What started four years ago as reported landside around Steinaker Dam has become a full on project to fix the problem. Through the efforts of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Uintah Water Conservancy District, and the Weeminuche Construction Authority (WCA) the dam has been hitting all the checkpoints on time. “The Steinaker Dam project is progressing very well,” shared Gawain Snow, retiring Uintah Conservancy District Manager, to the Vernal Chamber. The Bureau of Reclamation has said that this is the most engaged district that they have ever worked with. In an article for Construction Equipment Guide, Wayne Pullan, Provo area manager of the Bureau of Reclamation said “to make this project work, we have to keep the reservoir drained for one whole irrigation season. The Uintah Water Conservancy District has been very cooperative, and great partners in helping facilitate the work. We will have one season without water from the reservoir. We’re trying to fit everything into as short a window as possible. They will have sufficient water in spring and summer, if mother nature is good enough to send a good rain year.” The repairs for the dam are part of the Safety of Dams program in which 85 percent of the cost is covered by the Bureau and 15 percent by local water users. Construction will continue until 2020.
