Problems loom over Lewis Spill project

A project once thought to be on the verge of completion is anything but close to finished.

In fact, construction on a new low-head hydroelectric generator and pipes at Lewis Spillway are undergoing significant problems.

The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Board of Directors were informed Monday at their monthly meeting by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) of several issues with their contractor and the work being performed on the project.

According to Jack Worsley, deputy area manager for the BOR’s Lahontan Basin Area Office in Carson City, said engineering plans were ignored by Everett Jesse, CEO and President of Nevada Controls, the contracting firm working on the project.

Worsley specifically expressed concerns over the base of two massive pipes leading into where the generators would be, a concrete wall stabilizing the two pipes and Jesse’s lack of transparency.

The two pipes, currently, are resting on wood beams for support against the dirt base. Worsley said the engineers in the BOR’s Denver office strongly recommended using sand bags to safely support the pipes instead of wood.

The reasoning, Worsley explained, is the wood will deteriorate setting off a chain reaction as the pipes will move down and thus adding more stress on the wall.

The BOR, though, recommended sand bags placed under the pipes to create a natural bed for the pipes.

“The Denver office is very adamant about not doing the concrete wall,” he added.

As for the wall, TCID Deputy Project Manager Walt Winder displayed photos to the board. The pictures showed a bowed forum straddling the pipes. So, Winder, the board and Worsley all expressed concern over a forum already skewed from the onset.

“Rett (Everett) poured concrete without Bureau (BOR) approval,” Worsley stated. “It could set back the project. The contractor went upon himself and did it.”

In addition, Winder said Jesse told him in a conference call one week ago the contractor would not move forward with work of pouring concrete for the wall; however, Winder said he received an email later from Jesse stating work began.

Treasurer Lester de Braga asked how long of a setback this could cause the district with the impending water season. No direct timeline was given should the project be halted and revamped to follow the BOR’s recommendations.

Winder, though, said it would take “a lot of work,” most notably to remove the wood beams and replace them with sandbags.

Another obstacle, however, is the pipes are surround by forums creating a very tight workspace for construction crews to operate, especially with large machinery.

TCID Project Manager Rusty Jardine said stopping work may be an option.

Unfortunately for TCID, this is not the first issue with Jesse. During the January board meeting, he was questioned about completion of the project, although he reassured the board it would be finished by the end of the month.

Compounding the problem, though, is TCID may lose a substantial rebate from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) after the district secured a $1.2 million loan from the Nevada Department of Energy.

TCID initially applied for a $1.5 million loan but due to delays, which Jesse said were caused by the environmental review process, the district was only able to attain $1.3 million.

De Braga and Director Pete Olsen took exception with Jesse’s handling of the matter, although Jesse said there is a “95 percent” chance the PUC would rule in TCID’s favor.

In other TCID news —

The board approved the Cowboy Contract for the 2015 grazing season at the Carson Lake Pasture.

Norman Norcutt will be retained as the overseer of the grazing, although TCID added a stipulation to re-evaluate the contract 30 days after the closure of Lahontan Reservoir due to a shorter water season.

The board agreed the closure will determine if cattle should be removed as a result of a lack of water when the season ends.