USBR
ROOKS COUNTY — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently announced $22.1 million in repairs and upgrades for Webster Dam in Rooks County, allowing for continued operation of the dam and protection for residents downstream.
The aging infrastructure requires high-quality concrete replacement to repair the spillway chute floor.
“Webster Dam is critical to protecting the way of life in Webster and the surrounding communities,” Nebraska-Kansas Area Manager Aaron Thompson said.
“The main purpose of the dam is flood control, and when construction was finalized in 1956, the locals hosted a parade, dance, and free barbecue dinner to celebrate its completion and the protection it provided the town. We want to continue to safeguard these communities from potential disaster from Solomon River flooding for years to come.”
Webster Dam was approved under the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program to support flood control and irrigation efforts. Construction of the dam began in 1953, following devastating floods of 1951 that killed 17 people, exceeded $935 million in damages, and displaced more than half a million residents in Kansas and Missouri.
Repairs are scheduled to begin in early 2021 and to be completed within three years.