SALINA, KS — As the Smoky Hill River continues to rise, prompting the closure of Bill Burke Park to all vehicles for safety reasons, questions have circulated regarding whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open the flood gates at Kanopolis Lake in an effort to dislodge the log jam downstream.
Salina311 spoke with Kelvin Schmidt, head of maintenance at Kanopolis Lake and the individual responsible for operating the dam gates. As of the afternoon of July 23, Schmidt confirmed there are no current plans to open the flood gates and, to his knowledge, no formal requests have been made to do so.
Schmidt explained that the dam is currently set at the "control notch" position, which mimics the natural flow of the Smoky Hill River.
Officials continue to monitor the situation as river levels remain elevated. Bill Burke Park remains closed to vehicle traffic out of caution for public safety. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
