Progress is being reported towards first power from Muskrat Falls.

Nalcor says they started pumping water into the intake channel on April 1st.

That area, between the river and intake structure, is now filled with water and last week they started removing the rock and earth cofferdam at the entrance to the intake channel.

This week, changes are being made to water levels upstream from the Muskrat Falls site. Water levels are expected to rise to 25 meters from 23 meters to help the ice cover stay in place longer through the spring thaw.

The company says the change will also help to maintain a constant water level in the reservoir during the spring thaw when levels on the Churchill River naturally increase.

The process of raising water levels in the reservoir will begin mid-summer.