money for Ky. river may flow again

Kentucky.com

February 04, 2008

Gov. Steve Beshear's proposed budget includes $17.5 million for Kentucky River locks and dams -- money that then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher vetoed two years ago.

Some of the work lawmakers envisioned when they put that appropriation in the 2006 budget already has begun, with the river's water customers, not the state's general fund, footing the bill.

But Stephen Reeder, the executive director of the Kentucky River Authority, said there always is a need for more money to shore up an old navigation system that now serves chiefly to hold water supplies for Lexington and other Central Kentucky cities.

The oldest dam on the river -- No. 1 near Carrollton -- was put into operation in 1839. The youngest -- No. 14 near Beattyville, came on line in 1917.

In the last several years, the river authority has scurried to make emergency repairs to crumbling concrete on the dams, some of which are built on timber frames.

Failing equipment also has forced the state agency to close most of the locks that allow boat traffic to move through dams.

State help seemed unlikely two years ago, until legislators meeting in a conference committee worked out a surprise $55 million plan that was hailed as a victory for water supply planners and tourism.

The plan called for $17.5 million from state funds for Dam No. 9 at Valley View, the century-old structure that holds Lexington's water supply.

The authority also was given permission to raise fees to replace other dams and locks.

Although Fletcher vetoed the money for No. 9 along with a host of other projects, the river authority went ahead with the replacement plan because it still had the go-ahead to raise fees.

Construction started on the project early last year. The new dam -- a row of steel cylinders, each 52 feet in diameter -- will sit in front of the existing dam.

Although work has stopped for the winter, Reeder said the project is on schedule to be completed by the end of the year.

In December, the river authority agreed to raise fees to pay for the dam. The increase will be about 30 cents a month for the average water customer on the Kentucky's main stem. It will go into effect in April. Water utilities pay the authority based on how much water they withdraw from the river, and pass the fee along to customers.

Also by year's end, the authority hopes to have under way a replacement for Dam No. 3 at Monterey north of Frankfort.

No one pulls water from the pool behind No. 3, but Kentucky American Water has proposed building a new treatment plant there to augment the region's water supply.

The Kentucky American proposal is before the state Public Service Commission. A decision is expected soon.

Reeder said, however, that the dam will be replaced regardless of what the PSC decides. That's because the stability of No. 3 is linked to the stability of No. 4, which holds Frankfort's water supply.

Engineers say the water being held in pool 3 pushes against the downstream side of No. 4, helping offset the pressure of water flowing down the river and pressing against the upstream side.

'They're all interdependent, sort of like a stack of dominos,' Reeder said of the system of dams.

Replacing No. 3 is expected to require another 30-cent increase, Reeder said. Even if the legislature approves the $17.5 million that Beshear is asking for, the money won't be available until the second year of the budget.

The $17.5 million could be used to replace the lock in Dam 4, which gets a lot of use by pleasure boaters, and to include a lock in the replacement No. 3. Having those two locks operating would significantly increase the distance boats could travel on the river, Reeder said. But they still won't be able to reach the Ohio River and the world beyond. The lock on No. 1 is broken, and there are no short-range plans to repair or replace it.

The authority also wants to use money from the legislature to add a four-foot gate on the top of Dam 9. The gate would lay flat most of the time, but would be raised in dry times to hold an extra billion gallons of water, he said. It could be built as the dam is being completed late this year.

Those three projects -- two locks and a gate -- are expected to cost $5 million to $6 million each.

The gate on No. 9 eventually will be needed to get the region through a record drought even if Kentucky American's proposed plant behind No. 3 is built, Reeder said.

Another, smaller project would put a valve in Dam No. 8 to allow water to be moved downriver during low flows. It could work in tandem with the gate on No. 9.

At one point, the authority had hoped that it would by now have a new, higher dam to replace No. 10 at Fort Boonesborough State Park.

Copyright © 2008 Kentucky.com, All Rights Reserved.