Lincoln County officials flag reservoir erosion and contamination concerns as repair work begins

County officials told visiting congressional staff that crews have built a coffer dam and are pumping part of the lower reservoir dry to remove sediment and assess what is needed to anchor a new retaining wall. Officials described erosion and leaking that have reduced the lower retainer’s capacity and said crews are removing sediment now to evaluate underlying materials.

Officials noted the upper dam is newer and constructed on bedrock and described it as stable. By contrast, they said that the lower retainer had eroded to the point that it was no longer effectively functioning as a dam and required structural repairs.

Speakers also raised contamination concerns: one participant said the flood exposed materials such as vermiculite and groundwash in bank failures, creating potential environmental remediation questions that could trigger involvement by the state Department of Environmental Quality or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That, in turn, may affect which federal programs can pay for specific repairs and how quickly projects can proceed.

Congressional staff suggested county officials continue documenting the damage carefully. Participants discussed whether the county or state should initiate projects (the county often lacks capacity for contractor management and FEMA paperwork) and whether some work can begin under state oversight while federal reimbursement is pursued.

Next steps: county staff will complete damage assessments and photo documentation for grant and reimbursement submissions; congressional staff offered to help connect county personnel to USDA Rural Development and other agency contacts that may provide alternative funding paths if FEMA decisions are delayed.