Small Reservoirs Can Still Present Large Rehabilitation Challenges!

Small reservoirs are important aquatic resources in Nebraska, and present unique rehabilitation challenges.  Many of these challenges can be attributed to project scale and are predictable, while others can arise completely unforeseen.  Two recently completed rehabilitation projects on small reservoirs in central Nebraska showcase how deceivingly difficult and expensive whole-lake rehabilitation projects can be.  Both waterbodies were drained and deepened but that is where the similarities end.  At one reservoir, unstable subsoils led to the use of an innovative technique to achieve adequate slopes and stability.  While at the other, the inability to completely drain the waterbody hindered sediment removal and required the subsequent installment of a bentonite sealant.  A total of 61,500 cubic yards of sediment was removed and $1,511,694 dollars spent on less than 15 total surface acres.