(Havre) – The United States Bureau of Reclamation announced last week that the contractor selected to complete the Fresno Dam Safety Modifications, NW Construction plans to begin mobilization activities the week of April 17th. Initial site activities are anticipated to include mobilization of equipment and materials, installation of monitoring wells, and site preparatory work.
In response, Reclamation will be closing the Tailwaters Fishing Access Site downstream of the Fresno Dam spillway of April 17th and it will remain closed throughout the summer, until construction is shut down for the winter. There will be walk-in access to the river on the north side of the dam via the Fresno Tailwater Wildlife Management Area.
The Fresno Dam Road along the crest will intermittently be reduced to one lane throughout the construction season but all reservoir boar ramps will remain open, There will be no impact to the reservoir water surface elevations this season due to the project.
Built in 1939 on the Milk River the 84 year old homogenous embankment earth dam have experienced seven to ten feet of settlement since construction. Reclamation evaluated the risk associated with differential settlement-driven cracking and internal erosion and determined that a modification was required. To mitigate the risk, Reclamation will add a sand and gravel filter and toe drain system, with an embankment fill overlay and vertical sand filter trench.
