Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys today announced the award of a $3 million construction contract for Safety of Dams work on Grassy Lake Dam located on Grassy Creek near Yellowstone National Park about 35 miles east of Ashton, Idaho.
Edstrom Construction, Inc., Rexburg, Idaho, was awarded the contract on April 15. Since the worksite is typically not accessible from late October thru mid-June due to snow, work will take place during two construction seasons in the summers of 2004 and 2005.
The work will include replacing a 557-foot section of the spillway chute with a new open channel spillway chute that will include a new drain system. The embankment toe drains will also be replaced with a new drain system.
Investigations at the dam show significant damage occurred to the floor of the spillway and the toe-drain system which presents a serious risk of dam failure. Failure of Grassy Lake Dam would result in the loss of storage water for irrigation, recreational opportunities, fish and wildlife resources, and potential for loss of life downstream.
The 118-foot-high dam was constructed in 1939. It is owned by Reclamation and operated by Fremont-Madison Irrigation District.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
