthier and more accessible river. We applaud the Edmonson County Water District for not only their daily efforts to supply quality water to the local community but also for their commitment and vision to find a solution that will serve the people of Edmondson County for years to come.”
ECWD plans to implement a series of interim solutions and contingency plans to ensure water supply should very low water levels or drought conditions occur during or after full dam removal. Additionally, they are working on long-term plans for a new intake structure.
“Our team at ECWD is monitoring the progress of the project daily, through the cooperation of all agencies involved, and it is our full intention to minimize or eliminate any water interruptions due to this project,” said Kevin Shaw, General Manager, Edmonson County Water District.
The dam removal will be conducted by personnel contracted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is expected to take approximately 4-6 weeks, dependent on optimal weather conditions and water levels.
“This project is a shining example of what a collective partnership can accomplish when you have common goals. This dam removal will provide for a healthy river ecosystem, provide public recreation as well as provide a stable water supply for Edmonson County. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved,” said Allan Brown, Assistant Regional Director for Fish and Aquatic Conservation for the Service’s Southeast Region.
Lock and Dam 5 is nearly 100 years old and has exceeded its service life, posing a great safety risk for people. Removing the dam fully will protect public safety, increase recreation opportunities, and enhance aquatic habitat as it restores free-flowing conditions to 73 miles of the river.
“We are grateful for Edmonson County Water District working with us and other stakeholders to move this work forward,” said David Phemister, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Kentucky. “A partially removed dam serves no one’s interests. Removing this dam fully is the right thing to do for a safer, healthier, and more accessible river, and allows ECWD to commence planning and eventual construction of improved water supply infrastructure.”
Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 was built in 1933-34 for commercial navigation, but operation of the structure ceased in 1951 as it was no longer needed for navigation. Federal legislation, under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, was signed into law in 2016 deauthorizing the lock and dam site from the USACE inventory and directing the U.S. government to convey the property for the purpose of dam removal. Unmaintained structures create public safety risks and can fail unexpectedly, as occurred at Lock and Dam 6 in 2016. Lock and Dam 5 is nearly 100 years old and has exceeded its service life.
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