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Show About 100 miles of canals and 160 miles of laterals will be constructed in the distribution system to convey water from the reservoir to farm units. Construction Activities Fontenelle Dam was completed during April 1964 and storage of water was initiated. The contractor for the Fontenelle Powerplant and Switchyard is performing finishing operations and proceeding with remaining electrical and mechanical installations. A serious leak developed at Fontenelle Dam on September 3. On the morning of September 3, a wet spot developed on the face of the dam near the abutment rock adjacent to the spillway on the right end of the dam. By that evening, water was flowing and erosion of the earthfill was proceeding. The Green River Valley below the dam was put on alert status, and by the morning of September 4 a large cavity was eroded in the downstream face of the dam. Inspection of the leak area by the Chief Engineer of the Bureau of Reclamation and others led to the conclusion that the water was leaking through the rock of the right abutment and emerging through and eroding the earthfill of the dam. Two principal steps were taken. Riprap from the stockpile at the dam was dropped into the cavity to arrest erosion by the leaking water, which was estimated as someplace in the range of 15 to 20 c.f.s. Also, the outlet works were opened wide and the headgates of the East and West Canals were opened to the maximum which was safe considering the erosion that resulted below those headgates. The reservoir level was lowered until the leak stopped. Some flood damage occurred in the Green River Valley below the dam and in the town of Green River, Wyoming, because of the high releases necessary to lower the reservoir as rapidly as possible. All water released from Fontenelle Reservoir during this emergency was stored in Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Repair work was started immediately and is now underway. Essentially, that repair work will involve regrouting of the right abutment rock and supplemental grouting elsewhere throughout the dam foundation, along with other necessary repairs. Land was leveled on the major portion of the Seedskadee Development Farm (upper bench) during the summer of 1964, and crops were established. Three hundred ewes were placed on the farm in the spring of 1965 prior to lambing. Research areas on the lower bench (Fields 10, 11, 12, and 13) totaling about 47 acres were leveled and planted to grasses and legumes during the 96 |