Dunn Center, N.D. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce that the contracted repairs to the dam at Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge are complete. The final inspection of the repairs occurred on October 16, 2024, and the Service will proceed with the next steps to refill the reservoir.
The refill process will take time and will be dependent upon fall and spring runoff. Following the recommendations from the Service dam safety engineer, the Lake Ilo staff will refill the reservoir slowly, approximately one foot of water per day. The slow rise of the reservoir will ensure that the dam, which has not held water for the past 2 years, successfully receives and retains water at all levels without any complications. The Service will continue coordination with North Dakota Game & Fish Department to restock fish into Lake Ilo as soon as water levels permit.
In 2020, as part of a routine inspection, the Service staff and engineers documented seepage occurring on the downstream side of the Lake Ilo dam. Extensive monitoring took place in 2021-2022 for staff to identify the root causes behind the seepage.In 2023, the Service determined the extent of repairs needed to restore the safety of the dam and secured funding to complete critical repairs. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Service was able to secure $5.3 million dollars to repair the seep. Dunn County also provided $748,000 that assisted with additional repairs. The Dunn County funding helps ensure that the reservoir can remain at full level for the foreseeable future.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov and connect with us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, Flickr, and YouTube.
