Hatfiled Dam project 2007

FERC has given NAH permission to raise the water in the canal/back waters to the same level as the lake.

Since Thursday, the water level of the canal/back waters has risen 6 inches. The canal level is still 12 inches below the lake.

Charles feels the canal will be at the lake level within a week. NAH can raise the canal that quickly, because the canal was near this level only a few weeks ago. Raising the canal further will need to done at a slower rate.

Once the canal water level matches the lake level, a diver will be used to check out what is preventing the canal gate from closing completely. It is believed that some debris managed to get through the trash racks and stuck in the gate.

Additional monitoring will be done as the canal water is raised. In the mean time, NAH will work with FERC to determine if any addition modification will be needed to the canal.

The current lake water level is 64 inches below normal. The lake water level has risen 8 inches since August 1^st.

Re: Hatfleld Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. P-10805 Midwest Hydraulic Company

Dam Safety Inspection

Dear Ms. Harding:

As discussed with the Commissions Mr. John Breslin during this years Dam Safety Inspection at the Hatfield Project P-10805 on August I, 2008, the water that has "ponded" at the downstream toe of the power canal's left embankment between STA 15+50 and 18+00 needs to he investigated. Per the Commission request, this investigation will need to take place prior to the refilling of the power canal to its normal operating elevation of 879.0 feet NGVD. Through this investigation we will attempt to gain an understanding as to the origin of seepage whether it be seepage through the canal, runoff from adjacent high ground, groundwater recharge from the city's water treatment ponds or a combination of the afore mentioned. This investigation plan will include but not be limited to the following action items:

Notify the Lake Association as well as residents on the "backwater" of the power

canal that a temporary drawdown will take place during this investigation phase

and may continue into any possible remediation phases of the embankment.

Contact the City's Operations Manager of the adjacent water treatment ponds to gather information with regards to elevation data that may assist with any possible relationship with the ponding occurring at the toe of the left embankment.

Begin a 1 foot drawdown of the power canal in increments of 1/10 feet per day to an elevation of aprox. 875.0 NGVD. This elevation includes the three feet that the canal has been lowered to facilitate the projects spillway upgrade. The current elevation is at 876.0 NVGD.

Included if deemed necessary a drawdown of the ponder area to assist in the determination of the origin of seepage into the ponded area.
Continue vegetation clearing around the area of ponding (STA 15+50 to 18+00) to enhance visual monitoring.

During the investigation phase, daily monitoring will take place that will include but not be limited to:

Daily Piezometer readings that will be used to monitor phreatic levels in the embankment as well as any elevation changes in the wells.
Monitor and document precipitation and incorporate amounts into other data being collected.
Dally monitoring and documentation of power canal seepage staff gage readings.

Continued daily visual monitoring of the left embankment for any seepage, changes in surface saturation, boils, sloughing, slumping, sliding or any other signs of embankment instability.

As discussed, any remediation efforts are to be determined by the outcome of this investigation phase and will be forwarded to the Commission as well as the WDNR for review and approval. Additionally, any issues that may arise during the investigation phase that would threaten the integrity of the embankment will be immediately reported to the Commission.

We plan to start this investigation phase immediately so we would greatly appreciate your approval of the above proposed plan. If there are any questions concerning this matter please contact John McCutcheon at North American Hydro Holdings Corporate offices at (920)-293-4628, ext. 35 or E-mall at iohn.mccutcheon @ nahydro.com

Sincerely, Noah American Hydro Holdings Agent for Midwest Hydr/mlic Co.
Chuck Alsberg Executive Vice President

Cc: Charles Meeks, West Central Regional Manager NAHH file

August 25, 2008

If all goes well today, the Dam repairs will be done and the gates will be closed to start the fill. It will then depend on mother nature. At the current rate, it could be weeks to fill the lake to "normal" levels, but with all of us doing rain dances for rain in the North, it could be much sooner.

All the cylinders are on site, weather permitting they are to be installed Tues July 29th. It is still possible that they will be finished by the end of the week. Depending on weather it still could take over 2 weeks to fill.

Despite all the hard work the crews have been putting into getting the dam done by the Lake Association meeting, they have to report that another incident has forced a delay. Crews are busy doing all the other work that needs to be done but have to wait to receive replacement parts that were received defective. Once the parts are on site, it is estimated they will need 3 days to install them. The parts are expected the week of July 27th.

July 17th, 2008

June 27th, 2008

Everyone-

The Hatfield Spillway project is close to completion and the subsequent re-filling of Lake Arbutus back to the normal elevations prior to construction. This upgrade will provide additional discharge capacity necessary to prevent the flooding seen in years past in the Hatfield community - and as most recently seen in other parts of the country due to extreme weather events. This upgrade also ensures that the dam itself remains safe to continue to provide the value and benefits that Lake Arbutus has brought to the surrounding community and has made the Hatfield area the place it is today.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC – the federal permitting agency) will be inspecting the spillway work during the week of July 7, 2008. Property owners, recreational users, and the community should all be advised that the re-fill process will commence shortly after this inspection. No problems or delays are expected. The exact day Lake Arbutus returns to its normal level can not be precisely determined. However, all affected individuals should be aware that water levels in the Lake will be rising shortly - as soon as the week of July 14, 2008. The existing License required base minimum flow must be maintained in the river below the dam at all times during Lake re-filling. It is estimated to take several days to perhaps four weeks to fill – this is completely dependent upon current precipitation and inflows.

North American Hydro representatives will be addressing the public at the next Lake Arbutus Lake Association meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2008. The public is welcome to attend and encouraged to provide comments and ask questions on the current/future plans for operating the Hatfield dam.

Jodee (Banner Journal) please publish the above notice in your newspaper.

Megan (Jackson County Chronicle) please publish the above notice in you newspaper.

Lake Arbutus Lake Association – These comments could be posted on you web page as you wish, and/or forwarded to the Association members.

Thanks to all for your patience and in helping get the word out on the re-fill schedule.

Scott Klabunde

North American Hydro

Manager / Midwest Plant Operations

116 State Street, P.O. Box 167

Neshkoro, WI 54960 USA

Tel: 920-293-4628 Ext 14

Cell: 920-570-2156

Fax: 920-293-8087

Email: scott.klabunde@nahydro.com

The final stage of construction on the nearly $2 million Hatfield Dam spillway upgrade is underway and completion is on the horizon, provided Mother Nature is on the project's side.

"This spring is hanging on forever," Robby McDonald, a contract manager with North American Hydro, said. "It's hard to say when it's going to be done when dealing with the weather."

Rainfall this spring delayed the start of the final stage of the project, which had an original completion date of September 2007, to the first week of May. In order to stay on schedule, conditions need to be dry in order for drilling and grouting of the dam to be effective. As of last week, project construction was on schedule with the anticipated eight-week timeframe McDonald said it needed for completion

The final stage of the project includes the installation of 72 gate saddles, nine new gates and completion of a hydraulic system to operate the gates. Four of the nine gates are installed to date, McDonald said.

The beginning of the final stage of construction was scheduled for April 1, but with three and a half feet of water spilling over the dam at the time, lake levels were too high to begin.

But it has encountered obstacles other than weather and high water along the way. Last year, the gate saddles, or hinges that attach the gates to the top of the dam, were made incorrectly and had to be remanufactured. By the time they arrived in December 2007, installation of the saddles could not take place due to the winter season, McDonald said.

The delay has caused the cost of the project to spike, McDonald said, from $1.7 million to more than $2 million due to the delays, building and equipment costs. If future weather causes the project to lose working days, McDonald said they will be added to end of the eight weeks. Once the dam is completed, lake levels will be allowed to return to normal.

North American Hydro purchased Hatfield Dam from a partnership of Midwest Hydraulics and Howard Energy in July 2005. North American Hydro owns 41 hydroelectric power plants around the Midwest.

The project was given the go-ahead in September 2006 after North American Hydro drained Lake Arbutus by five and a half feet in 2005 to assist in inspection and future construction. The drawdown was necessary to inspect the submerged steel at the beginning of the project and to perform all the necessary repairs.

Because the water of Lake Arbutus is very high in tannic acid, a substance produced by trees, steel is corroded and deteriorates fast. With the drawdown of the lake, North American Hydro found some of the stop-log sections of the dam had been rusted into two sections.

But North American Hydro didn't just plan to replace the compromised parts; they planned to make the structure better prepared for emergency situations, just like the one that occurred in 1993, McDonald said.

Because raging waters during the flood carried tree limbs and whole trees downstream, the "trash" became lodged in the stop-log sections of the dam. The build-up of material at the dam blocked the water flow, increasing the stress placed upon the structure.

The project's delay has deeply impacted the revenue of North American Hydro from the dam. "The plant is here to make money, but we've been losing it," McDonald said, adding draining the lake has cost them 40 percent of their revenue.

"We've got to get this up as soon as possible," McDonald said.

The current lake level has not only impacted the revenue of the dam, but has had both negative and positive effects on recreation this season at Lake Arbutus, said Steve Wyss, owner of Hatfield Sports Shop. Boats are having the most problems because of difficulty accessing boat launches due to the lowered level. "There's a four to six inch drop-off with the lake lowered," Wyss said. "The bigger craft especially can't get out there."

Wyss said despite the decrease in watercraft activity, he has seen an increase in fishing due to the lake level. He said vegetation is also flourishing because of higher oxygen levels in the water.

While the project is taking longer than originally expected to complete, Wyss said he is looking on the positive side. "I anticipate seeing it done by July," he said. "There's negativity about it but it is working."

Yes only pictures, we are not getting accurate information at this time and can only let the pictures do the talking.

The saddles are in Illinois and have just been completed. We are now
arranging the trucking to a machine shop where they will be for 3-4
weeks for machining then we can get them to Hatfield.
Lisa

Currently seven of the nine gates are on site and ready to install. The remaining two gates should be ready by the time the saddles arrive.

Once the saddles arrive, the larger end cap saddles will be set in place (2 per gate).

This will allow the gates to be moved out on to the dam and set into these saddles.

Once all nine gates are in position, each gate will then be worked on to put in place the six addition smaller saddles, hydraulic rams and gate seals. Once this is done, the hydraulic can be connected and tested.

There is a lot of work that must happen, before the lake can come up. The weather will play a big part in the timetable.

Please prepare your waterfront this fall as if the water will be at the full lake level.

The lake association will update this site as soon as the saddles arrive. The crystal ball and weather forecast will both be clearer by that time.

I thought you would like a couple of pictures of the concrete work. It's going very well. The 1st pour on all 10 piers has been completed as of today. Robby
plans on doing the 2nd pour on 4 of the piers starting tomorrow, weather permitting.

But not by July 1^st, that is the latest word from North American Hydro (NAH) and Hatfield Hydro (HH) in reference to the completion of work on the Lake Arbutus Dam in Hatfield. The hoped for completion of the work on the Dam that predicated the lowering of the Lake in the fall of 2005 had been July 1^st, 2007. Due to road bans and the last minute changes requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the completion of the Dam is now targeted to be September 1^st, 2007.

At a meeting called by NAH and HH to inform the public of the status of the Dam, the packed crowd was told that the completion of the Dam had been in question due to changes that FERC was demanding. The original cost of the Dam renovations was budgeted at 1.5 million. FERC was demanding anchoring of the dam which would have necessitated coring of the dam to install anchor points. This change would have put the cost of the project at 5-6 million dollars. NAH and HH were prepared to abandon the project as too costly as FERC was demanding. A compromise was worked out by design changes engineered by NAH, but work on the dam had been halted while this was worked out, further delaying the project. The design change proposed by NAH and HH was approved by FERC, but this drove the cost of the project to near 2 million dollars.

The dam renovation is now going ahead with no anticipated problems. The dam construction will be routinely inspected as the project progresses and once the project is complete no other delays are anticipated. A final inspection by FERC will not be needed.

The removal of the top of the old dam is near complete or may now be completed. The top of the old dam had been cut in past months and now that the road bans have been lifted the crew was able to get in the large cranes and barges necessary to remove the large concrete blocks. Following the rule of what can go wrong will go wrong the removal of the concrete did not go as smooth as anticipated. The large chunks of concrete crumbled when being lifted. Anchor points were drilled into the chunks of concrete, these points proved to be successful and the project has continued with out further problems. A large crane on a barge lifts the concrete onto to the barge and then they are rafted over by a small fishing boat to shore by the West Jackson county park. There another large crane stationed on shore lifts the large chunks off the barge and places them on a truck to be hauled away.

This process should be done in time for the concrete company to start setting the forms on Monday May 14, 2007. This should take about 3 weeks to complete. After the concrete is poured it will take about 28 days to cure.

Other work will continue while the concrete cures. This of course is all subject to weather conditions. Large amount of rain or other bad weather will further delay the project.

Other requirements such as evacuations zones have been completed during the March and April time periods.

The water level has been lowered an additional foot or so, but no further draw down is anticipated.

Remember the completion of the Dam does not mean that the lake will be filled, that will start around September 1^st if all goes well. Then Mother Nature will decide how fast the lake fills. HH cannot shut the dam completely to fill the lake; they must allow a certain amount of water to pass to keep the river below at an acceptable level.

HH assures everyone they will continue the lines of communication thru weekly updates posted on this web site and further meeting in person to address any concerns and to keep the public informed. Watch for notice of meetings on this web site.

All reasonable means will be used to notify water front owners when the water levels will start to rise. This should give adequate notice to remove docks and boats if needed. Watch this web site along with emails to Lake Arbutus Association members for notification.