Nelson receives assurances on dam repairs

Nelson questioned Secretary Salazar at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the Interior Department's 2011 budget. He noted that an inspection last fall found "multiple cracks" in the 126-foot wall that forms the Red Willow Dam, which impounds 85,000 acre feet of water to form Hugh Butler Lake.

As a result, the Interior Department's U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has lowered water levels to as low as during the drought of 2002 to relieve stress on the dam wall. That, in turn, has meant that 5,000 acres of cropland in the area will have no irrigation water for this year or next, causing economic hardship for farmers and ranchers, Nelson told Salazar.

"Certainly you know as well as anyone the problems water shortages cause western-state growers. I know the bureau is doing what it has to and I wanted to take the opportunity to say I want to be a partner should there be a role for Congress to play to help the Bureau execute a plan to repair this dam as quickly as possible and mitigate the need for such low water levels behind the dam, and to extend an offer of assistance in any way I can in fixing this," the senator said to Salazar.

"We're aware of the issue, we're evaluating it. These are cracks in the dam so we have public safety issues that need to be addressed," Salazar responded. "Our hope is -- we hope repairs will be under way with the right funding by 2011.

"So, there may be ways to expedite that. I recognize that if we're looking at repairs in year 2011 we basically have gone by two irrigation seasons. So, let us see if there's a way to expedite it, but right now it's on schedule for studies and repairs in 2011."

Nelson's query followed his letter on March 8, 2010 to Michael L. Connor, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation at the Interior Department concerning the condition of the Red Willow Dam.

The text follows:

The Honorable Michael L. Connor

Commissioner,

Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Department of the Interior

Dear Commissioner Connor.

I write to you concerning the Red Willow Dam, located on Red Willow Creek approximately 11 miles northwest of McCook, Nebraska. As you are aware, after a sinkhole was discovered on the dam face during the week of October 19, 2009, thin cracks as wide as 12 millimeters were found throughout the 126 foot earthfill embankment, which impounds up to 85,070 acre-feet of water to form Hugh Butler Lake.

Since this initial discovery, the Nebraska-Kansas Bureau of Reclamation area office in Grand Island, Nebraska, has been diligent in keeping my staff and the community at large abreast of the complications these cracks have caused and the corrective actions that will be needed to repair the dam. Understandably, the Bureau's actions are of great interest to the surrounding area, as the dam provides for river and irrigation releases for downstream diversions, and the lake serves as a valuable water reservoir, as well as a facility for fishing and water-oriented recreation for the surrounding area.

With the Bureau having lowered the lake to levels last seen during the drought of 2002 in order to relieve stress on the dam, up to 5,000 acres of cropland in the Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District will have no available irrigation water in either 2010 or 2011. Recognizing this may be the necessary solution to avoid even greater complications with the dam, these water shortages will inevitably cause financial difficulties to area farmers and communities.

As such, I request the Bureau of Reclamation to keep me posted as your staff develops a course of action so that Congress can move the plans ahead in an expeditious manner to avoid prolonging the need for low water levels behind the dam.

Commissioner Connor, I appreciate the challenge the Bureau has in completing these repairs in an expeditious manner which properly resolves the situation while minimizing the impact on water usage for the surrounding area. Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.

Sincerely,

E. Benjamin Nelson

United States Senator