Repair work stopped on critical phase of Wolf Creek Dam

Major rehabilitation work on a critical area of Wolf Creek Dam was halted Wednesday after monitors reported increased pressure in areas adjacent to the work site.

The area of the dam in question, referred to as Critical Area 1, is the portion of the dam where the earthen embankment ties into the concrete section.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been keeping a close eye on the 1950s-era dam since officials noticed increased seepage at the Kentucky dam in the early 2000s.

In 2006, the Corps launched a massive $584 million rehabilitation plan to install a 4,400-feet long, 275-feet deep concrete barrier wall. The suspension affects only 600 feet of the wall.

"As a precautionary measure, we have suspended construction in Critical Area 1 while we evaluate the most recent monitoring and instrumentation data,” said Barney Davis, chief of engineering and construction division for the Nashville district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “We want to ensure that our treatment methods are effective and that we can safely install the remainder of the concrete barrier wall.”

Work is continuing in the non-critical areas of the dam, and Davis indicated that the Corps does not foresee any changes to the lake operation plan at this time.

“Wolf Creek Dam is one of the most heavily monitored dams in the country,” Davis said. “Our instrumentation is doing its job and giving us the information we need to protect public safety and effectively rehabilitate the dam.”

President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget will further rehab efforts at Wolf Creek to the tune of $134 million — the largest amount ever for a single project in the Nashville district.