News Release Archive

Reclamation Awards $21 Million Contract for Replacement of the Spillway at Minidoka Dam

Media Contact: Kelly Bridges, (208) 378-5101, kbridges@usbr.gov
John Tiedeman, jtiedeman@usbr.gov

For Release: September 19, 2011

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor has announced the award of a $21.3 million contract to replace the spillway and two irrigation headworks at Minidoka Dam, located on the Snake River about 18 miles northeast of Burley, Idaho. Funding for this project comes from both Minidoka and Burley Irrigation Districts and Federal appropriated dollars.

Record Steel and Construction, Inc. of Meridian, Idaho was awarded the contract on September 13, 2011. It is estimated that this construction contract will provide a significant boost to the local economy through the influx of the working staff, housing, and material needs.

"We are pleased to award this contract to Record Steel and Construction, a company with deep roots in Idaho," said Commissioner Connor. "For 103 years, the Minidoka Dam and Spillway has served the region well by delivering water and generating power for Minidoka and Cassia County irrigators. We're confident that with these repairs, it will last another 100 years and help sustain Idaho's economy."

The work includes demolishing the existing 2,237-foot-long pier and stop log structure and replacing it with a new roller-compacted concrete spillway structure with new spillway gates. The headworks on the Minidoka Irrigation District and Burley Irrigation District canals, which show signs of serious concrete deterioration similar to the spillway, will also be removed and replaced. Construction is expected to begin in November 2011 and be completed by March 2015.

The project will replace deteriorating concrete that is over 100 years old, has increasingly difficult reliability and maintenance problems, and is constantly in need of repairs. These repairs will allow Reclamation to continue to meet its contractual obligations for water delivery, power generation, and compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

Minidoka Dam was constructed in 1906 as part of the Minidoka Project and is operated as one of six storage facilities on the Snake and Henrys Fork rivers. The multi-purpose project provides irrigation, power production, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. For more information, please contact Mr. John Tiedeman, Activity Manager, at (208) 378-5034 or Mr. Larry Hieb, Facility O&M Manager, at (208) 678-0461 ext 20.

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