While boating is still allowed in the reservoir, the Steinaker Dam repair project is getting underway. “Boaters please be aware of the buoys that have been placed near the dam,” shares Steinaker State Park. “The area beyond them is restricted, no vessels are allowed. There is still water in the reservoir but water levels are dropping fast so boat at your own risk. As a water source for Vernal and Jensen, operations have been restricted at Steinaker dam since 2014 when a slope failure was observed. Once work is completed on the modification project, the Bureau of Reclamation believes the reservoir and dam will return to full and normal operations. The work being done includes extending the existing concrete conduit with a steel-lined, concrete encased conduit upstream; constructing a new cast-in-place concrete intake structure; and reconstruction of the embankment, including flattening the adjacent upstream slope. It is expected the reservoir will be re-filled the Fall of 2019 after the dam modification has been completed. Water officials have stated that the project cost of $17.68 million dollars is less than was originally anticipated.
