Monticello — Work has been partially suspended on the Wolf Creek Dam Safety Major

Rehabilitation Project in Jamestown, according to information released last

week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.

Instrumentation used to monitor the foundation has indicated movement

and increased hydrostatic pressure since work began in the area adjacent to

the concrete section of the dam, which includes Critical Area 1.

"As a precautionary measure, we have suspended construction in Critical

Area 1 while we evaluate the most recent monitoring and instrumentation

data," stated Barney Davis, Chief of Engineering and Construction Division

for the Nashville District.

Critical Area 1 is the portion of the dam where the earthen embankment

ties into the concrete section and has been the major source of seepage

during the history of the dam's operation

"We want to ensure that our treatment methods are effective and that we

can safely install the remainder of the concrete barrier wall," Davis

continued.

The suspension affects only 600 feet of the 4400-foot long, 275-foot

deep concrete barrier wall, which is the major structural component of the

$584 million rehabilitation project.

Work is continuing in the non-critical areas of the dam, and Davis

indicated that the Corps does not foresee any changes to the lake operation

plan at this time.

Instrumentation used to monitor the dam's foundation is one of the

Interim Risk Reduction Measures (IRRM) in place at Wolf Creek.

IRRM are designed to minimize risk to public safety in the short term

while pursuing long-term permanent fixes, such as the ongoing rehabilitation

project. 

"Wolf Creek Dam is one of the most heavily monitored dams in the

country," stressed Davis. "Our instrumentation is doing its job and giving

us the information we need to protect public safety and effectively

rehabilitate the dam."