Conservation Board agrees to seek funds for keeping the dam

By KENT THOMPSON
After much discussion, the Humboldt County Conservation Board has agreed to develop a plan to seek federal/state funds through American Rescue Plan money for improving the Reasoner Dam.
The Conservation Board agreed to the matter after a suggestion from Humboldt County Board of Supervisor member Rick Pedersen of Humboldt during a joint meeting, Wednesday, March 16.
“What have we got to lose? We might as well apply for funds and see what we get?” Pedersen said, noting that Iowa is supposed to be getting $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (COVID relief) dollars, with an intended desire to use some of that money toward enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities for communities.
He said he would favor seeking funds to pursue option/alternative 1, the complete dam rehabilitation with the Obermeyer crest gates and rock ramp below. A preliminary figure for option 1 from the Stantec report completed this past fall was $19.5 million, plus or minus 50 percent.
“We would be foolish not to try,” Humboldt County Conservation Director Todd Lee said.
Conservation Board member TC Loving wanted to be sure that Lee would not be spending too much of his time pursuing the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Lee assured her he wouldn’t. “A lot of the information needed could be pulled from the Stantec study we already have,” Lee said.
As part of the request, the two boards agreed that plans for a joint trail project connecting the Prairie Rivers Trail at Kennedy Park to the Three Rivers Trail in Humboldt County, be pursued.
It was estimated that there would be about six miles needed to connect the two trails. Humboldt County would need right of way acquisition, as the area along County Road P-59 from Badger to west of Thor is not wide enough for a walking/bike trail at present.
“I move to have County Conservation pursue the ARPA funds for alternative 1 in combination with the proposal for a trail connection with Webster County,” Conservation Board member Tate Satern motioned. Conservation Board member Mary Miner seconded. All members voted in favor. It is hoped that Webster County will be willing to submit the application as a joint project.
The Humboldt County Supervisors are expected to ratify the motion at their meeting on Monday. In addition to Pedersen, Board members Sandy Loney, Bruce Reimers and Dave Lee were in attendance at the Wednesday meeting.
The Conservation Board spent the first part of the meeting going over a systematic listing of the project considerations that contributed to selecting alternative 2, a lowering of the dam crest, a rock ramp structure below, and sediment stabilization. They also rebuffed what it said were several unsubstantiated claims that were brought forth at the Feb. 16 meeting of the two boards. Members of the Humboldt City Council were in attendance at that meeting. None were present on Wednesday.
Four members of the public were in attendance, but only one spoke.
“It needs to be a community effort and it needs to be a reasonable proposal,” local resident Kurt Loving said during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Read the full story from the meeting in the March 24 edition of the Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.