Signs of progress on repair of Red Willow Dam

The process is moving at a glacial pace for those of us who enjoy Hugh Butler Lake, but it's good to see things are moving along.

The lake has been drained since multiple cracks were found in the south end of Red Willow Dam in late 2009, and after a couple of delays, bids for repairs were opened Tuesday.

As usual, bids came in higher than estimates, with a Colorado company bidding $15.3 million, compared to an independent government cost estimate of $14.7 million.

Four other bids ranged up to $18.7 million.

Plans are now for the bids to be reviewed, the contract awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, and the repair work to begin as soon as possible.

It will include the excavation of the downstream face of the dam and installation of a filter and drain system. It will then be rebuilt by replacing the excavated material over the filter-drain system.

The project will also include construction of a downstream stability berm and a two-stage filter drain in the channel and slopes downstream of the spillway and outlet works stilling basins; repair of portions of the upstream dam face, and construction of a toe-drain system with monitoring wells.

The repair work will take a couple of years, plus the time it will take to refill the lake, but at least there is the promise that the recreational opportunities -- as well as irrigation water and other benefits of the lake -- will return to normal.