U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

Upper Colorado Region
Salt Lake City, Utah Media Contact: Don Merrill
(801) 379-1074

Released On: June 14, 2010

A.V. Watkins Dam Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Public Meeting Planned

The Bureau of Reclamation will be conducting a public meeting concerning a feasibility study and an environmental assessment (EA) for the enlargement of Arthur V. Watkins Dam (Willard Reservoir) on Thursday, June 17, 2010. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District Office, located at 2837 East Highway 193, Layton, Utah.

The proposed action to be analyzed in both the feasibility study and the EA is to increase the storage capacity of Willard Reservoir from 215,000 acre-feet of total capacity to 250,000 acre-feet of active capacity. Congress has authorized federal funds to allow the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to enlarge the dam. The meeting will begin with a presentation about the proposed action and how it is to be analyzed.

Based on preliminary analyses conducted to date, the proposed increase in storage capacity would be accomplished by raising the crest of the A.V. Watkins Dam embankment by four feet and installing a new low-level outlet to lower the minimum pool by 1.5 feet. A new pumping station and pipeline would also be constructed to pump water from the new low-level outlet to Willard Canal, the point of discharge of the existing pumping station. The proposed enlargement would maximize water storage so the Weber Basin Project can continue to meet increasing water supply needs along the Wasatch Front in Utah.

At the conclusion of the public meeting, staff from Reclamation and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District will be available to answer questions. Comments may be provided to Reclamation until Friday, June 25, 2010. Written comments should be addressed to Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: Ben Radcliffe, Attn: PRO-713, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, UT 84606-7317. Comments may also be submitted via email to Ben Radcliffe.

At the conclusion of the scoping period, a draft feasibility study and EA will be prepared and mailed to the interested public for review and comment.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov.

Click to download 9.5mb pdf of presentation:

AV Watkins Dam Enlargement

Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Public Scoping Meeting Presentation

June 17, 2010