South Dakota Dam Goes from Record Flows to no Flows

Repairs Will Likely Be Done in the Summer

By The Associated Press

CREATED May. 10, 2012

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Yankton, SD (AP) - A year ago, a record amount of water was flowing through Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River in southeast South Dakota. On Wednesday, the tap was turned off.

The Army Corps of Engineers shut down releases for several hours so officials could inspect damage to the dam's spillway caused by the high releases during last summer's flooding. The site drew many onlookers. Yankton County's emergency manager says seeing record flows go to no flows is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

The concrete on the spillway is about 1½ feet thick. Below that is about four feet of gravel. Gavins Point Operations Project Manager Dave Becker tells the Press & Dakotan that some of the gravel has washed away. He says repairs likely will be done this summer.

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