News Release Archive

Reclamation Hosts Public Meeting about Paonia Dam Intake Structure Repairs

Media Contact: Tom Fowlds, 970-248-0642, tfowlds@usbr.gov
Justyn Liff, 970-248-0625, jliff@usbr.gov

For Release: August 07, 2017

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The public is invited to a public meeting on Tuesday, August 15, at 7 p.m. to meet with project representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, Fire Mountain Canal Company and North Fork Water Conservancy District to learn about Paonia Dam intake structure repairs. The meeting will be held at Memorial Hall, 175 North 1st Street, in Hotchkiss, Colo.

Repairs will begin in mid-September 2017 to the Paonia Dam intake structure and bulkhead, part of the Paonia Project located near Paonia, Colo.

Crews will dismantle the damaged concrete bulkhead located within the intake structure and then install an aluminum trash rack and bracing to the top of the intake structure. Prior to and during intake structure repair, increased turbidity downstream of the dam will be noticeable due to reservoir operations and drawdown. These repairs are necessary to help ensure continuation of normal dam operations and water delivery to downstream users.

During repair and construction, work crews and heavy construction equipment will be operating at the dam. Turbidity will increase in Muddy Creek and the North Fork of the Gunnison River downstream of Paonia Dam, and sediment deposition will occur primarily in Muddy Creek from the dam to the confluence of Anthracite Creek until flushing flows are released in spring 2018. Repairs are expected to be completed in November 2017.

To learn more about the Paonia Project, upcoming repair work or sedimentation issues in the reservoir, visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/wca/progact/paonia/index.html. You can also join our email list for project updates by clicking the “Contact Us” link.

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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.