Congress OK's spending on Center Hill, Old Hickory and Percy Priest dams

Cheatham Dam and Mill Creek watershed to get help, too Millions of dollars of funding for J. Percy Priest, Center Hill, Old Hickory and several other dams are included in a bill that has passed both houses of Congress, U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) announced today. Funding to “aggressively” continue making safety repairs at dams at both Center Hill in Tennessee and Wolf Creek in Kentucky are included. They were labeled high risk because of leaks and other weaknesses in their infrastructure. The work overall will improve public safety, drinking water and quality of life, the lawmakers said in an emailed announcement. Projects included for funding in what is called the Conference Report of the FY10 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act include: --$116.2 million for repairs to Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River. Seepage has caused high water pressure in the embankment next to the dam, posing a significant risk of dam failure and threatening the surrounding communities with flooding.Funding would be used to continue to build a cutoff wall to prevent seepage. The bill also includes $8.5 million for operations and maintenance of the dam. --$52.9 million for repairs to Center Hill Dam. Since its construction in 1951, seepage problems have cost millions of dollars for constant upkeep.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam Safety Portfolio Risk Assessment ranked Center Hill Dam as a Class I dam safety project -- the highest priority of all Corps dams. The bill also includes $5.84 million for operations and maintenance of the dam. --$45,000 for the Mill Creek Watershed to complete a feasibility study to address flooding problems. Mill Creek is a major tributary of the Cumberland River in southeastern Davidson County and northwestern Williamson County. --$6.1 million for Cheatham Lock and Dam for continued operations and maintenance. --$6.5 million for Cordell Hull Dam and Reservoir for continued operations and maintenance. --$4.6 million for J. Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir for continued operations and maintenance. --$11.7 million for Old Hickory Lock and Dam for continued operations and maintenance. --$6.1 million for Dale Hollow Lake Dam for continued operations and maintenance. The bill awaits signature by President Obama for it to become law. - ANNE PAINE