The US Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $22.1 million for repairs at Webster Dam in central Kansas. 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 will begin by early 2021 and are scheduled to be completed within three years.
