The Millsite dam rehabilitation project is still moving forward. The mild winter has helped keep the project close to being on schedule. The completion date of the project is Dec. 15 of this year. Eric Luke from Nielson Construction reported they are still a little behind on the spillway, but they will be working with Wall Contractors and hope to increase the size of the concrete pours to catch up.
The milestone of having the spillway ready for any spring run-off is March 31. But, if it’s a couple weeks beyond that it’s not expected to cause any issues because of the light snow pack waiting to come down and most run-off occurs in May.
A lot of work has been done at Millsite State Park. Most of the camping sites have been raised. The pavilion has been taken down and a new one will be constructed. The rest room in the parking lot near the boat ramp will be relocated to a higher location.
During this construction phase the state parks will be adding electricity to all the camping spots. Previously only half of the sites had electricity. Several of the concrete pads for picnic tables have been poured. Two additional campsites have been added to the park.
Jonathan Hunt Millsite State Park manager said, “The work in the park is going well. I think of it as a home remodel. It will be the same, but brand new. Sixteen of the 20 campsites will be redone. There will be new tables and new pads. Some of the trees have been removed and camp sites enlarged. We are hiring a contractor to add electricity to 10 of the camp sites. This will complete the campground with electricity at each site. We have 20 campsites at Millsite State Park. Reservations for these campsites can be made four months in advance. We plan to open on April 1.
The park is currently closed due to construction. The boat ramp will open as soon as there is enough water in the reservoir to launch a boat, probably in May. The parking area will receive new pavement which is a project that Millsite State Park already had in the works.
All earthfill work has been suspended for the winter. Rock excavation took place on the down stream face of the dam to take off the rock that wasn’t part of the first rock removal earlier in the project.
Processing of the materials, rock and dirt, in the zone two embankment is continuing; this includes the large hill of material that was between hole three and four on the Millsite golf course. All these materials will be used in the dam.
Luke said, “We are done with the excavation of the spillway. There are dam safety inspections on a regular basis.
“All the excavation in the spillway area is done. A rock trencher put in drains. The floor and walls of the gate house which will house the outlet works has been poured.
This year the reservoir will be five feet lower than normal and in future years it will be four feet higher than what it’s been in the past.
Luke said, “A little snow is OK and won’t put us behind. If we get a lot of snow, it could cause delays for snow removal and it is a safety concern.” He joked the snow is good for dust suppression at the job site. The concrete can be poured in a snow storm.
Matt Call from the Division of Water Rights said the work being done on the Millsite dam rehabilitation is quality work.
Large pours have been taking place on the spillway.
Excavation on the spillway went down to the bedrock. Steel reinforcements have been drilled down into the bedrock. Leveling of the spillway is done with dental concrete. This is poured over the rock to smooth and level and make the grade as it needs to be. Six hundred yards of leveling concrete was used. Pours are ongoing on the spillway.
Pipes for the outlet works continue to arrive and welding is taking place melding the pipes together.
Materials continue to be crushed and processed. Several large rocks have been hauled and dumped at the state park for stabilization there.
New water lines were also placed at the state park.
Call said, “Some beach sand has been hauled over to the state park.”
A new pavilion will be added at the state park to replace the one that was removed because the reservoir will be higher in the future.
The reservoir has come up 12 feet from the level it was drained to last fall. Call said, “There is a chance the reservoir may not fill because it’s been a lousy water year.”
Luke said, “We’ve gone back through the records and the precipitation we’ve had this year is lower than 1977 which was one of the worst years on record.”
The outlet works are on schedule. The spillway was set back by small storms as the rock have to be blown off and cleaned again before concrete can be poured.
Call said it’s not a huge deal the spillway is a little behind schedule. “It’s less of a concern because there’s not a lot of snow sitting up there, there’s little chance of it (reservoir) filling.”
The outlet works need to be done by March 19 so testing can be done to prepare for the irrigation season which begins April 1.
Huge cement pours have taken place with upwards of 500 cubic yards at a time.
Winter doesn’t slow down Millsite Dam Rebuild
Work on the new spillway at Millsite Reservoir moves along. The front of the spillway (closest to the water) will not be poured until the spring run-off has passed.