West Dam could be full once more by end of 2025

Could West Dam have water in it by the end of next year?
According to Steve Bareis of RESPEC Engineering, the firm, along with Banner Engineering, that is working with the city on reviving the dam once more, while the timeline is aggressive, it’s possible the dam could be full of water again for the first time in over a decade by the end of 2025.
Bareis gave the Custer City Council a presentation on the possibilities at the council’s July 15 meeting, but also cautioned the schedule is dependent on a variety of factors, including securing funding, environmental studies and finding contractors to do the work.
Bareis said the first step in repairing the dam was completed in January when the firm looked at the type of permitting required to get going on maintenance activities as well as other types of approvals that may be necessary. RESPEC is waiting to receive feedback from the State Historical Presevation Office, which will allow the city to do selective work in the reservoir and around the dam.
The second item on the agenda was water permit reinstatement with the state, which was recently issued. This reinstates the old water permit for the same amount of storage, which will see the same elevations of the reservoir as in the past. Some conditions of the permit include in-stream flows, downstream flows and prior water rights to Stockade Lake. Since elevations won’t be increased, a Conditional Letter of Map Revision will not be required.
Designs for the dam that were completed in 2016 were revisited, and while some of those designs will be implemented, there will be many changes. Included in the changes is smaller spillways, which will result in a cost savings for the city while still meeting the criteria for safety. The smaller spillways are a result of updated hydrological data.
The auxiliary spillway will be designed for a flow of 1,800 cubic feet per second (cfs). In 2016, it was designed for 3,000 cfs. To put the size in perspective, the flood of 2019 roared through the area at 1,400 to 2,000 cfs.
In the new design the maximum probable flood (MPF) would still overtop the dam, and there would likely be some damage to the golf course, but the dam itself would remain intact when the flood passes. A protective berm would be constructed south of the spillway that would tie around into the clubhouse at a higher elevation to protect the clubhouse and parking lot in the event of a large flood. If the MPF came down, however, it would still overtop the berm, but for floods of a lesser magnitude there would be protection along the edge of the golf course. As that right abutment was built up there would be an open area that could be repurposed into a park area.
Bareis said the dam would be protected with armory units, with the auxiliary spillway reduced from 200 feet wide to 100 feet wide. Because of the soft embankment a few different types of reconstruction were considered, but it was eventually determined the city should stick with what’s there now and conventional reconstruction.
When the 2016 plans were revisited in 2022, it was estimated reconstruction of the dam would cost the city around $4 million. However, around $600,000 of that was on the 200-foot spillway, which will be reduced under the new plan, and $900,000 for contouring the reservoir, some of which will now likely be done by the city. There are also some areas where amenities could be cut out and some rip rap removed, Bareis said, which will mean additional savings. For instance, instead of ringing the reservoir with blocks, those could be added later under a separate contract if the city chose to do so.
There will be additional costs, however, as contractors are more expensive than when the project was last looked at, although Bareis said the contractor market is stabilizing. Additional rip rap on the upstream slope that was not included in the 2016 design would be needed, and a small toe drain will need to be installed to collect seepage water and make sure the embankment functions as it should. There is also extra cost in developing the park area  should the city decide to move forward with that. Installing a requested dry hydrant would also be an additional, although nominal, cost.
Another thing the city would have to consider, Bareis said, is how wide to make the crest width to determine if it wanted vehicles on the crest, although it was recommended there at least be room for maintenance vehicles. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) might have a say in this part of the project, Bareis said. Since Wazi Lane has been improved the DOT may want to restrict access to the crest for safety reasons.
Bareis stressed the schedule is optimistic, and beginning construction next summer would not only depend on securing funding, but also dealing with any environmental regulatory requirements. The project could require an environmental impact study, which would take six months to a year.
Under the optimistic schedule the 60 percent plans would be done by Oct. 1, which is important for grant-application purposes. From there the project would move toward 90 percent plan completion and submittal to the state for review by the start of next year. If an environmental assessment is required it would likely be hard for the city to receive a Finding of No Significant Impact by the spring, which would slow the project down.
“Please understand, the environmental needs drive the bus in regards to this schedule, as does funding,” Bareis said.
Mayor Bob Brown asked how much Bareis thought could be shaved off the aforementioned $4 million price tag, but Bareis said until the 60 percent documents are complete, market trends are checked and contractors contacted, it is hard to say. However, he said, he believed the project could come in below $3 million, or possibly even lower.
“Until we are further along, it’s tough to predict and project,” he said.
Alderwoman Peg Ryan asked if there were federal funds available for the project, and Bareis said he is working with dam officials in Pierre, and there are Federal Emergency Management Agency funds coming to the state for dams in towns. There is also the possibility of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities or Natural Resource Conservation Service grants.
Later during the meeting Judith Stanton offered to help the city secure grants through her business, Grant Administration & Consulting, LLC, which offers grant research, writing and application services. The Custer City Counil approved entering into an agreement with Stanton, pending legal reviewing contractors. The city will pay Stanton up to $6,000 for 80 hours of work.
In other news from the July 15 meeting, the council:
• Approved a budget increase for the Custer Volunteer Fire Department for $150,000 in 2024, which was in the city’s budget for the year but needed council action as it is over the amount in the contract. Last year the city approved a $50,000 a year increase for the department through at least 2026.
• Learned from city public works director Zack Brown a chip seal project was to take place in the northwest part of town last week and residents of that area would need to refrain from parking on the side of the road while the work, which is complete, was done.