Work Within Tongue River Near Old Acme Power Plant To Start Soon

Most of a diversion within the Tongue River near the old Acme Power Plant will soon be removed.

Recently the Sheridan County Conservation District awarded a contract to Barnum Incorporated out of Buffalo, for about $100,000, to remove parts of the diversion that are underwater and still above ground.

The metal diversion was placed in the river long ago, so that the old Power Plant could get water into its underground cooling tunnels.

The plant closed in the mid-1970’s and the diversion has deteriorated some since then.

It also has been interfering with aquatic species migration in the area.

District Manager Carrie Rogaczewski says the Department of Environmental Quality does not want any large excavation work to be done in the river, hence whatever portion of the diversion that is currently under the streambed will stay there.

There will be some sort of replacement in the area where the diversion currently is.

“With the addition of some rock ramp material above and below that diversion, where that diversion is, to prevent any sort of movement or destabilization associated with removing those portions of the structure.”

Rogaczewski adds she is hopeful that diversion removal will be completed by the time the spring runoff starts.

The District has also awarded a contract to WWC Engineering for about $98,000 to work on cleanup of the asbestos, soil and debris within the power plant building.

The money for both projects comes from an EPA Grant that was awarded to the District last year.