Posted on July 4, 2022
Louisville, KY —Louisville, KY. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District has temporarily halted work on the removal of the Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 on the Green River in Kentucky, while additional surveys are performed. Due to concerns from the Edmonson County Water District, USACE stopped further removal of the dam until the impacts can be evaluated and addressed.
USACE is coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Edmonson County Water District to perform additional surveys and develop recommendations on any necessary steps to address changes to Edmonson County Water District operations and facilitate the eventual full removal of Lock and Dam #5.
The USFWS dam removal crew is still onsite performing work that does not impact current dam elevation.
“The Edmonson County Water District appreciates the co-operation of all other entities involved and hopefully a solution can be found that will satisfy all entities’ concerns,” said Tony Sanders, General Manager, Edmonson County Water District.
“We fully understand the concerns from the Edmonson County Water District and their water supply is certainly paramount,” said Nate Moulder, Chief, Planning Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District. “Removal efforts will not resume at Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 until that risk can be further evaluated and mitigated. We will continue coordination with The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Edmonson County Water District to collectively move forward.”
Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 was built in 1933-34 for commercial use, 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 its removal.
For more information on the removal efforts visit: https://go.usa.gov/xJz5H
For the latest updates follow: https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleUSACE
