COLUMBUS - Officials estimate approximately 2,000 fish died in the Loup Canal, after a mandatory cease in water diversion.
A massive number of fish died in the canal, after officials were forced to cease water diversion from the Loup River into the Loup Canal. The cease in water diversion, was a regulation placed in the district's license, to operate it's hydroelectric facilities.
Due to a string of hot days, water temperatures rose over 93 degrees, which forces the district to cease diversion again, until the water drops below 93 degrees for 72 hours.
The district noted that because of the mandatory cease in diversion on July 15th, they were expecting a large amount of fish kills, from stagnant water and low dissolved oxygen levels.
On July 17th, the district received a temporary waiver to begin re-diverting water back into the canal, after noticing a large amount of dead fish beginning to appear.
The district says in the early morning hours of July 18th, they notice massive amounts of dead fish beginning to appear in the canal. LPPD notified the Nebraska Game and Parks about the fish kills, and the NGPC was reportedly aware that Loup Power had little control over diversion of the water into the canal, says a Loup Power Board Meeting letter.
Game fish such as catfish, were among those that were found dead.
