Leaburg Lake refilled

LEABURG: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission  allowed EWEB to refill Leaburg Lake with no ramping restrictions. It was at 742 feet of elevation above sea level by about 8 p.m. 0n Wednesday night. Roll gates 2 and 3 are now back in operation. Calibrations and training were on the agenda this week at Leaburg Dam as the Eugene Water & Electric Board moved forward to bring the hydroelectric generating facility back on line. Utility spokesman Joe Harwood said the schedule called for dam operators to familiarize themselves with the new motor and gearbox that began “wet testing” last week in anticipation of refilling the reservoir soon.

In the interim, crews took advantage of the abnormally dry winter weather to do some other maintenance work. Excavators removed close to 200 cubic yards of silt that had built up near the boat ramp area. They also removed 50 move cubic yards of material that had been deposited around the exit portal of the left bank fish passage ladder.

Estimates are the refilling process could take anywhere from five to ten days to bring water levels back up to their normal 742 feet above sea level. That time could change if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grants EWEB a dispensation to get the power generation back in operation sooner.

Warning signs at Leaburg Lake are a thing of the past as the reservoir was refilled. Workers last week removed silt that had collected above the dam structure and fish ladder.