Millsite dam project moves along

By Patsy Stoddard

The Millsite dam rehabilitation project started on July 1. Since that time a number of things have been done at the site to move the project forward. The first work began was removing the rock face from the dam. Haul roads were installed with giant culverts to keep the water flowing underneath the new roads.
Nielson Construction brought two construction trailers to the site. Behind the construction trailers is a storage area for the rocks taken from the face.
On the golf course side, the number three hole is no longer in play. A temporary hole has been installed by hole number six. You tee off from the bypass hole three near the blue tees of hole six. A chain link fence has been installed along the area of hole two to keep golfers out of the construction zone.
The new cart path takes off at the green of hole number two and goes off the hill to arrive at a shortened hole number four. The former tee boxes for hole four are in the construction zone.
Those involved in the project meet each week on Tuesdays to review the work completed and look ahead to what’s next.
Eric Dixon from the Division of Water Resources comes down for the weekly meetings. Ed Vidmar is onsite every day. He is from Franson Civil Engineers the company that designed the project. He is the coordinator between the contractor Nielson Construction and the state.
The NRCS puts up monthly summary sheets with the project updates on their website. KC Savage is the NRCS coordinator working with the project. He said the Ferron Canal Company will pay their portion of the dam with in-kind matches including borrow material. New valves for the dam have been ordered and delivered. In-kind costs can also include use of water during the construction period.
The rehabilitation project will raise the dam four feet and the canal company will receive benefits from having this extra storage capacity.
The NRCS was involved in the original Millsite dam construction. Over the years sediment has filled the reservoir and it has lost capacity.
The dam rehabilitation will bring the dam up to all current dam safety standards. The dam will be more earthquake safe. The current toe of the dam has possible liquefiable materials and this will be remedied with the new dam. Liquefaction is when loose sandy materials in the dam could liquefy in the event of an earthquake.
The dam will be drained to its lowest operational level so the new valves can be installed. This must be done before the spring runoff in 2018. The construction company will also work on the new spillway outlet increasing its depth and width.
There will be water for the 2018 irrigation season, the season however may be shortened. But, there will be enough water for an average year.
Work on the new spillway shouldn’t effect play on hole seven at the golf course. Demolition on the current spillway is almost complete. Work on the new spillway will continue into the winter where concrete heaters will be used so the pouring can continue into the cold weather months. The concrete work is scheduled to start Nov. 20. Concrete blankets will also be used. The first three days of a new pour are the most critical.
The dewatering permit was approved and wells will be put in, this will take the ground water down to three feet below the excavation on the toe of the dam.
Nielson Construction has received approval to do a test section of the expandable grout which may be used on the project if approved. A small area will be used as a test.
Work will begin in November through March to raise the campsites at the Millsite State Park.
The Division of Wildlife Resources plans to kill all the trash fish left after September. They will take fish nets and catch the trout and replant them elsewhere.
The dam is scheduled to be ready for the soil excavation to begin by Sept. 6. Until then there are no restrictions on water usage. in Ferron. Any water not used will be turned down the creek. All incoming water into the reservoir will be let out. Ferron City, Rocky Mountain Power and Clawson, and stock watering water will be collected and distributed with a bypass pipe with turnouts.
Tracy Behling from the canal company said they are trying to make the water last as long as possible. “People are nervous about next year. We will be having an information meeting,” said Behling.
Behling said the reservoir will be about where it usually is when they turn off the water in a regular year. He said, it’s been good to know and see this because now in a regular year, they can draw the reservoir down lower at the end of the season. The spillway this year dumped water for 45 days. “It’s amazing what the state, federal and locals are able to do with this money. It’s amazing what you can do when you work together.  The state and engineers have been very accommodating. We had some things we wanted incorporated into the outlet structure and they took our recommendations. Water is the lifeblood of this community. Everyone has been great to work with on this project.
Nielson Construction is hoping to bring more equipment to the project as they finish other projects. They are still looking for employees. They are tackling the critical path projects first.
Eric Luke from Nielson Construction would like to send a warning to all visitors in the Millsite dam area. There will be 40 ton rock trucks and earth moving equipment crossing the road. Everyone needs to be on the lookout for this equipment and to observe all construction zone signs. There is no access to the site for the public. This is an active construction site that could be dangerous to onlookers.
Behling said, “We really appreciate the power plants and how cooperative they have been with this project. Everyone will benefit from this project at its completion.”