An update of the Millsite Dam rehabilitation project was held on April 7. Norm Evenstad and Eric Dixon gave the updates. Since the time of the public information meeting on Feb. 2 where it was full speed ahead on the project, the project managers have come to the conclusion, the time frame for the start date of the project was too aggressive.
Planning and reviews as well as permits are taking longer than anticipated. Each of the comments received for the draft environmental analysis must be reviewed. Each of the comment responses is taking up to two weeks. Evenstad said all comments received were positive and in favor of the project.
One of the reviews being waited for is the threatened and endangered species. There are 40 cacti which will need to be moved. These 40 cacti are below the new high water mark for the reservoir and will be moved to adjacent BLM land. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the mitigation plan for these cacti. It is expected this review will be back by summer. This biological opinion from the US Fish and Wildlife will be put in the final environmental assessment.
BLM is reviewing the process for the transplanting of the cacti. The BLM may request additional fencing of the barrow material areas.
Evenstad explained the Engineering Design Review. The 80 percent draft engineering design for the rehabilitation was submitted to the NRCS National Design, Construction & Soil Mechanics Center on November 10, 2015 for the required detailed review. The review was completed under contract with the NRCS Design Center by URS Group, Inc. with expertise in seismology, geologic engineering, soil mechanics, hydrology and hydraulic design.
The Design Review Report was received by NRCS-Utah and the Utah Division of Water Resources on March 22.
The analysis of the review report resulted in many items addressed with further clarification by NRCS-Utah/UDWRe, other items however, have included more robust design adjustments, calculation and time requirements.
The increased design and review process will delay the project bidding enough that the project cannot be awarded in a timely manner to provide sufficient time to complete the foundation work this fall. As a result, it was decided that the main construction would have to be pushed to August 2017.
Eric Dixon said the schedule they originally laid out was too aggressive. Now they would like to award the bid by the end of the year. This could allow if the contractor was ready, maybe some work at the state park. It was doubtful, if the foundation work could have been completed so the reservoir could fill next spring 2017, so the start date has been pushed back to 2017.
The NRCS is still pushing to get all the reviews done and prepare the bid for the contractors. “It’s risky pushing it and could drive costs up and quality down,” said Dixon.
Tracy Behling, president of the Ferron Canal Company said, the decision to wait was just in time for them, “Our water allocation hasn’t been made yet. It’s the old normal for us, business as usual.”
Laren Huntsman manager from PacifiCorp’s Hunter plant said it wasn’t that easy for the power company. They have been basing their decisions concerning water for the power plant with the 2016 construction schedule in mind. “We’ve already started down the path of preparing and I’m not sure where this leaves us. We’ve been working with three drainages to coordinate water. We will need to regroup and back track and re-assess the directions we’ve gone. It would have been nice to have this information two weeks ago.”
Capt. Kyle Ekker is the emergency manager for Emery County. He said he didn’t know anything about the project being pushed back a year. There was a breakdown in communications.
The NRCS said they would send out more email updates on the project and the next meeting will be on June 2 at 10 a.m.
Behling said as soon as he was alerted he talked to the golf course and called Laren. Play at the golf course will not be interrupted this golf season. When the dam is under construction only holes three and four will be out of play.
Behling said the valves for the dam have been ordered and when they arrive they will need to be paid for. The main valve and hydraulics will be $300,000. There shouldn’t be a problem getting the cost of these parts covered. All funding for the project remains in place.
Contractors must pre-qualify to bid on the project.
Work could begin on the Millsite State Park on the off-season. Possibly as early as winter 2017.
Jay Mark Humphrey said the DWR should be notified because they have plans to transplant some of the fish out the reservoir.
Roger Barton said they still plan to dredge at Millsite this spring and run it over the spillway. They are getting a new dredger, the old one isn’t powerful enough to do what needs to be done. The old one will be traded in on the new one.
Huntsman said, “We want this to be a good project. We would like to have known sooner. We appreciated a call from Tracy (Behling) saying the project had been delayed.”
On January 20, the Draft Plan/EA was released for a public comment period ending February 22. The Public meeting was held February 2 at the Emery County Commission Chambers had 28 attendees and the Preferred Alternative was presented. Significant comments will be addressed in the Final Plan/EA; the Final EA is anticipated for this summer following completion of the formal consultation process. Elements of the final consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps will be included in the Final Plan/EA.
The Construction schedule has moved to 2017. Some elements may be done in late fall/winter 2016 possibly state park work, pending contractor selection
Delaying the project will facilitate a better, longer bid process, likely leading to a better price indicated NRCS.
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