News Release Archive

Investigative Drilling to Continue at Ridgway Dam

Media Contact: Ed Warner, (970) 248-0654, ewarner@uc.usbr.gov
Justyn Hock, jhock@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: July 06, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that beginning on Monday, July 10, it will continue an investigative drilling project at the downstream toe and face of Ridgway Dam in Ouray County, Colo. Crews will retrieve soil samples from the foundation as a means to determine how the dam would perform under seismic activity and to assess the dams structural integrity and longevity.

The investigative drilling is a part of Reclamation's regular agency-wide Safety of Dams program, which provides an ongoing assessment of Reclamation's dams and dikes in the 17 Western United States. In addition to continual monitoring through inspections, drill sampling is conducted to allow Reclamation engineers to evaluate potential hazards using contemporary design and construction standards.

The investigative drilling will be complete in early November 2006. During this period, the public recreating near the dam will see work crews and may hear drilling-related noise.

Ridgway Dam, standing 227-feet high and located on the Uncompahgre River five miles north of the town of Ridgway, is a rolled earthfill structure with a crest length of 2,430 ft. Ridgway State Park, part of Reclamation's Dallas Creek Project, includes a dam, reservoir, and recreation area.

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