News Release Archive

Reclamation Awards Planting Contract at Keechelus Dam

Media Contact: Jonne Hower, (208) 378-5101, jhower@pn.usbr.gov
Larry Wolf, lwolf@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: September 30, 2004

The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $560,295 contract to MCS Environmental, Inc for planting and vegetative restoration at Keechelus Dam. Keechelus Dam is located on the Yakima River, about 10 miles northwest of Easton, Washington.

MCS Environmental, Inc, Mountlake Terrace, Washington, was awarded the contract on September 17. Work is expected to be completed by summer, 2005.

The contractor will landscape the area used as a "borrow pit," to create a wetland as part of mitigation for the Safety of Dams project. The work site is located just downstream from Keechelus Dam. When completed, Reclamation will manage the wetland for wildlife habitat.

The Safety of Dams work to correct internal erosion of Keechelus Dam began in spring, 2002 and is nearing completion. Kiewit Pacific Company will finish the Safety of Dams work under the main contract this fall. Additional mitigation contracts are scheduled for 2005.

Located at the headwaters of the Yakima River near Snoqualmie Summit, Keechelus Dam is an earthfill structure completed in 1917. It has a structural height of 128 feet with an active capacity of 157,700 acre-feet at a full pool elevation of 2,517 feet.

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