BISMARCK, N.D. - Reclamation will be conducting core sampling and installing several observation wells on the downstream face of Heart Butte Dam beginning the week of March 14, 2021. The work is estimated to last three months.
“For safety reasons, the area below Heart Butte Dam around the tunnel outlet, including the fishing platform, will be closed while this work is being performed," said Reclamation’s Dakotas Area Office Manager Joe Hall.
Additionally, for safety reasons, the public will not be allowed to use the trail crossing the face of the dam over the outlet tunnel to access the south bank of the Heart River. The work area and the area temporarily closed to the public will be fenced off and signed as closed to public entry.
“The core sampling and well installation is part of Reclamation's Safety of Dams investigation for Heart Butte Dam" said James Weigel, Engineer, Facilities and Engineering. “The observation wells will replace some of the original instrumentation that was installed when the dam was constructed in 1949."
For more information, please contact Patience Mosbrucker at 701-221-1204 or James Weigel at 701-221-1298.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
