Millsite Dam moves along building up the embankment

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

The Millsite Dam project has had its share of setbacks but it continues to move forward. The outlet works were expected to wrap up the end of July. The cat walk is finished and the stairs but the power wasn’t in yet at the last media day.
There are still final items to be completed on the outlet works.
The spillway had the Xypex coating placed upon it to fill in the cracks. The cracks were filled in the concrete in the tunnel. Backfill where the bridge abutments will go has been started.
Phase II was the redesign of the concrete. This redesign was being reviewed by an outside company. This review was not back yet. No further concrete could be poured on the spillway walls until the review of the redesign was completed.
Phase III will be to determine and evaluate what to do with the surfaces that will be exposed permanently.
Crews have been patching up the bedrock and filling in holes and uneven surfaces with grout.
At the dam itself work continues on the embankment of the dam with the shouldering machine laying down the layers of fill. There are six layers of materials going in or zones.
Eric Dixon said the shouldering machine is working faster than the hand fill work that was done last summer.
Dixon said they are still waiting on the final review for the spillway. After this takes place they will set new milestone dates as they see what’s needed.
They continue to work with water users to stretch out the irrigation season as long as possible.
Dixon said in the review process for the design of the concrete there are several eyes looking at it including the Division of Water Rights/NRCS dam safety are all involved.
The dam safety division conducts annual safety inspections on all dams in Utah.
Millsite Dam was identified as high hazard, not because it was in bad condition, but because should it fail with the town of Ferron below the dam there was a lot of potential for damage. Over the years, the dam safety standards have become more stringent.
The abutments for the bridge were involved in the review process so the bridge for the golf course cart path has not been set.
The preparation work has been done for the abutments and when they get the go ahead this part of the project will continue.
Wall Contractors has been putting on the Xypex and the dental grout. Some backfilling has been completed where the bridge will be placed. There were drains placed all along the spillway to carry any seeping water away from the dam.
Dixon said the cracks in the floor of the spillway will be measured and evaluated and treated if necessary with the Xypex.