Fix to Flower Creek Dam gate expected to reduce risk of freezing

Contractors on June 23 wrapped up three days of work on a valve at Libby’s Flower Creek Dam to prevent a knife gate from freezing as it did last winter.

The 36-inch-knife gate was discovered frozen in February when crews tried to adjust the flow through the low-level outlet, City Administrator Jim Hammons reported at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting. Propane heaters were used to thaw the gate and make it operational again.

To correct the problem, piping was installed within the gate housing to circulate fresh water “at a high rate” to prevent ice buildup and freezing, Hammons wrote in his report. Insulation was also installed “to further reduce the risk of freezing.”

According to Hammons, “the city will pay for the work” — he estimated the cost to be $6200 — “and be reimbursed by Rural Development out of the projects contingency fund.”

Downing Underground of Columbia Falls performed the work.