Summer 2016 RECLAMATIONManaging Water in the West Plains Talk NEWS FROM THE GREAT PLAINS REGION

Inside this Issue: 2016 Pathways - The Next Generation

GP Accomplishments

Seminoe Repair Plains Talk Issue 01-2016: contents contents PUBLISHER Tyler Johnson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 2016 Hill Visits - Informing Congress Great Plains Land Resource Training Buck Feist 1 20 Hill visits are a proactive effort to foster an open dialogue on water resource issues with OTAO had the pleasure of hosting the 2016 Great Plains Land Resource Training in members of Congress. Visits span most of a week and include 15-20 meetings with various Norman, Oklahoma, April 19 - 21, 2016. Participants included staff & managers representing ASSISTANT EDITOR Senators, Representatives and Committee Staff Members. all six area offices, Denver policy, and the regional office. Sterling Rech

GRAPHICS Jerry Leggate Pathways: Reclamation Welcomes Interns Hill Visits, p. 1 2015 GP Photo Contest Winners Tobias Taylor 6 22 We Pay, You Learn, the early slogan for the Great Plains Region’s Student Employment The winners of the Great Plains 2015 Photo Contest. Program, has elicited the interest of hungry college students for years. NEWSPAPER TEAM Jack Conner, Patience Hurley, Dakotas Jay Dallman, Wyoming Yellowtail Celebrates Fifty Years vacant, Colorado 26 Pathways Internship Participants Construction began during President Kennedy’s administration for Great Plains Region’s Kimberley Parish, Oklahoma & Texas 8 The Great Plains Region’s Annual intership participants for 2016. largest addition to the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Jeffery Zentz, Nebraska & Kansas . Plains Talk is an employee publication devoted to the in- terests of Reclamation’s Great NKAO Launches SCADA Using Color in a Digital World Plains Region. Plains Talk 10 29 The Nebraska-Kansas Area Office located in McCook, Nebraska, is in the process of replacing Color essentials for modern communication - Learn to use color to improve contemporary is published from the Great its Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The new system will incorporate publications. Plains Office of Public Affairs. Garrison Diversion 50th, p. 12 state-of-the-art Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) driven Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) at To be added to the Plains Talk the , and a Windows Server 2012 based Master Station computer system. mailing list, submit your name and mailing address: Seminoe Concrete Repair Bureau of Reclamation 33 Seminoe Dam has outlet works refurbished to eliminate deficiencies and facilitate future U.S. Department of the Interior Garrison Diversion Celebrates 50 Years maintenance activities. 2021 4th Avenue North 12 On January 6, 1966, the Garrison Diversion Unit master contract was signed between the Billings, MT 59101 and ’s Garrison Diversion Conservancy District. The signing of this Phone: 406-247-7610 contract was considered the best way for North Dakota to create municipal, rural and industrial Email: [email protected] water supplies, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation benefits, and bring farmers much needed water. Find the Words Submission Guidelines: 35 Find 30 words published in this edition of Plains Talk. Articles and other materials for publication should be sent to the Great Plains Public Affairs GP Block Safety Training Land Resource Training, p. 20 Office, Attn: Plains Talk Editor, 16 “Safety is paramount. We want our employees to be healthy and whole at the end of the day,” GP-1240, or email to bfeist@ said Commissioner Estevan Lopez, in a safety video to employees. usbr.gov.

Plains Talk encourages em-

ployee submissions, and as- sists with developing ideas. WYAO Benefits from Pathways Questions about stories or 18 “The Pathways Internship Program actively recruites colledge students from around the country, photographic essays should be providing an opportunity to earn income in a summer position with a Reclamation Office, while directed to the Plains Talk edi- gaining experience related to their field of study. tor, at 406-247-7610.

Cover: Pathways Students Using Color, p. 26 tour Shoshone Power Plant. expected to result in annual water savings of more Significant GP Milestones: than 570,000 acre-feet once completed, enough water for more than 2.2 million people. This year’s Water 2016 Hill Visits Windy Gap: The Windy Gap Firming Project is and Energy Efficiency Grants are expected to be an exceptional example of the federal government working with our partners to get big things done. announced in June. Informing Congress of Reclamation Activities 2016 represents the first year of implementing a more collaborative approach to water operations. Northwest Area Water Supply: Reclamation continues to work to resolve litigation affecting the project designed to deliver a bulk water supply Hill visits are a proactive effort on behalf of Reclamation’s to meet municipal and rural water needs of people Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Reclamation’s in northwestern North Dakota. The project was authorized because existing water supplies are not of Regional Directors to foster open dialogue on water sufficient quality or quantity to reliably meet current resource related issues with members of Congress. The needs or projected growth. visits also help develop a level of rapport and trust between Wildfire fuel reduction: The Glacier Creek to Fishermen below Yellowtail Diversion Dam at power plant location. Reclamation’s leadership and Capitol Hill. Mill Creek Fuel Reduction in Colorado is a project of federal, state and local entities. Reclamation is Crow Tribal Development: The providing $84,500 toward the partnership to reduce Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Act) gives the fuel loads and help prevent wildfires while improving Crow Tribe (Tribe) the exclusive right to develop Visits generally span the better part of a week and are watershed health on 210 acres in Rocky Mountain hydropower at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam and comprised of 15 to 20 meetings with various Senators, National Park in the headwaters of the Colorado-Big authorizes $20,000,000 for energy development Thompson Project. projects on the Reservation. Appraisal studies Representatives, and Committee Staff Members. Often, the completed by the Tribe’s consultant estimate the member is present at the meeting, but sometimes they are WaterSMART: Since 2009, Reclamation has Yellowtail Afterbay Dam hydropower project will provided more than $174 million in funding through cost approximately $40,000,000. The Tribe and not available and the meetings take place with congressional WaterSMART Grants to states, Tribes and other Reclamation executed an agreement to move forward staff such as a Chief of Staff, Legislative Assistant, or partners. The grants are being leveraged with more with the project on March 26, 2015, and Reclamation than $426 million in non-federal funding to complete will provide technical assistance to ensure safety and Legislative Fellow. more than $600 million in improvements, which are reliability with the existing Yellowtail Afterbay Dam.

Topics throughout the week generally cover all nine states in Challenges in the Nine Great Plains States: the vast Region and include the highest profile and sensitive Republican River Compact: Reclamation will of maintenance projects at power plants such as Mt. issues. Congressional offices may prepare in advance of continue to work with Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Elbert and Yellowtail. FY16 power customer funding is to comply with the Compact and make beneficial use $29,573,000. the Hill visits by reaching out to their constituents, or of the water in the basin. Collaboration is needed to by reviewing past interactions with stakeholders in their progress toward a long-term solution. Ongoing Endangered Species Act Obligations: Continued support of the Platte River Recovery respective states. Regional Directors have to be well versed Rural Water Project Construction: Four projects Implementation Program and the shared vision for in a wide range of issues and need to be prepared to discuss in the Great Plains Region have significant balances creating and maintaining habitats on the Platte in of unfunded federal construction cost: Fort Peck/ Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Coordination with these issues in great depth and detail. Dry Prairie, Garrison Diversion, Lewis and Clark the Corps of Engineers, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and Rocky Boys / North Central. These four projects the Solicitor’s Office, and the Department of Justice in have a federal appropriated construction cost of response to a lawsuit alleging violations of the ESA in For the Great Plains Region, the annual Accomplishments $1,480,329,000 through the end of the last fiscal operation of and Reclamation’s Intake year. $851,758,000 in federal expeniture remains to Diversion Dam on the lower in Report is published as a handout to be used during the complete them. Montana. visits. Area Offices provide a list of short statements of fact Reclamation prioritizes rural water funding to meet Staffing issues: Workforce attrition due to retirements for accomplishments of the past 18 months and their most two goals: complete high priority rural water projects and competition with private sector wages (such as important challenges for the coming year. The following that meet the most urgent water supply needs in in Bakken area of North Dakota) impacts staffing of a timely manner, and give priority to rural water mission critical activities. Reclamation continues to pages represent this year’s hill visits held in early June. projects addressing tribal water supply needs. increase our response to the Employee Viewpoint Survey Additional pages that are not included provide contact results as a tool in improving employee engagement and Operation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of retention. information, a Great Plains Region map, and a statement Reserved Works: Great Plains continues to build from Regional Director Mike Ryan. support with power customers for up-front funding

page 1 Dakotas Area Eastern Colorado Area Montana Area Nebraska-Kansas Area

The Northwest Area Water Supply would deliver Implementation of the Crow Tribe Water Rights In November 2015, the Republican River water to communities in North Settlement included Reclamation and the Tribe Compact Administration adopted a resolution, Dakota. The Final Supplemental Environmental working cooperatively on early stages of designs similar to the 2015 agreement, that extended the Impact Statement Record of Decision was signed and investigations for hydropower development at temporary approval of Nebraska’s augmentation on August 21, 2015. This culminated a multi-year Yellowtail Afterbay Dam. A major milestone was projects through 2016. The 2016 operations effort after a 2010 District Court ruling. A motion reached with the signing of a water storage and agreement reached by the States and Reclamation for summary judgement is being coordinated with allocation agreement on March 30th of this year. provide better certainty and more reliable water the Department of Justice and anticipated soon. supplies for the surface water users in the basin. Threatened and endangered species continue to Continued Rural Water Construction in FY be a concern with Bull Trout at the St. Mary Unit 2016, providing $24.8 million in North Dakota of the Milk River Project and on and $ 9.54 million in South Dakota to construct Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project. The esti- new water systems. Systems in North Dakota Pueblo Dam releasing 6500 CFS during June 2015 runoff. mated cost to replace the St Mary diversion dam are serving 285,000 people and systems in South Fryingpan-Arkansas Project: and provide fish screens is $40 million. For the Dakota are serving 352,000 people. Lower Yellowstone, a Draft EIS is being prepared Reclamation completed a project scope, sched- jointly with the Corps of Engineers to evaluate In support of President ule, and cost estimates for rehabilitation of the Mt. passage alternatives at the Intake Diversion Dam. Obama’s Youth Elbert Power Plant. This information was sub- Initiative DKAO mitted to power customers with a request for addi- Response to climate change is being explored provided work experience tional up-front funding. through a National Drought Resiliency opportunities at Shadehill, Demonstration Pilot Project in the Missouri River Dickinson, Keyhole, Southern Delivery System Phase I construction Headwaters Basin. This demonstration project Belle Fourche, and was completed on time, $160 million under budget responds to the President’s March 21, 2016 Buford-Trenton projects by Colorado Springs Utilities and went into com- Memorandum on Drought Resilience. performing fencing and mercial production on April 28, delivering potable Harlan County Dam. maintenance. water from Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs. 19 Tainter gates at Harlan County Dam, con- Rural water construction continues in FY 2016 structed by the Army Corps of Engineers, are with Fort Peck/Dry Prairie receiving $16.1 million Youth Conservation Corps undergoing extraordinary maintenance work Feasibilty level engineering designs and updated and Rocky Boys/North Central receiving $13.1 fencing at Shadehill Reservoir. cost estimates the Arkansas Valley Conduit will which is scheduled for completion in 2018 at be completed in September 2016. million. an estimated cost of approximately $41 million. Bostwick Division irrigators are responsible for repayment of 15.37% or just under $6 million. Colorado-Big Thompson Project:

Reclamation signed a memorandum of under- In March 2016, Reclamation released the standing (MOU) with Northern Colorado Water Republican River Basin Study, which identifies Conservancy District, Grand County Board adaptation strategies that address water manage- of Commissioners, Colorado River Water ment challenges in the basin. The study included Conservation District, and Northwest Colorado an area of 2.7 million acres of irrigated agriculture Council of Governments. The MOU establishes an served primarily by ground water supply and it adaptive management process to improve clarity represents an extensive collaborative effort among in Grand Lake, while generating power and deliv- the states of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. ering water from the west slope to the east slope of the Rocky Mountains, to be implemented this A Health and Safety Report for the Medicine summer. Reassembling Yellowtail Power Plant Unit 3. Creek Concessionaire and Trailer Area was Inspecting gate trunnion at Angostura Dam. completed in January 2016 identifying more than Repairs to the Dille 1,165 non-compliance items in the areas of elec- Work on Aging Infrastructure: Reclamation pro- Diversion will be Completed the rewind of Unit 3 at Yellowtail trical, water, sewer and fire safety. Our managing vided technical assistance and oversight to the completed in time Power Plant, part of a $50 million project to partner, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Belle Fourche Irrigation District for the removal for spring runoff. upgrade Yellowtail generation. will be working with the Concessionaire and 54 and replacement of the North and South Gate This completes trailer owners to come into compliance with local, Control Houses including: all new mechanical repairs to infra- An $8 million modernization project for the state, and federal health and safety requirements. equipment, electrical equipment, power service, structure damaged Goose Bay Marina at Canyon Ferry Reservoir and safety equipment. by the 2013 Big was completed and a new concessions con- A $600,000 contract to repair coatings on Glen Thompson flood. tract was awarded in April 2016 to Canyon Elder Dam spillway gates, hoisting equipment, and Water was provided to irrigate 25,770 acres in ND Enterprises of Bozeman. outlet works was completed in April 2016. and 87,800 acres in SD in 2015. New antenna for Olympus Dam. page 2 page 3 Oklahoma-Texas Area Wyoming Area Great Plains Region Facts Conservation storage at Reclamation’s projects The Glendo Safety of Dams Project was in Oklahoma has remained at or near 100% since substantially completed. Additions and alterations The Great Plains Region is vast. It includes June of 2015, except for Foss Reservoir which is were designed to handle a new design flood of 856,000 square miles - more than half the area at 80% of storage capacity. Conservation storage a 100,000 year return with flood peak inflow of at Reclamation’s three Texas Projects currently 140,000 cfs. Reclamation serves. It covers most of nine states ranges from 9% at Twin Buttes Reservoir to 33% and encompasses a wide range of ecosystems at Choke Canyon Reservoir. from alpine tundra to the gulf coast. Facilities in Although much of the Oklahoma-Texas Area the region face challenges unique to their loca- received an abundance of rainfall in recent months, tion and demands on their operation. Because planning activities for the next drought continue. Reclamation has been coordinating with several of geographical diversity, the region is typically entities in Oklahoma and Texas on the completion impacted by drought and flooding at the same of contingency plans and projects that improve drought resiliency. time.

Buffalo Bill. Reclamation’s Basin Studies Program is partner- ing with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board Power customer funded maintenance was com- and local irrigation and municipal water districts pleted at three power plants. Buffalo Bill’s tailrace in southwest Oklahoma on two basin-wide plan- and draft tube concrete was repaired, Glendo’s Cunningham Tunnel inspection in Colorado. ning studies that assess long-term water sup- fixed wheel gate was refurbished to extend plies and demands, identify risks and vulnerabili- working life and prevent the loss of water supply ties to supplies, and evaluate adaptation and miti- for power generation, and Fremont Canyon’s water In the Great Plains Region there are 80 gation strategies to improve long-term resiliency service piping was replaced to assure cooling Reclamation reservoirs with a total capacity of of Reclamation’s reservoirs. Both studies are water to the generators and for fire protection. expected to be complete in 2018. 22.9 million acre-feet of water. Reclamation’s assets, including canals, power and pumping Reclamation will award a contract for dam safety facilities, dams and support buildings, have a modifications to theW.C. Austin Project (Altus- Lugert Reservoir) in September, 2016. The mod- current value of about $20 billion. ifications will include raising the dikes which surround the Reservoir, backfilling open drain trenches, and installing toe drain systems below Great Plains Region: two of the dikes. The modifications are expected to require 20 months to complete, and will be funded in accordance with the Dam Safety Irrigates more than 2 million Act which requires 85% Federal funding and acres. 15% from non-Federal sponsors (Lugert-Altus Irrigation District and the City of Altus). Glendo. Fremont Canyon. Has avoided over $4.4 billion Current statistics: 3.1 million acre-feet of in flood damages. Reclamation and the reservoir releases were made in FY 15 provided Oklahoma Tourism irrigation to 648,000 acres of land in Wyoming and Recreation and Nebraska. Eleven hydropower plants produced Veliger (invasive mussel) sampling at Tiber Reservoir, Montana. Generates power for more Department have a net generation of nearly 764,000 megawatt- than 173,000 homes. continued to partner hours, enough to supply the electricity to 70,000 Many of the first projects built by Reclamation on Ameicans with households for one year. An estimated one million Disabilities Act com- recreation visitors enjoyed WYAO reservoirs and are in what is now the Great Plains Region. Provides drinking water to pliant improvements lands in FY15 adding approximately $1.6 million These early projects are often called “single more than 3 million people. at Lake Thunderbird, in revenue to local economies. McGee Creek purpose” because their primary function was to Reservoir, and Fort store water for irrigation. , hydro- Has 18 recreation areas and While Wyoming continues to be the least 14 million visitors annually. Cobb Reservoir. populated state in the union, the population is power, recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement growing steadily. This is expected to lead to more demand for resources, such as water, power, and and municipal water evolved as the West was Provides fish and wildlife use of federal land, which may lead to increased settled and demands on water supplies grew. habitat in nine states. Accessible courtesy dock at McGee demands on Reclamation facilities. Creek Reservoir. page 4 page 5 hired 22 new students in the fields of Engineering, Montana Area Office, spoke to a number of students at Natural Resources and Safety and Occupational Montana Tech. “We were impressed by the profession- Health. Nine current Pathways students returned for the alism of the students and their interest in working with Great Plains Region summer for a total of 31 student interns in the Region’s us,” Sawatzke said. Pathways rotational program. In addition to the RLB sponsored summer rotational Outreach efforts for the Pathways Program engaged program, offices also have the option to hire their own HR staff, Administrative staff and subject-matter- interns if there is a school local to the duty station experts (SMEs). Regional staff attended events at more or strictly during summer months. Nebraska-Kansas than 34 colleges and hiring events around the country Area Office (NKAO) hired a Civil Engineering student from Montana to Texas, and from Washington, D.C. trainee who will be starting summer of 2016. to New Jersey. The extensive recruitment efforts pro- Jeff Zentz, Administrative Officer at NKAO, attended duced more than 600 applications for the five vacancy career fairs to recruit for both the rotational intern announcements posted; more than triple the number of program as well as an Engineering trainee for his own applications received last year. That outreach paid off area office. Zentz said, “I loved attending the career as 68 percent of new student hires are from colleges fairs and representing Reclamation. I enjoyed talking attended or targeted through the focused outreach. to the students and explaining our Pathways Program The presence of Administrative, HR staff, and SMEs as an opportunity to try us out each summer and then at career fairs is extremely valuable and was evident potentially begin a career with us when they graduate.” this year.

Reclamation Pathways Students at the entrance to the Department of the Interior building, Billings, Mont. By HR Staff, RO but remains committed to recruiting upon graduation. and hiring degree-seeking students The summer rotational intern- We pay, you learn, the early interested in careers with water and ship program, sponsored by the slogan for the Great Plains Region’s related resources. Regional Leadership Board (RLB), Student Employment Program, The Pathways Internship Program allows students from around the has elicited the interest of hungry offers many opportunities and ben- country to travel to Great Plains college students for years. efits to students, such as hands-on Region sites for a minimum of two The student program has under- work experience, tuition assistance summers to participate in a wide gone some changes over the years, and potential permanent placement variety of projects at different facil- ities and offices. Students may receive a living stipend, an hourly salary and are stationed at a differ- ent office each summer until com- pletion of their degree. As part of their familiarization with the Great Plains Region, Pathways students visited the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, located in Park County, Wyoming, between Cody and Powell. Each winter, the rotational intern- ship program is reinvigorated Anna Hoag, a Civil Engineer at Oklahoma-Texas HR anticipates coordinating similar outreach efforts in preparation for the summer’s Area Office and former Region SCEP student, attended next year to reach even more students and encour- anticipated student hires. Human a career fair as a SME. “As an alumni of Oklahoma ages Regional staff to participate in outreach efforts. A Resources requests intern needs State University and former intern, it was great to act number of the employees throughout the Region have from Area and Regional offices as a SME and visit with the students in Engineering been introduced to Reclamation and hired through in December or January and posts fields and to get the word out about the Bureau of these internship opportunities. Since 1998, over 145 Reclamation and the work we do,” said Hoag. hires have been made through the program and that The Pathways Internship Program offers many opportunities & benefits positions early in the year. to students, such as classes, hands-on experience & tuition assistance. For summer 2016, the Region Tom Sawatzke, Deputy Area Manager at the number continues to grow. The Pathways Program is designed to provide recent graduates and students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in civil service.

Original poster art by Miesha Arnold, GPRO NKAO provides maintenance, operational juris- are still in use and have reached the end of diction and control for 16 dams and reservoirs their useful life, with replacement parts diffi- located in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. cult to find or obsolete, and new parts difficult to These reservoirs, together with nine diversion integrate. dams, nine pumping plants, and 20 canal systems, Some of the SCADA equipment being replaced NKAO serve approximately 269,745 acres of project lands is over 20 years of age, well beyond the normal in Nebraska and Kansas. life expectancy of 10 years. In addition to irrigation and municipal water, The SCADA system collects data and allows Launches these features serve flood control, recreation, and gate movements to be accomplished by a system fish and wildlife purposes. controller at the headquarters in McCook for the NKAO has direct control of eleven dams in following dams: Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, within the Kansas River Basin. • Bonny Dam near Burlington, Colo.; To ensure more efficient use of available per- • Trenton Dam near Trenton, Neb.; sonnel and to ensure timely delivery of irriga- • Enders Dam near Enders, Neb.; tion water, the project installed a Programmable • Red Willow Dam near McCook, Neb.; Master-Station Control (PMSC) system in the late • Medicine Cr. Dam near Cambridge, Neb.; 1970s. • Norton Dam near Norton, Kan.; This original system was replaced with a state-of- • Lovewell Dam near Webber, Kan.; the-art Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition • Webster Dam near Stockton, Kan.; (SCADA) system in 1993. This system was • Kirwin Dam near Kirwin, Kan.; upgraded in 2008 with the Master Station and Man • Glen Elder Dam near Glen Elder, Kan.; Machine Interface computers being replaced with • Cedar Bluff Dam near Hays Kan. newer models. Many of the discrete RTU parts from this system Water releases can be scheduled to arrive at the diversion points at the time it is required, rather than being dependent upon regular Key to Find the Words working hours. The availability of a dependable control system also frees up the 10 Reclamation facil- ities superintendents to accomplish other duties since they will not be required to remain at remote locations to release water upon demand. New Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for Nebraska-Kansas Area Office. The SCADA system also allows for closer The Nebraska-Kansas Area Programmable Logic Controller label switching wide-area management of the water supplies and pro-

Office (NKAO) located in (PLC) driven Remote Terminal network to collect data and vides for better site security. McCook, Nebraska, is in Units (RTUs) at the dams and provide control of dam features. Final installation and testing of the new the process of replacing its a Windows Server 2012 based Scipar, Inc. out of Buffalo, system is scheduled to be completed this Supervisory Control and Data Master Station computer system New York, is the lead contractor summer with the system fully operational by Acquisition (SCADA) system. at the Main Office. for the new system. Installation August 2016. The new system will incor- The SCADA system uses a of the RTUs began in late April porate state-of-the-art telephone-based multi-protocol utilizing a local contractor. page 10 page 11 Initial studies of the Garrison Diversion Unit proposed the development of more than 1-million acres of land for irriga- Garrison Diversion tion utilizing more than 6,773 miles of canals, construction of the Snake Creek Pumping Plant to transfer water from the Celebrates 50 Years Missouri River to the Souris, James, and Sheyenne Rivers and the Devils Lake Basin, and several reservoirs through- By Patience Hurley, DKAO out the system. The plan also anticipated water service to 14 cities and provided for a 146,530 acre wildlife plan to mit- On January 6, 1966, the igate wildlife habitat losses. Ultimately, with soil studies Garrison Diversion Unit master showing much of the proposed soils unfit for irrigation, the contract was signed between reauthorized Unit set its sights on 250-thousand irrigable the United States and North acres of land. Dakota’s Garrison Diversion With all the planned components of the projects out- Conservancy District. lined, the price tag continued to increase and the timeframe The signing of this con- for construction stretched out 60 years. Construction on tract was, at the time, consid- many of the major components of the plan, to include the ered the best way for North McClusky and New Rockford Canals and the Snake Creek Dakota to create municipal, Pumping Plant carried on into the mid-1980s, when new rural, and industrial water sup- environmental and economic concerns arose. plies, fish and wildlife habitat, The plan was once again revised with the Garrison Water pipeline for the Northwest Area Water Diversion Unit Reformulation Act of 1986. This Act Supply System. recreation benefits and to bring (Above) Lowhead dam located within the Lonetree Wildlife Management farmers much needed water Area in central North Dakota comprises 33,000 acres owned by Reclamation. required a comprehensive study of environmental impacts, from a fully developed irrigation benefits from the project. Program and was initially con- system. Although that vision has The project first got its roots as tracted as the Missouri-Souris not been fully realized, North one of the principal pieces of the Unit. Dakota has seen a wealth of Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin First authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, the plan was to construct a series of dams on the Missouri River to control flooding, provide power genera- tion, water for irrigation, cities, industry, wildlife and recreation. Then came the construction of the Garrison Dam, completed in 1953, followed by a number of studies that created substan- tial changes in the location and acreage of land to be irrigated under the then named Missouri- Souris Unit. With these changes, Congress reauthorized and Center Pivot Irrigation System utilized within the Garrison Diversion Unit. renamed the project the Garrison Diversion Unit in 1965. page 12 page 13 GARRISON DIVERSION TIMELINE:

December 22, 1944 - Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act was authorized in the Flood Control Act of 1944.

January 27-28, 1959 - Senate Bill (SB154) passed. The bill would amend the powers and duties of Garrison Diversion Conservancy District directors giving them the author- ity to become the operating organization for the Garrison Diversion Unit.

April 5, 1962 – In his conservation message to Congress, President Kennedy spe- cifically mentioned Garrison Diversion Unit as a project that should be authorized by Congress this session.

August 5, 1965 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill authorizing Garrison Diversion Unit.

January 26, 1966 – Master Contract between the United States and the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District is signed.

July 14, 1968 - Groundbreaking of Snake Creek Pumping Plant.

May 10, 1970 – Groundbreaking ceremony held for the McClusky Canal.

Oakes Test Area. October 12, 1978 - Contract awarded for earthwork and structures for a fish screen deauthorized many components, realigned irri- testing facility on a turnout from the McClusky Canal. gable acres, and set aside money for investiga- tion and construction of a water supply system July 5-6, 1984 - Construction on the Lonetree Dam and James River Dike is 40 throughout the State, but specifically to Fargo and percent complete. Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Act also included as a high priority drinking April 3-4, 1986 - Burdick-Miller Bill - National interest declaration for irrigation had water and industrial use, environmental protec- been deleted and a $12 million Wetlands Trust was created. It deleted portions of the tions, and recreation. The 1986 Act allowed con- 1944 and 1965 Acts. It also authorizes $200 million for MR&I. struction to continue on some of the water supply systems, and activities began on mitigation and October 10-11, 1991 - Bureau of Reclamation reported New Rockford Canal is 99 wildlife habitat, and municipal, rural and indus- percent complete. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District has officially taken over trial projects. Operation and Maintenance of the McClusky Canal and New Rockford Canal. Then came another amendment of the plan in the form of The Dakota Water Resources Act of October 7, 1993 - Dedication - Lonetree Wildlife Management Area. 2000. This Act passed the Congress on December Example of buried pipeline avoiding wetland impacts. 15, 2000, and included a program to meet Indian July 1-2, 1997 - Lonetree Wildlife Management Area was officially transferred to the and non-Indian water supply needs in North to preserve any existing rights of North Dakota to ND Game and Fish Department on January 1, 1997. Dakota. Another key component of this Act was use water from the Missouri River. December 15, 2000 – Dakota Water Resources Act Bill passed. page 14 page 15 The respiratory and hearing protection courses were offered for those employees who are required to wear GP Block Safety Training respirators and hearing protection. Exposure controls were discussed including engineering controls and By Gary Barsness, Regional Safety Officer, GPRO Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of PPE. The hearing and respiratory testing protocols Corrosive Compressed Gas Acutely Toxic Chemicals (GHS). In order to ensure chemical safety were reviewed briefly. Keeping with this idea of whole and healthy employ- in the workplace, information must be available to ees, the Great Plains Regional Office held the annual employees about the identities and hazards of the As in past years, the Reclamation Hazardous Energy block safety training during the week of January 25, chemicals they use. The Hazard Communication Control Program (HECP) was taught by the Denver 2016. This year two specialized courses were offered Standard adopted the GHS approach to classifying Power Resources Office. This course is necessary along with the annual safety training topics. The chemicals and communicating hazard information on Health Hazard Explosive/Reactive/ Flammable / for all who must attach a lock to an energy clearance training topics offered were: Rigging, Hoisting and labels and safety data sheets. Organic Peroxide Pyrophoric or those that participate in lockout/tagout procedures. Signal Person Certification; OSHA 10-hour Course; The course provided requirements for de-energizing Hazard Communication and the Global Harmonized Chemical manufacturers and importers are required and securing equipment prior to performing main- System; Respiratory and Hearing Protection; Hazard- to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they pro- tenance. A basic electrical safety course was also ous Energy Control Program (HECP); Active Shooter duce or import, and prepare labels and safety data offered as part of the HECP training. Awareness; and First Aid, CPR and AED. sheets to convey the hazard information to their Oxidizer Irritant (skin, Aquatic Brian Cornell taught the Active Shooter Awareness customers. OSHA provides specific criteria for clas- respiratory) Toxicity The rigging, hoisting and signal person training was sification of health and physical hazards, as well as course. He reviewed the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Hazard Communication Pictograms. Source: OSHA.gov provided to the drilling crews to refresh their knowl- classification of mixtures. All employers with hazard- Inform, Counter, Evacuate) set of proactive, options- edge of safe work practices and provided each of ous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels based strategies, that increase chances of survival Section 1, Identification includes product identifier; during a violent intruder or Active Shooter event. This them signal person certification. and safety data sheets for their exposed employees, s manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone training was designed to teach employees skills and and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. number; emergency phone number; recommended The OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach Training strategies that bridge the gap between the time a vio- use; restrictions on use. lent event begins and when law enforcement arrives. covered a variety of construction safety and health For existing chemicals on site, facilities must ensure Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards hazards at construction sites. Training emphasized that chemical containers within their facility have ing regarding the chemical; required label elements. The final training course offered was the first aid, CPR hazard identification, avoidance, control and preven- updated labels with specific product identifier and Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients and AED certification class. Billings Clinic taught the tion, not OSHA standards. words, pictures, symbols, or d includes information on chemical ingredients; trade American Heart Association Heartsaver program to a Topics included falls, electro- combination thereof, which Safety is paramount. We want secret claims. full house. Objectives of the course include learning cution, struck-by (e.g., fall- provide specific information Section 4, First-aid measures includes important

ea proper techniques to administer life-saving first aid in ing objects, trucks, cranes), our employees to be healthy and regarding the physical and symptoms/ effects, acute, delayed; required treatment. emergency situations, as well as: assessing the pa- caught-in or between (e.g., whole at the end of the day. health hazards of the chemi- Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists extinguishing

H tient, cardiac emergencies, basic life support, includ- trench hazards, equipment), techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire. cal. It is important that the ing airway management, breathing, and circulation, personal protective equip- - Commissioner Estevan López Section 6, Accidental release measures lists updated health and physical and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). ment (PPE), scaffold, and hazards are communicated emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper materials handling, storage, use and disposal. on the label. If a facility can get an updated manu- methods of containment and cleanup. Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for We want to thank all the employees for their interac- facturer’s label, that is the best option. If a facility is tion within the courses and their supervisors who The Hazard Communication Training reviewed safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities. unable to get an updated manufacturer’s label with Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection made time available to attend the block training. OSHA’s revised regulations for chemical labeling and the above information, the chemical must be labeled safety information, which now align with the Globally lists OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits; ACGIH using the facility specific chemical labeling system. Threshold Limit Values; and any other exposure limit Once again, it is important that the updated health used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, and physical hazards are communicated on the importer, or employer preparing the SDS where label. available as well as appropriate engineering controls; PPE. GHS pictograms are graphic symbols used to com- Section 9, Physical and chemical properties lists the municate specific information about the hazards of chemical’s characteristics. a chemical. The required pictograms consist of a Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists chemical red square frame set at a point with a black hazard stability and possibility of hazardous reactions. symbol on a white background, sufficiently wide to Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes be clearly visible. Each pictogram represents a dis- of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic tinct hazard category. The categories are shown in effects; numerical measures of toxicity. the Hazard Communication Pictograms on the next Section 12, Ecological information page. Section 13, Disposal considerations Section 14, Transport information Section 15, Regulatory information Reclamation employees take part in a 6-hour Standard Employees attack the “active shooter” with improvised As of June 1, 2015, new Safety Data Sheets must Section 16, Other information, includes the date of First Aid/Adult CPR/AED class provided by staff from weapons in this mock battle during Brian Cornell’s Active follow the specified 16-section uniform format under Safety Data Sheet Billings Clinic. Shooter Awareness training. the headings listed on the next page. preparation or last revision. page 16 page 17 Swedi Bitendelo, a Civil Morgan Clapshaw is working Program graduates started their Engineering major from Kansas on her Civil Engineering degree federal career with a full time State University is in his first at Montana State University. Last engineering position in the WYAO Benefits from year of the program. He worked year she served her internship Technical Analysis Branch of the for Claudia Hill in our Facilities at DKAO in Bismark. This year Facilities Management Division By Jay Dallman, WYAO student employees during summer transmission and distribution. The Management Division. Swedi she assisted WYAO with daily at WYAO. Nathan Morgan, a The Pathways Internship 2016. Pathways Program provides a developed specifications for water operations in the Water graduate of the Civil Engineering Program, formerly Student Wayne Parker, Chief of the mechanism to develop electrical parking lot and access road Management Branch under Art Program at Saint Martin’s Career Experience Program Electrical Engineering Branch, engineers that understand power resurfacing at Boysen and Alcova Hill. Her duties included making University in Lacey, Washington (SCEP) and Student Temporary supervised three of the new interns generation and are familiar with Power Plants. He also assisted stream flow measurements, and served as a Pathways intern in Employment Program (STEP), who are studying to be electrical Reclamation operations.” is a summer rotational internship engineers. Dan, Sam and Michael worked program. Daniel Craig plans to graduate in on generator lockout systems for The program actively recruits May 2017. He began his internship Kortes, Fremont and Guernsey college students from around the program at Flatiron Power Plant Power Plants. country, providing an opportunity for ECAO last summer. Brock Owen, Chief of the to earn income in a summer Sam Gulliford, a student at Mechanical Engineering Branch, position with a Reclamation office Oregon Institute of Technology, supervised Kaylen Cheesman while gaining experience related to and Michael Gutierrez of Texas (University of Southern Indiana) their field of study. A&M, started their internships this and Nicholas Frassenei (University In the Great Plains Region, the summer at WYAO. of Massachusetts), both first year Pathways Program is sponsored Wayne is very enthusiastic about interns. Kaylen will be helped with by the Regional Leadership Board his new interns. “The pool of maintenance of plant equipment (RLB). Students are stationed at a electrical engineers that understand at Seminoe, Kortes and Alcova different office in our Region each power generation is very small. Power Plants. Nicholas will be The few colleges and universities assisted with plant equipment summer until completion of their Wyoming interns during the Pathways tour at . degree. that have a power program tend maintenance at Fremont and WYAO hosted nine Pathways to teach their students only about Alcova Power Plants. with projects in the Technical updating stream gauge safety DKAO in 2014 and WYAO in Analysis Branch. On top of that, manuals. In addition, she assisted 2015. “My Pathways internship he is enrolled in ROTC at Kansas the Technical Analysis Branch. exposed me to a great amount of State and is serving in the U.S. Mike Bradford, the Safety engineering mixed with hands on Army Reserves. Manager at WYAO, had the experience and it provided me with Jacob Hoffman, a senior assistance of Sedona Rockwood. a good job upon graduation.” majoring in Natural Resources She is a junior at University of The new crop of interns kept at Montana State University, Wyoming majoring in Chemical busy assisting with a variety of worked for George Neuberger as Engineering. Sedona conducted tasks related to their specialty a Natural Resource Specialist in an assessment of the Hazardous fields. The interns were paid the Land Branch this summer. He Communication Program while they honed their skills was busy collecting field data and (HAZCOM) at WYAO, updating and broadened their work developing a GIS data base which Safety Data Sheets, and ensuring experience. And, in some cases, will be used to manage recreation proper hazardous materials storage the internships have become related signs and public recreation requirements are being observed. a springboard to permanent WYAO Interns from left to right: Morgan Clapshaw, Kaylen Cheesman, Daniel Craig, Sam Gulliford, Swedi Bitendelo, Jacob Hoffman, and Nicolas Frassenei. Not shown are Sedona Rockwood and Michael Gutierrez. structures and facilities. In addition, one of the Pathways positions in Reclamation. page 18 page 19 Thunderbird State Park. staff on how working with local the great ideas learned throughout The field day included five partners is integral to ensuring a the days’ site visits. site visits, each site designed to safe and inviting recreational area Training topics on the last day address a variety of land manage- allowing a high-quality recreation included Resource Management ment issues, ranging in complex- experience. Planning, Managing Partner coor- ity and scope of program issues. The team discussed how plan- dination, and private exclusive Site One focused on the new Hog ning, coordination and commu- use. Creek Day Use Area and Little nication, and site inspections are The training provided valuable River Marina. key factors to determining suc- insight to participants, encour- Presentations were provided by cessful outcomes to our recre- aging networking and allowed OTAO to the participants address- ation areas and partner manage- for opportunity to share the ing Accessibility, Concession ment. The last site visit of the challenges the area offices and Reviews/Inspections, and day was Little Axe Day Use and regional office experience and Managing Partner Agreements. Campground. explore the tools and path forward The group had the opportunity Fire Management Plans, site to provide the optimal experience to walk around the area and ask design, and issue exchange were on Reclamation lands. questions regarding the site plan- all discussed. Reclamation serves a very ning, coordination with the part- The end of the day concluded diverse group of people looking ners, etc. with a time for participants to ask to use the same resources in very Site Two involved a visit to any questions they had from any different ways. Coordination and Hosted by the Oklahoma-Texas Area Office the Plains Pipeline relocation earlier discussions, explore details collaboration is key to the success site (right-of-way) where OTAO about project management and of our agency and our ability to April 19 - 21, 2016. described the process in working implementation, and follow-up on meet the needs of the public. with the project proponent in an By Kimberly Parish, OTAO forum for specialists to collab- and Civil Rights complaint effort to minimize disturbance orate and share best practices process, Youth Conservation impacts to the project and habitat. The Oklahoma-Texas Area and approaches to day-to-day Corps Work and Funding This area is also utilized as Office had the pleasure of hosting concerns. Programs, authorized and unau- one of several designated access the 2016 Great Plains Land The group had excellent insights thorized uses, recreation/con- points and parking areas for Resources Training in Norman, and the open dialogue generated a cession inspections, and GSA hunting, a program sponsored Oklahoma, April 19 - 21, 2016. great deal of energy and new ideas Targeted Asset Reviews. through the state and supported Staff and managers representing to approach similar challenges. While addressing all of these through collaborative efforts. all six area offices, Denver policy, The first day of training topics, participants had the oppor- The group then traveled to Site and the regional office, partici- included a session led by Denver tunity to express their ideas, con- Three (Turkey Pass and Calypso pated in the training. Policy Staff (Ryan Alcorn and cerns and similar issues they may Cove) and Site Four (South Dam Training focused on a number Jerome Jackson), focusing on new be experiencing or have experi- Day Use Area) to learn about cost- of recent policy changes, emerg- and emerging issues, minor revi- enced. This exchange allowed for sharing opportunities and Title 28, ing trends and current challenges, sions to directives and standards, feedback from other offices and and the importance of coordinated as well as more practical ‘how-to’ and funding opportunities through how they have resolved similar recreation planning and engineer- sessions on conducting program the Federal Lands Transportation issues. ing design to accommodate the reviews and implementing consis- Program (FLTP). The second day of train- diversity of visitor experiences/ tent program directives. In addition, the day included ing, participants took a field trip opportunities. The training also provided a training sessions on Accessibility to OTAO’s Norman Project at Participants in Great Plains Land Resources Training gathered in Norman, The group heard from OTAO Oklahoma to share skills and training. page 20 page 21 Great Plains 2015 Photo Contest

The 2015 GP Photo Contest produced 78 photo entries showing the diverse activities, facilities, people, and wild- life in the Great Plains Region. Nearly 160 votes were cast for more than 40 assorted photos, but top honors go to three photographers and their great images.

Charles Young, C&I Mechanic (ECAO), wins first place with his photo “Of course that is Green Mountain Power Plant at the end of the Rainbow!” Adam Northrup, Civil Engineering Technician (ECAO), earns second place with his photo looking over the edge of the Sun River Diversion Dam, during a rope access inspection. Ray Farrar, Plant Mechanic (WYAO), takes third place with his photo of Baby owls at Glendo.

Keep an eye out for all photo contest images in a variety of Reclamation publications, including the 2015 GP Region Calendar, Plains Talk Magazine, presentations and in our multimedia gallery on the Internet at www.usbr.gov/gp/multimedia.

Thank you photographers for the great images! And thank you everyone who took the time to view the photos and vote for their favorite.

First Place Winner Of course that is Green Mountain Power Plant at the end of the Rainbow! Photo by Charles Young (ECAO). Second Place Winner Sitting on the edge of Sun River Diversion Dam, looking down at the river below, during a rope access inspection of the structure. Photo by Adam Northrup (ECAO). Evening boat ride and a beautiful sunset near Snake Creek Pumping Plant on . Photo by Marty Malachowski (DKAO).

Third Place Winner Sunrise Coyote at Belle Historical Wagon on the Oregon Trail travelling across Fourche Reservoir. Photo by Casper Alcova Irrigation District Lands. Photo by Brad Baby owls at Glendo. Photo by Ray Farrar (WYAO). Jeff Nettleton (DKAO). Cannon (WYAO). Celebrates Fifty Years How It Started would build multipurpose facilities on tributaries. The 50th anniversary of the construction of the Yellowtail was among those sites that Reclamation Yellowtail Dam provides a unique opportunity to had already identified as feasible. reflect on the enormous benefits gained from the Investigations into constructing a dam at the current iconic Great Plains Region structure’s meeting our location had been conducted by the then Reclamation mission for the American public. The planning, Service in 1903-05 for irrigation, and studies for design, and construction efforts over 50 years ago hydropower actually began in 1913. The final report, were no small feat. But to add to the appreciation of finished in 1917, proposed two small dams with one how this project came about, one has to look even at Kane near the confluence of the Shoshone and earlier than 1966 when this huge dam was finally Bighorn Rivers (now within Bighorn Lake). Also finished. included were a power plant producing 105,000 kilo- A faded 35mm transparency showing an upstream Penstocks are still visible on the dam and the steel view of the river and canyon in 1963. Note the tunnel The construction of Yellowtail Dam was part of a watts, along with 500 miles of transmission lines! framing of the power plant is being erected. at spillway location. larger vision of Reclamation projects brought about Also included was a planned 62 miles of canals to by the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. In 1939, irrigate 60,000 acres, which was never realized in the the Reclamation Project Act directed Reclamation to final plans for the Yellowtail Dam. broaden its mission to include hydroelectric power, After the Pick-Sloan Plan was put in place, the scope municipal water supply, flood control, and other uses of development at Yellowtail was revised to include – transitioning from single-purpose projects toward a more economical high dam at the current site with the multiple use concept we embrace today. additional hydropower capacity. In 1943, William Glenn Sloan, Chief of Engineers Construction Facts and Figures for Reclamation, was tasked with studying these Construction of the Yellowtail Unit of the Pick-Sloan options for Reclamation. Colonel Lewis A. Pick was Missouri Basin Plan was not funded until 1961 and charged with a similar effort for the U.S. Army Corps the two dams and power plant were completed in The river has been diverted and the foundation of the of Engineers. Pick was an advocate for flood control The power plant is nearly enclosed and the penstock dam is being placed in this downstream view. 1966. steel work is nearly complete. planning for the Missouri River and tributaries, but also concerned with barge traffic on the Mississippi The amount of concrete needed to finish the dam and Missouri rivers and the future needs of returning included 1,545,664 cubic yards, creating a structure World War II veterans. that rose 525 feet vertically, and spanned 1,480 feet at the crest. The efforts of Pick and Sloan differed in the roles each agency would assume in creating a comprehen- Both government and non-government employ- sive development plan for the Missouri River Basin. ees clocked just under 570,000 man-hours on the Congress and President Roosevelt mandated that Yellowtail Unit. This took place from May 1961 to Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers work final construction in November 1966. together in an effort that was authorized by the Flood The construction of the dam was a gener- Control Act of 1944 and became known as the Pick- ally safe process up until June 16, 1966, when Sloan Plan. In short, The Corps of Engineers was to Bernard Schrader, Yellowtail Power Operation and The dam is approaching full height in this aerial The construction site was brightly lit during night overview of the canyon and site. shifts. Here work on the the dam proceeds showing develop facilities along the Missouri River, primarily Maintenance Superintendent, was killed in a mobile the power plant foundation and penstocks. for hydropower and navigation, while Reclamation truck crane accident. page 26 page 27 50 Years of Benefits: The Bighorn Lake, created once the dam was built, control to the American public, but more immeasur- Using COLOR in a Digital World has a flood control capacity of 490,000 acre feet. able values such as fishing, boating and other forms Water stored in this pool has averted an estimated of recreation. These recreation activities also benefit $170,000,000 in downstream damage since the dam the American public by adding to the local economy. Introduction was finally constructed in 1966 (according to ACOE Reasons for Using Color: Upon the dam’s completion, the lands surrounding the Attracting attention in a crowded room requires volume. computations as of 12/2015). facility became a National Recreation Area, managed Adding color to visual products can be just like shouting. Improve usability by assisting in Yellowtail Dam is a multi-purpose development, by the National Park Service. Or it can focus viewers in the same way a polished visual navigation. The use of color can speaker draws in the audience. Results are a matter of speed searches, improve object designed to provide not only water, energy and flood execution. recognition for repetitive elements, and quickly convey the document structure Color is an easy pathway to creating to the viewer. emphasis in a layout, but adding color demands a purpose Enhance meaning and reinforce beyond merely drawing concepts by taking advantage of common responses associated with attention. Reclamation, colors. like most of government, communicates in a Establish identity as in building direct and factual upon Reclamation's Visual Identity manner without program. the emotional The undertones used in Convey mood especially in photos Visual commercial or backgrounds. See the back cover of Identity products. However, this issue for examples. Palette effective agency communication Show associations in especially in benefits from good complex maps and charts. visual design. Color is one of six classic design elements, which also include shape, form, line, texture and space.

All six elements contribute to Considerations for Color Use: drawing the eye to important details and to increasing readability. Consistent 508 compliance requires care to use of color in a given document provides the reader maintain contrast and readability of visual clues about organization and presentation of facts. text. Never use color as the sole method of conveying concepts. That is one reason why Reclamation's Visual Identity (VI) One of the interpretive panels planned for Yellowtail’s 50th outside the visitor center. Contact a specialist as soon as provides a limited palette of colors. They help maintain a potential compliance issues arise. coherent and coordinated look across all materials Looking to the Future: produced with the goal of increasing visibility for the Keep it simple. Adding too many agency. The Department of the Interior, in partnership with power generation on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam. colors (or too much) can confuse or distract readers and destroy credibility. the Crow Tribe, has entered into an agreement for The settlement also provides for 150,000 acre feet Stop signs are red and have large type. They are universally recognized as serving a purpose. Similarly, hydropower development on the Yellowtail Afterbay of Tribal stored water annually for any beneficial Use Wisely. Choosing colors based Dam, downstream of Yellowtail Dam and Power Reclamation's logotype and other design elements using upon their perceived associations can purpose by the Tribe. An additional 150,000 acre feet the VI palette lend to a consistent recognition for be construed as advocacy for a given Plant. of Tribal stored water may be used annually as sup- Reclamation and our mission. The following pages outcome. Be as fair as possible while provide information about the use of color and The agreement is part of the Crow Tribe Water Rights plemental water for the Natural Flow Right during not inviting unneeded conflict. Reclamation's VI palette. Settlement Act of 2010. Under the settlement, the times of Natural Flow shortage under certain terms Tribe holds the exclusive right to develop and market and conditions page 28 page 29 Colors have long been known to trigger The Psychology of Color - Using COLOR in a Digital World consistent responses in people. Hospitals, corporations, interior A Matter of Choice decorators and graphic artists employ the use of color to trigger or increase the Color Association Visual Application Manipulation by the Numbers likelihood of specific responses. Six primary colors make up the Wisdom Creates soothing effect and Red Yellow digital color wheel. The colors Cyan The chart at right shows common Creativity stimulates consideration of represent the primaries from both associations with colors and how subject matter. Mystery Magenta Yellow subtractive and additive color models advertisers and marketing agencies Magenta illustrated at right. employ colors in their products. Trust Promotes trust and creates Strength a professional appearence The most common method of Subtractive Color The Chart at right shows common Blue Green describing digital colors is the RGB Magenta, cyan, and yellow are the associations for major colors. As colors Coolness and emotional detachment. color space where numbers ranging primary colors used by printers. 100% of all three make black. are altered, associations can be subtly Cyan from 0 to 255 for the values of red, changed within the same color family. Peaceful Associated with wealth and The Digital Color Wheel green and blue are assigned to create Typically, richer colors have the Growth positive aspects of subject. a given hue. A value of 255 for all strongest influence while adjusting Easiest for eye to process. Jealous three makes white and zero for all Red Blue luminance weakens it. Tints three renders black. Optimism Grabs attention but triggers Mixing the six digital Red Yellow Green Brown The influence of color on humans is primary colors make Unreliable cautious analysis of subject. R 255 R 255 R 0 R 102 Green believed to be the result of many factors. tints just as an artist G 0 G 255 G 255 G 51 Warmth Take a second look. does with paint. Tints B 0 B 0 B 0 B 51 Additive Color Culture, experiences, and biology all play a role in how colors are perceived. of adjacent primaries Cyan Blue Magenta Orange Red, green and blue are the primary Confidence Supports a call to action complete the digital R 0 R 0 R 255 R 255 colors used by monitors. 100% of all G 255 G 0 G 0 G 102 Enthusiasm and urges an immediate color wheel. three make white. B 255 B 255 B 255 B 0 Playful response.

Luminance, brightness and saturation Soothing Shampoo Soothing Shampoo Friendly Supports a natural are terms for similar effects on color. Outdoors response and conservative Luminance, like tints, creates variety Dogmatic aspects of subject. of results but only mixes a given color STRONG STRONG Investments Investments with varying amounts of either white or Energy Raises heart rate and black. Danger triggers a warning response Which color scheme works best for the fictitious Brightness or transparency equals Orange white product logos above? Check your answer against Anger or increased opposition. luminance when white is used. Transparency the typical response for the colors used as shown R 255 R 255 R 255 G 102 G 255 in the chart. Saturation is luminance using only G 181 Healthy Infers unreliability when B 0 B 131 B 255 black. In the example at left, the Emotional applied to facts or numbers. white 0 50% 100% amount of blue in the RGB formula is Pink Red Brown Orange Yellow Weakness Green Blue Purple Evokes emotional response. steadily decreased to eventually yield black. Purity Provides a clean, pure Contrast can be described as Cleanliness space for presentation of adjusting luminance by using both R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 G 0 R 0 G 0 R 0 G 0 R 0 G 0 R 0 G 0 R 0 White Spacious facts. black and white in one software B 255 G 0 B 195 G 0 B 155 G 0 B 115 G 0 B 55 G 0 interface. B 215 B 175 B 135 B 95 B 15 Balance Promotes a willingness to Neutrality compromise and accept Specific colors were Opposites on the color chosen to convey traffic Calming differing viewpoints. wheel are colors safety messages such as complementary to the risk of electric shock k Grey Credibility Stimulates clarity, emotional each other and are sign from South Africa. pleasing to the eye Power detachment and direct

when used together. Blac Professional analysis. page 30 page 31 Using COLOR in a Digital World

Practical Application

Most Reclamation employees would be considered That is not to mean that color should be used just technical writers who present factual and analytical because it can. Overuse decreases effectiveness just information to others in a professional setting. The use of as choosing random colors for different parts of a color is often considered optional where the black and page. The best approach is to have a plan for using white printed page has traditionally ruled. color when beginning a project. The use of a color scheme is one approach. Choosing the right colors The digital age is marked by the use of electronic media for the intended audience for Reclamation is guided over printed copies and calls for reevaluating that idea. by the Visual Identity palette. These colors are The use of color in documents guides and reinforces visual intended to create public recognition of agency messages in ways previous generations of federal workers products. seldom considered. Three communication concepts center on the use of color: marketing, attention, and retention. Attention: Color grabs the eye and guides it across a page. Human brains are not wired to Marketing: In government we seldom think of instantly recognize text. We first see colors and ourselves as marketers of products and services but to a shapes and grasp a concept of the whole page. The degree that is what we do. While we believe our messages last thing we do is begin to digest the text. Color are logical and concise, we often fail to recognize that provides a key component to fixing attention to the emotion plays a significant role in how those messages are page and leading to comprehension. Injecting epoxy to repair crack. Concrete removal on tailrace deck. Installing new stairway. accepted and interpreted. Retention: Once an emotional background has Colors shape the emotional landscape of visual been established and the attention of the reader By Jay Dallman, WYAO. designed so each could block one of the two river communication. What is seen triggers subliminal secured, the real messaging begins. Consistent use responses and help create a specific feeling. For our outlet gate openings, or both could be used to of color provides a structural path for readers to A concrete repair and stop log replacement message to be accepted it must be presented in a way that follow and dramatically increases their retention of block the twin outlets from any one of the three project was recently completed at Seminoe Dam is compatible with our audience. Traditional black and the concepts presented. When readers become generator draft tubes. white pages have just become passe to a public bombarded familiar with a color layout, the reading speed is with Great Plains Region Construction Services The tailrace deck also had deteriorated concrete with color. increased and key concepts reinforced without provided contract administration and inspection additional effort. and the stairway leading to the tailrace deck did for the project. not meet OSHA standards. Engineers from TSC The river outlet works and stilling basin analyzed the problem issues and came up with a at Seminoe Power Plant was identified in a design to address the repairs. Comprehensive Review to have deficiencies in The specification was issued by Great Plains the concrete located around the outlet works and Region Acquisition Services on July 17, 2015. the tailrace deck. The stop logs were constructed The contract was awarded to the low bidder, as part of the original Seminoe Dam and Power RSCI (Record Steel and Construction, Inc.), from Plant in 1939. Over 75 years of wear and tear Boise, Idaho. took its toll. They no longer provided an adequate The contractor mobilized on February 8, 2016, seal to allow periodic maintenance of the power beginning with construction of a cofferdam to plant draft tubes and river outlet gates. protect the work site from flows passing through The stop logs function as massive steel slide Seminoe Power Plant. gates, each composed of an upper and lower Choosing images to create a mood: A photo contest A subcontractor, Global Infrastructure, based image of Cemetary Island at Canyon Ferry by Gary Valasek (above) has section that fit into vertical tracks. Each lower in Griffith, Indiana, provided diving services for been retouched to imitate altered conditions at Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The altered image (above) reflects a somber day during wildfire season. section weighs about 6,500 pounds, and the upper Which image would you use? The original reflects a bright sunny day. For more examples see the back cover of Plains Talk. installation of the cofferdam in the stilling basin sections weigh about 3,000 pounds. They were of the outlet works. Contractor used a 60 ton Link page 32 page 33 Belt crane to put the components of the cofferdam in place. The dive subcontractor anchored the cofferdam to the training wall and retaining wall. Upon completion of the cofferdam, the work area between the upstream face of the dam and the cofferdam was dewatered using a 4-inch pump. The contractor cut around the concrete areas requiring repair. The repair areas were exca- vated using chipping hammers to the required design depth. New steel reinforcement and con- crete was placed in the repair zones. Cracks were sealed using a pressurized epoxy grout system. The contractor completed all of the concrete repairs in the tailrace area protected by the cof- ferdam by March 23. The contractor removed the cofferdam from the river by April 6, to allow for potential water releases through the river outlet works. The tailrace deck was resurfaced by saw cutting the surface, using jack hammers to remove dete- riorated concrete, and then adding a new layer of fresh concrete. Work on the tailrace deck concrete was completed by May 3. The repairs allow the power plant crew safely perform future maintenance on the jet Find these terms from this issue of Plains Talk. flow gates and the generating units. The new They can be spelled forward, backward, in stop logs minimize leakage and ensure that the Find the Words straight lines and using only one letter twice. maintenance can be ACCESSIBILITY GARRISON STUDY accomplished safely CROW RESOURCES CONSTRUCTION and more efficiently. RECREATION CHALLENGES PATHWAYS ACCOMPLISHMENTS GLENDO TAINTER The new tailrace deck, DIGITAL SAFETY CONTEST stairway and associated REFERENCE COLOR PIPELINE security fence will BASIN INTERNSHIP TIMELINE provide safer access DIVERSION SCADA CONTRAST for operation and REFORMULATION CONSERVATION PLC maintenance of the CBT NAWS YELLOWTAIL stop logs and outlet works. The Contractor New reinforcing bar in river outlet works will test the new stop center pier. Photo at right shows the pier log sections in the fall after reconstruction is complete. following the irrigation water delivery season. page 34 Above are two historic black and white images of the Civilian Conservation Camp for the Kendrick Project in Wyoming. Adding blue to the infirmary image makes it appear colder and more sterile. Orange added to the reading room makes it warmer and nostalgic. The Yellowstone River oil spill cleanup photo below illustrates a slghtly over exposed image at left and a corrected copy on the right. For more about color see the article inside.