The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District is making preparations for a dredging project at Jeffrey Lake that will begin in early May.
Central intends to remove a large amount of sediment that has accumulated in the lake over the years.
The project will result in significant improvements for recreation, aquatic habitat and hydropower operations.
Central has leased a dredge specifically designed to remove the accumulated material. It is expected that the dredge will remove about 100,000 cubic yards of material during three months of dredging operations.
The material will be moved via floating pipeline over the top of the dam at the north end of the lake and deposited inside of a containment structure partially on property owned by Central.
Due to the presence of the dredge and the floating pipeline in the project area, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s public boat ramp located in the Jeffrey Lake Wildlife Management Area on the northeast side of the lake will be out of service for about three months, beginning with project initiation on May 2.