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Council discusses dam studies and $7 million foundation grant as part of water strategy
Summary
Council members said a foundation grant (referenced at $7 million) could fund dam studies and possibly raising dam height or dredging; members cautioned such work could require firm-water contracts and regulatory review, so they asked for engineering evaluations first.
Councilmembers and staff returned multiple times to strategic options for expanding storage and improving water supply, noting a previously referenced foundation grant of about $7 million that could help fund dam studies and infrastructure improvements. "We've got $7,000,000 sitting there to do something with, and if it's to help cure our water problems, and- But I think it's just to help with the dam," one speaker said while urging a firm plan.
Multiple councillors urged immediate engineering assessments to determine dam integrity and the feasibility of raising dam height or adding hydro; they cautioned that dredging or increasing storage could trigger regulatory requirements and the need for firm-water contracts. The council asked staff to bring back engineering recommendations, cost estimates and a clear plan for how any grant funds would be applied, and to coordinate regulatory and grant conditions before committing to large capital work.
