barge on Sak

sl1000794

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Saw this barge on the west side of Hwy 83 causeway today. Any idea what it was doing/does on Sak?

IMG_2889.jpg
 


eliminator

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I believe it has something to do with the work they are doing with the pumping station for audubon. It has been there for quite a while now since they lowered the east side of the lake.
 

Slappy

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Correct. They're calling it pump station work but I find it interesting the barge has been positioned a long way from the pump station right in the area where ice on Audubon was unsafe all winter like there was water moving there. The embankment was not designed for differential head so it's problematic when Audubon and Sakakawea are at significantly different surface elevations. It would be nice if someone from bureau of reclamation would provide some details.
 

Allen

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Reclamation to lower Lake Audubon water levels to make repairs
Media Contact: Patience Mosbrucker 701-221-1204 pmosbrucker@usbr.gov

For Release: Aug 3, 2021
BISMARCK, N.D. — The Bureau of Reclamation will lower the water level at Lake Audubon beginning Aug. 16, which will impact recreational activities in the area. The drawdown is expected to last through Oct. 1. The lake will be lowered to an elevation of 1,841 feet, which is four feet lower than the normal winter elevation of 1,845 feet. Lowering the lake level is required to conduct repairs to the Snake Creek Pumping Plant outlet works wingwall in early October.
“This early drawdown of Lake Audubon will impact access to the eastern side of the lake, making boat ramps and many docks unusable to the public,” said Dakotas Area Office Manager Joe Hall. “Normally we do not begin lowering Lake Audubon water levels until after Labor Day, however, the needed repairs are pushing the drawdown start date up almost a month, shortening the recreation season on the lake.”
Lake Audubon water levels will be raised to the normal winter operating level of 1,845 feet once repairs are complete. This is anticipated to begin Nov. 1, and to will take approximately two weeks.
In addition to Reclamation’s planned repairs while the lake is significantly lower, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct repairs to the rock and bedding material near the Highway 83 conduit.
Repair efforts have been coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Dakota Game and Fish, Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, and the North Dakota State Water Commission. The group was notified in April 2020 and June 2021 to provide comments on the proposed deviation to accommodate any maintenance activities their agency may want to complete during the lowered water levels.


 


Dirty

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It will probably be loaded with zebra mussels by the time they take it out of the water.
 

eliminator

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I talked to a guy who is working over there this morning as I saw they were no longer pumping into Sakakawea yesterday. He said the barge is doing soil testing on the lake side. There is a backhoe with a really long arm set up on the Audubon side south of where the water moves in Audubon and he said they were fixing some of the riprapping on that side. There also was a smaller one north of of that one on the audubon side but not sure what they are doing. I think they are also still pouring cement on the main ramp yet. It was pretty busted up under the water. The ramp is usable with one lane yet.
 

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