Published: October 17, 2009 05:22 pm      

More funds secured for dam

Somerset — The ailing Wolf Creek Dam needs all the sturdy support it can get — and found some Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers announced the passage of the Energy & Water Appropriations Conference Report for this fiscal year. In effect, the House has approved $116 million dedicated to the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ dam rehabilitation efforts.

In early 2007, the Corps of Engineers began the massive construction project to strengthen the dam and prevent water seepage that was damaging the limestone underneath. The Corps awarded a $341 million joint venture contract to firm Treviicos-Soletanche JV to build a 4,200-foot concrete barrier wall at the dam — though the cost to the area was much greater, as the lowering of Lake Cumberland to ease pressure on the dam drove away tourists and tourism dollars.

Rogers called Lake Cumberland “Kentucky’s crown jewel,” and suggested that this funding will go a long way toward restoring the lake to its original level.

“I applaud my colleagues in the House for passing this important funding for Wolf Creek Dam,” said Rogers. “This process has not been without its challenges as tourism has suffered and hurt the local economy throughout the dam’s construction, but I am hopeful these additional funds will keep the overall project moving steadily and safely forward so that we can stay on track for a timely completion.”

Once President Obama signs this legislation into law, $297 million in federal funding will have been dedicated toward the Wolf Creek Dam repair effort, considered the top dam safety project in the nation by the Corps.

Treviicos-Soletanche recently began installation a protective concrete embankment wall, the first stage of barrier wall construction, and will increase dam safety during the remainder of construction.

Rogers continues to serve as a senior member of the House Appropriations Com-mittee, which handles federal spending.