Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager
CC:	Charles Soules, Director of Public Works Matt Bond, Stormwater Engineer
DATE:	July 8, 2010
RE:	Consent Agenda Item:  Authorize Mayor to Sign Joint Letter to the NRCS in Support of Funding for Yankee Tank Dam Improvements

Please consider placing the above referenced item on the City Commission Consent Agenda July 13, 2010.

As has previously been discussed, a federal earmark has been identified for rehabilitation work for the Yankee Tank Dam - Structure No. 24 (more commonly referred to as Lake Alvamar Dam).  This earmark is to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, and is specifically to be spent on Yankee Tank.

The total project cost for dam rehabilitation is currently estimated at $1,988,600.  A federal earmark of $1 million has been secured for this project.  Discussions regarding a local match for this project, currently estimated at $522,000, have been on-going since April, 2010 and have included representatives of the Wakarusa Watershed District, local property owners, KDOT, NRCS, Douglas County and the City of Lawrence.  Meetings have been facilitated by Herb Graves of the State Association of Kansas Watersheds.

Funding partners have come together to identify a funding allocation which includes participation by all parties affected by the dam.

Property Owners (through special assessment district)                   180,000

State Water Office (Conservation Commission)                             100,000

KDOT                                                                                      75,000

City of Lawrence                                                                        75,000

Douglas County                                                                         50,000

                                                                                           $480,000

The remaining costs would be the responsibility of the Wakarusa Watershed District, the owner of the dam facility.  That cost is estimated at $42,000, however it could change depending upon the actual costs of land acquisition and construction.  The District would assume all risks and receive the benefits related to the project. 

City involvement would include the requirement that the dam facility be annexed into the City of Lawrence.  As part of this annexation, staff also recommends that the easement elevation for the Watershed District be modified to correspond with the final design of the proposed dam height and emergency spillway elevations.  This would help to alleviate the encroachment of the residents along Burning Tree Court upon the exiting easement.    

No funding requests have been made nor have commitments been made by any entity at this time.  However the local funding steering committee has recommended that a joint letter supporting allocation of funds for this project by the NRCS be signed by the executive officers of each participating body.  A copy of this letter is attached as is a more extensive historical review of this project.