The berm will be located on the upstream face of the dam. Both agencies will work together over a three to four week period to construct the berm and install instrumentation to monitor the dam’s performance. USBR will continue to study possible future, long-term modifications to the dam.
The purpose of the berm is to prevent seepage of foundation material through the dam. The berm will also allow the WBWCD to raise reservoir levels by 3ft (0.9m), which will translate into an additional 37Mm3 of water. Current reservoir storage totals 86.3Mm3. The District reports that it has significant water carry over from the 2006 water year. Water storage will be restricted in 2007 and the water surface will peak approximately 3m lower than the normal reservoir level.
A.V. Watkins dam was built in 1964 and impounds the 265Mm3 Willard Bay Reservoir. It is 19.3km northwest of Ogden, Utah and is 11m high, and 23km long.
