Great Plains Region Newsroom Channel

Reclamation Awards $7.8 Million Contract for Guernsey Dam Modification

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $7.8 million contract to Moltz Constructors, Inc., of Cody, Wyo., to complete modifications at Guernsey Dam.

Guernsey Dam is scheduled to undergo modifications in relation to work being performed at Glendo Dam, located 25 miles upstream from Guernsey. The modifications are in response to Reclamation's safety of dams recommendations and will ensure structural integrity of Glendo and Guernsey Dams should a large flood event occur.

Modifications include redesigning the south spillway, installing a filter blanket type drain next to the north spillway and adding a taller parapet wall to the top of the dam. Work is scheduled to be complete in summer 2013.

"Reclamation is pleased to award this contract to a local Wyoming business," said Great Plains Regional Director Michael J. Ryan. "The contract ensures Reclamation facilities continue delivering water and power safely well into the future."

Guernsey Dam is located in a rocky canyon two miles upstream from Guernsey, Wyo. The dam is a diaphragm-type embankment of sluiced clay, sand and gravel, with a structural height of 135 feet. Guernsey Powerplant has two units generating more than 14 gigawatt-hours annually. Power is transmitted to towns and industries down the valley over project and other interconnected transmission system lines.

Reclamation Announces Availability of EA and FONSI for Alcova-Gray Reef-Pathfinder Resource Management Plan

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the availability of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Alcova-Gray Reef-Pathfinder Reservoirs Resource Management Plan, according to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith.

"The purpose of the RMP is to develop and implement land use plans and resource management decisions, and to develop and protect natural, cultural, and recreational resources at Alcova, Gray Reef and Pathfinder Reservoirs," Smith said. "The purpose of the EA is to evaluate the associated environmental effects."

Reclamation assisted Natrona County Roads, Bridges & Parks with the preparation of the integrated RMP and the associated EA. Based on the RMP/EA, Reclamation has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

The public may view the RMP/EA and FONSI at Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located at 705 Pendell Blvd., Mills, WY.

Inquiries for additional information may be submitted to Reclamation’s Wyoming Area Office at the following address: Wyoming Area Office, P.O. Box 1630, Mills, WY 82644-1630.

Reclamation to Host Public Meeting on North Platte Water Operations

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a North Platte River Water Information Meeting in Torrington, Wyo.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m., on October 23, in the Fire Hall, in Torrington, Wyo. The Fire Hall is located at the corner of West C and Highway 26 in Torrington. To avoid obstruction of emergency vehicles, park north of the Fire Hall along the side of the street by the city park. Use the southwest entrance to the Fire Hall.

Coleman Smith, Wyoming Area Manager, said; "The purpose of the meeting is to present information on the operations and accounting of the North Platte River Reservoirs in Water Year 2012, which covers the period October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. Scenarios of operations for Water Year 2013 will also be presented using reasonable minimum, most probable, and reasonable maximum water supply conditions."

For additional information contact Mahonri Williams at (307) 261-5624 or mlwilliams@usbr.gov.

Road at Belle Fourche Reservoir Temporarily Closed for Improvements

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has closed Susie Peak Road at Belle Fourche Reservoir in Butte County, S.D., through the end of November, in order to continue improvements to public access. The entire road will be closed from the junction of Fisherman's Road to Gaden's Point.

"Improvements to the road include compacting the gravel surface and the addition of several more inches of gravel," said Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facility Operation and Maintenance and Engineering Services for Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office.

Alternate road access from Fisherman’s Road to Gaden's Point and the northwest portion of the reservoir will not be provided through Reclamation land during this time.

"The temporary closure will maximize public safety and allow the work to be completed in an efficient, cost effective manner," said Nettleton.

For additional information on this road closure, please contact Ryan Alcorn at 605-394-9757, ext. 3004. Follow up news releases related to this closure will be available on our website at www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao.

Reclamation Awards Contract for Canyon Ferry Shoreline Stabilization

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $729,471.73 contract to S&K Environmental of Arlee, Mont., to conduct stabilization work on approximately 1,150 feet of severely eroded shoreline at two sites on Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

"This project will implement state of the art bioengineered stabilization methods and artificial structures that emulate naturally-occurring shoreline environment in order to protect infrastructure and prevent further erosion," said Shawn Bryant, Acting Facility Manager at Canyon Ferry. "These methods are visually, environmentally and ecologically compatible with other resources. They are designed to provide effective shoreline stabilization and restoration solutions and techniques for sensitive cultural and natural resource areas," Bryant added.

The project will begin in late fall or early spring.

The Canyon Ferry Unit, part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, is a multi-purpose project providing power supply, flood control, and irrigation in the upper Missouri Basin. The reservoir is offers opportunities for viewing large concentrations of bald eagles and excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, perch, ling and walleye. Principal structures are the Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant, about 17 miles northeast of Helena, Mont.

Reclamation Awards Contract for AVC Investigations

DENVER, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $715,477.50 contract to Vine Laboratories of Denver, Colo., to conduct geologic investigations, including drilling, testing, and sampling of unconsolidated material and bedrock necessary for design of the proposed Arkansas Valley Conduit project.

Vine Laboratories is a woman-owned small business in Colorado.

"Reclamation is pleased to award this contract to one of Colorado's small businesses," said Michael J. Ryan, Great Plains Regional Director.

The contract will provide some preliminary data describing geological conditions and other variables.

If constructed, the AVC would convey water from Pueblo Reservoir to communities in southeastern Colorado.

For more information, please visit www.usbr.gov/avceis.

Bureau of Reclamation to Host Meeting of the Bighorn River System Issues Group

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bighorn River System Issues Group will meet on Wed., Oct. 3, in the MSU-Billings Downtown Conference Room, located at 2804 3rd Ave. North, Billings, Mont., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Water operations for 2012, including Reclamation’s draft operating criteria for Yellowtail Dam, will be discussed. Additionally, the status of the Bighorn side channel study and sediment control studies will be provided.

The Bighorn River System Issues Group was formed in 2007 to identify, explore, and discuss long-term strategic courses of action with local, tribal, state and federal entities responsible for managing Bighorn River system resources. Previous meeting discussions and topics are available at: http://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/yellowtail/bighorn_longterm.cfm.

For additional information about the meeting, please contact Paula Holwegner of the Bureau of Reclamation at 406-247-7300.

Reclamation Hosts Public Hearings on AVC Draft EIS

LOVELAND, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation announces five public hearings to be held as part of the public comment period for the Arkansas Valley Conduit and Long-Term Excess Capacity Master Contract Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Comments will be accepted through October 30, 2012.

Meetings will be held in Salida, Pueblo, La Junta and Lamar, Colo. There will be two meetings in Pueblo. For dates, times and locations, please visit the website at www.usbr.gov/avceis. The hearings will include an open house, presentation, question and answer forum, and an opportunity for oral comments from the public. The schedule for evening meetings is 6:30 pm open house and exhibits, 7:00 pm presentation with questions and answers, and 7:30 pm hearing. The afternoon meeting starts at 1 pm with the open house and exhibits, 1:30 pm presentation with questions and answers, and 2 pm hearing.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Reclamation is analyzing three proposed federal actions for the AVC and Master Contract that would tie into its Fryingpan-Arkansas water project. The Draft EIS summarizes the analyses to date and can be accessed via the aforementioned website.

"Public comments are a key component to our environmental compliance process," said Mike Ryan, Regional Director for Reclamation's Great Plains Region.

Comments outside of the hearings must be sent to the attention of J. Signe Snortland, Reclamation Environmental Specialist, via mail or e-mail at Bureau of Reclamation, Dakotas Area Office, PO Box 1017, Bismarck ND 58502; or jsnortland@usbr.gov.

For more information please contact Kara Lamb at (970) 962-4326 or klamb@usbr.gov.

Annual Drawdown of Alcova Reservoir

MILLS, Wyo. -- The annual drawdown of Alcova Reservoir will begin on Monday, Oct. 1, according to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith.

During October, the reservoir water surface elevation will be lowered about 10 feet, at a rate of approximately four inches per day. The reservoir’s normal winter operating range is between 5,487 and 5,489 feet.

"Water released in the drawdown of Alcova Reservoir will be restored downstream in Glendo Reservoir," Smith said.

Boat owners and recreationists should be aware of the declining level of Alcova Reservoir and take proper precautions. For more information about the Alcova drawdown, please contact Mahonri Williams at 307-261-5624.

Beaverhead River Access Temporarily Closed

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation will be making improvements to Lake View Road, located below Clark Canyon Dam, beginning on Sept. 10.

"Access to the Beaverhead River at this location will be closed for approximately 10 days while improvements to the gravel road are completed," said Jeff Baumberger, Resource Division Manager for the Montana Area Office. "Floaters and fishermen will still be able to access the Beaverhead River at Buffalo Bridge Fishing Access Site located one half mile below the dam."

Clark Canyon Dam is constructed at the head of the Beaverhead River. The zoned earthfill dam has a structural height of 147.5 feet, a crest length of 2,950 feet, and a volume of 1,970,000 cubic yards of material.

For additional information, please contact Paula Holwegner of the Bureau of Reclamation at 406-247-7300.

Bureau of Reclamation Announces the Availability of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Water Service Contract Renewal for Herrin Ranch, Inc.

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the availability of the final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Water Service Contract Renewal for Herrin Ranch, Inc.

According to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman W. Smith, Jr., "Reclamation prepared the EA/FONSI to evaluate the environmental effects of renewing the water service contract. Renewing the contracts will only result in administrative or financial changes."

The public may view the EA/FONSI at Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located at 705 Pendell Blvd., Mills, WY.

Inquiries for additional information may be submitted to Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office at the following address: P.O. Box 1630, Mills, WY 82644-1630.

Construction Continues at Red Willow Dam

MCCOOK, Neb. -- The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that construction activities related to extensive modifications at Red Willow Dam are progressing at an accelerated rate.

"The contract completion date for Red Willow Dam modifications is currently Nov. 27, 2013," said Aaron Thompson, Reclamation's Nebraska-Kansas Area Manager. "But both our agency and SEMA construction are doing everything possible to complete the contract as soon as possible so the public can fully enjoy the vast benefits of Red Willow Dam."

To date, SEMA Construction has excavated approximately 350,000 cubic yards of the downstream face of Red Willow Dam, including exposing a portion of the spillway conduit and the outlet works conduit. Reconstruction has commenced, including placement of a geonet/sand and gravel filtration system along the entire length of the dam.

The filtration system involves placing nearly 150,000 square yards of geonet and geotextile materials. Approximately 25 percent of the geonet has been placed, and is being systematically covered with layers of sand and gravel. Size requirements for the sands and gravel which make up the filter system are very specific. Due to the lack of suitable material on site, the contractor has been hauling sands and gravel materials from various other sites.

The original pipe drain at the downstream toe of the dam has also been removed and replaced with a horizontal drain consisting of a layer of gravel and a layer of sand. This filter and drainage system provides valuable protection against internal erosion of the dam embankment.

For safety and security reasons, access to the construction site and travel across the dam remains closed to the public during the construction period. The Nebraska-Kansas Area Office maintenance crew constructed an observation area at the southwest end of the dam and is accessible by county roads.

Reclamation crews in October 2009 discovered a sinkhole on the face of the dam. Subsequent investigations revealed embankment cracking, prompting Reclamation to lower Hugh Butler Lake, which is impounded by Red Willow Dam.

Red Willow Dam is an earthfill embankment with a structural height of 126 feet that, when in operation, forms a reservoir of 86,630 acre-feet. An ungated concrete spillway is located in the right abutment. An outlet works through the base of the dam provides for river and irrigation releases for downstream diversions.

Cheyenne Day Use Area Open for Labor Day Weekend

LOVELAND, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation and Larimer County Department of Natural Resources are pleased to announce the re-opening of the Cheyenne Day Use Area on Sat., Sept. 1.

The Cheyenne Day Use Area is located along the south shoreline of Flatiron Reservoir, west of Loveland, Colo. Day Use passes are required for entry. Passes can be purchased at the self-serve station near the Day Use Area entrance off of County Road 31, or across the street at the Larimer County offices, located at 1800 N. County Rd 31.

A popular fishing location, the area was closed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Marking a careful balance between security and public access, reopening became possible after a series of inspections.

"It's exciting to be able to offer this location again," said Chris Fleming, manager of Larimer County's Blue Mountain District. "There is some great fishing available here."

"We continue to be committed to both security and public access," said Howard Bailey, Security Manager for Reclamation's Eastern Colorado Area Office. "Re-opening this site and our on-going partnership with Larimer County are good examples of that."

Flatiron Reservoir is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which Reclamation owns and operates. Larimer County Department of Natural Resources is the recreation management partner for four C-BT reservoirs: Flatiron, Pinewood, Carter and Horsetooth.

For more information on the Cheyenne Day Use Area, please contact Larimer County at (970) 679-4570, or visit http://www.larimer.org/naturalresources. For more information on Reclamation, please visit www.usbr.gov/gp/ecao; or contact Kara Lamb at (970) 962-4326, or klamb@usbr.gov.

Crow Tribe, Reclamation Execute Contract under Water Rights Settlement

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Bureau of Reclamation officials, including Great Plains Regional Director Michael J. Ryan, will join Crow Tribal Chairman Cedric Black Eagle and other tribal members in a signing ceremony initiating planning, design and construction of the municipal, industrial and rural water system (MR&I) for the tribe on August 30, at 10 a.m. in Billings, Mont.

"Reclamation has the important responsibility of developing infrastructure that is critical to the successful implementation of the Crow Indian Water Rights settlement," Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor said today. "We are focused on making rapid progress in Indian country, allowing tribes to realize the benefits of such settlements. This contract is a significant first step in bringing a vital water supply to the Crow people, promoting health and economic prosperity for generations."

Reclamation and the tribe completed contract negotiations for the planning, design and construction of the MR&I system this month.

It is the latest step in implementation of the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 signed by President Obama which included four major water rights settlements – totaling more than $1 billion – for American Indian tribes including the Crow Nation. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through Reclamation, to rehabilitate the CIP and to design and construct the MRI system.

On July 15, 2011, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor visited the Crow Indian Reservation to participate with a crowd of 200 celebrating the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement, which will bring a cumulative total of more than $460 million to the Crow Nation to ensure safe drinking water for the reservation and rehabilitate the irrigation project.

"Reclamation is proud to partner in this effort," said Ryan. "It couldn't have been accomplished without the cooperative efforts of the tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the solicitor's office, and the state of Montana. We look forward to working with these agencies in the future."

The Crow Reservation encompasses more than two million acres, and is home to roughly two-thirds of the approximately 12,000 Crow tribal members. The drinking water system on the Reservation has significant deficiencies in capacity and water quality and many tribal members must at times haul water.

The tribe desires to complete all activities and put the mandatory funding, as well as appropriated discretionary funding, in interest bearing accounts as soon as possible. Upon execution of the contract, Reclamation will be able to transfer $146 million of mandatory funding to an interest-bearing tribal account where withdrawals will be based on negotiated Annual Funding Agreements. The Act authorizes more than $378 million for the CIP and MR&I system, with a mandatory component of more than $219 million and more than $158 million of discretionary funding.

Arkansas Valley Conduit Draft EIS Available for Public Comment

LOVELAND, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation announces the public comment period for the Arkansas Valley Conduit and Long-Term Excess Capacity Master Contract Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Comments will be accepted through October 30, 2012.

"Public comments are a key component to our environmental compliance process," said Mike Ryan, Regional Director for Reclamation's Great Plains Region.

As part of the National Environmental Policy Act, Reclamation is analyzing three proposed federal actions for the AVC and Master Contract that would tie into its Fryingpan-Arkansas water project. The Draft EIS summarizes the analyses to date.

To access the Draft EIS, Executive Summary, and supporting technical reports please visit www.usbr.gov/avceis. A list of libraries where the Draft EIS is available is also included on the website.

In late September, Reclamation will host five public hearings to present the Draft EIS to the public, answer questions, and accept both written and oral comments. The hearings will include an open house, presentation, question and answer forum, and an opportunity for oral comments from the public. Meetings will be held in Salida, Pueblo, La Junta and Lamar, Colo. For dates, times and locations, please visit the website at www.usbr.gov/avceis.

For more information please contact Kara Lamb at (970) 962-4326 or klamb@usbr.gov.