After eight years of effort to gain state and federal approval, the project that will raise the height of the dam at John Hay Lake has been approved.
The project involves the construction of a 57-inch structural concrete wall that will be poured onto the existing earthen dam, according to Paul Eckert of Temple & Temple.
The project will increase the capacity of the lake by more than 300 million gallons of water.
Work is expected to begin by the end of the year and will take up to a year to complete. All work is dependent upon the weather.
The East Washington Rural Water Corporation will pay for the cost of the project.
No rate increase is anticipated at this time to cover the project’s cost.
