After engineers essentially issued a death certificate for the failing LaPrele Dam near Douglas, Wyoming, there are plans to start building a new dam to replace it, possibly by 2026, with a $190 million budget.
The 115-year-old dam, which was built with an intended 50-year lifespan, is simply beyond saving, engineers told the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Water Committee on Thursday.
The dam is scheduled to be breached no later than April 1, before spring runoff hits with full force.
Money On For A New Dam On The Way
However, the state isn’t completely unprepared since the dam’s declining condition has been known about for years, Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas, told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
“This has been an issue since 2019,” and the Wyoming Legislature already has $30 set aside to go toward building a new dam, he said.
It was in 2019 that looming problems with the dam were first detected, according to engineers. A huge new crack was discovered in October. On Nov. 1, Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart issued an order to breach the dam.
In addition to the $30 million, another $60 million in state money could be on the way early next year.
It’s standard procedure for the Legislature to include a planning and construction bill for water resources during each session, Boner said. The 2025 version of the bill is set to include $60 million in dam construction money.
There might also be $100 million in federal money available, he said. That could put the new dam’s projected budget at $190, although things are still far from final at this point.
Trying to stretch the life of the dam beyond April 1 would be a disaster waiting to happen, Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart told the committee Thursday.
“We are at the point now where it (the dam) is actively failing,” he said, adding that he issued an order to breach the dam Nov. 1 because there are no other options.
“I can assure you that if I failed to make the decision (to breach) and a dam failed, creating a catastrophe, killing people, I’m not sure I could live with that,” he said.
Still In The Early Stages
The tentative plan is to start laying a foundation for the new dam in spring 2026. It’s not clear how long it would take to complete a new dam.
The Select Water Committee on Thursday forwarded a bill that would protect irrigation water rights for landowners downstream of the dam for at least five years.
The design phase for a new dam is “about 30% done,” Boner said, adding that it’s hoped that a construction manager to lead the project can be hired soon.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
