KIMBALL — A major safety and infrastructure upgrade is now complete at one of Kimball County’s most popular recreation destinations. Construction crews have wrapped up the rehabilitation of the stilling basin at Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area, a project that local officials say will protect downstream areas and ensure the reservoir remains resilient for decades.
Paul Reed Construction & Supply, Inc. completed the work on Oct. 10, following just over a month of intensive construction activity. The effort was led by the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), which has been planning the rehabilitation for several years after inspectors began flagging signs of aging concrete.
General Manager Galen Wittrock said the improvement was essential to maintaining flood management and long-term safety.
“The stilling basin is a concrete structure that is designed to – when the water flows out from the primary spillway underneath the dam – slows that water down so it doesn’t cause erosion,” Wittrock said.
He stressed that the project does not indicate any threat to the dam itself:
“People sometimes think that the stilling basin is getting old, and the dam is going to break, but it’s not because the location [of the stilling basin] is on the downhill side,” he explained. “The integrity of the dam is still good, and we always watch that.”
Built originally in 1911, the stilling basin had exceeded its expected life span. The newly enhanced structure is designed to last another 100 years or more, helping protect communities and natural environments downstream during high-water events.
“This project is beneficial in that if we ever have a huge flood, it will alleviate a lot of issues downstream,” Wittrock said. “It cost $300,000, so it wasn’t a cheap project, but what we needed to do is up-to-speed with state requirements, and now we can look forward to doing additional recreational improvements for Oliver Reservoir like picnic tables and possibly more camping sites.”
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Despite its scale, the upgrade was completed efficiently — from Sept. 2 to Oct. 10 — with major phases including:
Date RangeMilestoneSept. 2–5Removal of old basin structureSept. 8–12Mud mat poured for new basin baseSept. 15–19Rebar installation, basin floor pour, and wall prepSept. 22–26Basin wall pours and form strippingSept. 29–Oct. 3Grading and downstream riprap placementOct. 6–10Railing and drain installation, backfilling, final inspection
Wittrock praised the contractor’s efficiency:
“They did a great job at quickly removing the old structure and getting a new one up,” he said.
With the infrastructure now in line with state safety standards, SPNRD plans to shift attention to recreational enhancements at Oliver Reservoir — a popular camping, fishing, and boating destination for western Nebraska and the tri-state region.
Improvements under consideration:
Photos and progress documentation can be found at SPNRD.org under the Stilling Basin Replacement Project section.
Originally reported by Kristi Shields in News Channel Nebraska.
