Commission, engineers and state lawmaker review safety options and funding prospects for 240-foot Elk River dam

McDonald County commissioners met Dec. 2 with consulting engineers and State Representative Dirk Deaton to review safety concerns and potential funding options for a 240-foot dam on the Elk River, county minutes show.

The meeting continued a conversation that began in a public meeting on Nov. 25, with engineers from Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc., represented at the session by Mike Atkinson, vice president and civil engineer, and Ryan Crowell, director of marketing and business development. The consultants discussed possible restoration and stabilization approaches to address public-safety concerns around the structure.

State Representative Dirk Deaton said funding through the National Fish Passage Program has been tentatively proposed for fiscal year 2025 and that stakeholders have discussed an estimated $1 million cost for the project. The minutes state that, before any grant funds could be approved and allocated, ownership of the dam would need to be claimed.

Commissioners Bryan Hall, Jamey Cope and Rick Lett noted the county is seeking more information to address public-safety risks and to meet permitting requirements. The minutes record a cooperative tone between the county, the consulting engineers and state representatives but do not record a formal decision, motion or vote on funding or restoration steps.

The minutes do not specify the dam’s legal owner, a timeline for claiming ownership, specific restoration methods, or a detailed budget breakdown. They also do not report direct public comment on the item. The commission scheduled reconvening on Dec. 4, 2024, and made no formal commitments in the Dec. 2 minutes.