News Release Archive

California Company Awarded $826,051 in Stimulus Funding to Upgrade Access Road atop Upper Stillwater Dam

Media Contact: Lisa Iams, 801-524-3673, liams@usbr.gov

For Release: February 11, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY - The Bureau of Reclamation, an agency of the Department of the Interior, has awarded a $826,051 contract under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction, Inc., a heavy construction company based in San Francisco, to rebuild a heavily-used public access road immediately adjacent to and atop Upper Stillwater Dam. Upper Stillwater Dam is located approximately 40 miles northwest of Duchesne, Utah in Duchesne County.

"The stimulus funding will allow Reclamation to refurbish a heavily-used public access road that is used by boaters and recreationalists visiting Upper Stillwater Dam and Reservoir," said Larry Walkoviak, regional director of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region. "The new roadway will provide safer access to the boat ramp launch site and will include new steel entrance gates and additional wire enclosures along the rock fall protection wall that is immediately adjacent to the boat ramp area."

The company will use the stimulus funds to both remove portions of an existing damaged roadway and install a new concrete-asphalt pavement roadway surface extending from the concrete bridge downstream of the dam to the top of the dam and extending on to the concrete boat ramp.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.

The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures - our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage - while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

"With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on >www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior's Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.

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