News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation Begins Work at A.V. Watkins Dam

Media Contact: Don Merrill, (801) 379-1074, dmerrill@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: March 13, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD) announced today that they will begin the construction of a berm at A.V. Watkins Dam this week to address seepage damage which occurred last November. The berm will be located on the upstream face of the dam. Both agencies will work together over a three to four week period to construct the berm and install instrumentation to monitor the dam's performance. Reclamation will continue to study possible future, long term modifications to the dam.

The purpose of the berm is to prevent seepage of foundation material through the dam. The berm will also allow the WBWCD to raise reservoir levels by three feet, which will translate into an additional 30-thousand acre-feet of water. Current reservoir storage totals 70,000 acre-feet. The District reports that it has significant water carry over from the 2006 water year. Water storage will be restricted in 2007 and the water surface will peak approximately nine feet lower than the normal reservoir level. This reduction in water storage will have some affect on the fishing and recreational boating this year.

Agencies involved in the construction work or use of the facility, including Reclamation, WBWCD and the State of Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, will keep the public informed on the status of the repair activities, and on any impacts to recreation or water supply, through their websites. Those website addresses are:

Boating will be available at Willard Bay State Park, however with low water levels, boaters should use extreme caution. Camping and boat launching is currently available at the north marina, and the south marina campground and boat ramps will open April 1.

A.V. Watkins Dam was built in 1964 and impounds the 215,000 acre-foot Willard Bay Reservoir. It is 12 miles northwest of Ogden, Utah and is 36 feet high, and 14.5 miles long.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.