July 6, 2010

Dave White, Chief
USDA, NRCS, Office of the Chief
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 5105-A
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Dave,

The Yankee Tank Dam (Wakarusa Watershed Joint District No. 35, site 24) rehabilitation local planning committee is made up of representatives of the City of Lawrence, Kansas;  Douglas County; Alvamar, Inc. (and other landowners); the Kansas Department of Transportation; the State Association of Kansas Watersheds (SAKW); and the Wakarusa Watershed District. This group requests your support in obtaining the federal dollars being requested to fund this necessary rehabilitation project to address concerns with the Yankee Tank Dam which serves as a flood control structure in the community. The total project cost is projected to be $1,988,600.

A federal earmark of $1 million has been secured for this project. A local commitment of at least $522,000 is expected from the city, county, state, local landowners, and the watershed district to secure landrights, permits, and a share of the construction costs. Kansas NRCS has requested the remaining federal technical and financial assistance dollars in FY2011 and FY2012 to complete the project.

This rehabilitation project is a direct result of a hazard class change for Yankee Tank Dam. A failure of this dam would directly impact recreation facilities; city and state highway traffic; and other area properties.

The fact that this is a top priority for Kansas NRCS rehabilitation in FY2011 speaks volumes about the merits of the project. The contributions all local partners are willing to make demonstrates its commitment to the project as a major flood control initiative and demonstrates their willingness to be part of the solution to this flood control issue.

Thank you for considering our request and we all look forward to the time that Yankee Tank Dam rehabilitation is a reality.

Sincerely,

___________________________                  _______________________________
Larry Butel, President                                     Nancy Thellman,Chairman

Wakarusa WJD No. 35                                   Douglas County Board of Commissioners

___________________________                  _________________________________
Mike Amyx, Mayor                                        Dick Stuntz, President                                   

City of Lawrence, Kansas                              Alvamar, Inc.

______________________________            ____________________________________
Jerome Younger, Deputy Secretary                Herbert R. Graves Jr., Executive Director     

Kansas Department of Transportation            State Association of Kansas Watersheds