Water has begun flowing into the Chadron State Park pond, signifying that the renovation of the two-acre lagoon is nearing completion.
Workers from Fuller Construction and park employees began diverting water Thursday morning from nearby Chadron Creek. The pond is expected to fill within 15-20 days, making it ready for fishing and paddle-boating during the summer tourism season.
The pond has been empty for the construction project since it was drained in fall 2013. While empty, workers repaired its dilapidated outlet structure, removed eroded sediment and lined it with impermeable clay. With the removal of about 12,000 cubic yards of sediment, the pond will now hold 10 acre-feet of water instead of the previous four acre-feet. It will be about 13 feet deep when full.