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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. On September 3, 1965, a serious leak developed through the right abutment of the dam, and since that time an extensive repair program has been underway. The bulk of this work so far has involved regrouting of the right abutment rock and supplemental grouting elsewhere throughout the dam foundation. About 90 percent of the grouting work has been accomplished. Under a contract awarded in July 1966, replacement of embankment removed from the leak area will be made. Replacement of the embankment should be completed by June of 1967. Repair of the outlet works stilling basin will be undertaken next summer. During repair work, the water level of Fontenelle Reservoir has been held down, with only about 7 percent of the total reservoir capacity in storage. The total capacity is 345,000 acre-feet and about 26,000 acre-feet has been held in storage. The Fontenelle Powerplant and Switchyard is completed except for testing. Testing has been delayed until repairs to the dam are completed and water can be stored to operating head. Seedskadee Development Farm Other than the repair work underway on Fontenelle Dam, the Seedskadee Project program centers on the Development Farm, which is just completing its full year of operation. Previous to the 1966 growing season, the Development Farm was in the process of being established. The farm is being operated by the University of Wyoming under the general supervision of an advisory committee, which includes representation from the Bureau of Reclamation, Agricultural Research Service, Soil Conservation Service, and the University of Wyoming. The studies on the farm will provide valuable and needed information on water management practices, crop production, and livestock handling techniques and their relationship to optimum size of family farm units for the Seedskadee Project lands. Detailed records are being kept as a basis for initiation of agricultural economic studies preparatory to development of the Seedskadee Project. Current information from records kept will be summarized in the 1966 annual report scheduled for submission by the University late in 1966. At least one additional year of full operation, concurrent with the above studies, would be desirable 110 |