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December 5, 2009

Duck River phase I approved

By Trent Moore Staff Writer

CULLMAN — Approximately $200,000 of preparatory work has been approved by the Cullman Utilities Board to begin the first phase of the Duck River Dam project.

Cullman Mayor Max Townson said the funds, which came from the utility board’s general account, will start the process of updating surveys and performing necessary site work.

“We will have the Army Corp. of Engineers update materials for the dam footprint and get the documents we need up-to-date so we can go forward,” he said. “The next step will then be to go to the underwriters and get funding.”

The approximately $60 million project calls for a dam on Duck River to create a 640-acre lake and a six-mile pipeline with a 32-million-gallon-per-day capacity. The reservoir would resemble the one at Lake Catoma, currently the county’s sole water source.

Phase one of the project includes clearing and grubbing the area, foundation preparation and grouting, determining quantities of construction materials at proposed borrow sites located on-site and construction of a diversion tunnel and the cofferdam.

“We’re definitely glad to see this get started,” Chairman of the Cullman Utilities Board Chairman Wayne Fuller said.

Townson, who also serves on the utilities board, said some information is dated because the project was initially delayed by lawsuits over environmental concerns that have since been settled.

“Some of that work was prior to the lawsuit three years ago, so that’s a step we have to take,” he said. “But, it’s a sign we’re going forward.”

Phase one is estimated to last between 6-9 months, Townson said.

Every major water authority in the area has signed a contract with the city for the Duck River project, except for the Cullman County Commission.

The VAW, Walter, East Cullman, Cullman water department and Johnson’s Crossing Water Authorities have all agreed to purchase water from the city until 2040.

Instead of Duck River, the county has proposed an alternate secondary water source plan to construct a new treatment facility that would pump water from Smith Lake, as well as upgrading the treatment facilities at Lake Catoma. The creation of a regional water board to oversee water distribution is also a part of the county’s proposal.

Currently, the city — through the Cullman Utilities Board — controls and sells all water distributed from Lake Catoma.

Townson has previously stated the city will not sell the treatment plant at Lake Catoma.

The county has expressed some concerns about signing with the city, such as a lack of control over water rates, a potential limit to water use, a limit to the cost of the project and questions about water quality.

“We’re still negotiating and we hope we can answer their questions,” Townson said. “Hopefully, when we get all their questions answered, we hope and believe the county will join us in the effort.”

City and county attorneys are currently working to find middle ground on the issues, though an agreement has not been reached.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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