Julesburg Reservoir is a 28,000 acre-foot, off-channel, irrigation water supply reservoir located in Sedgwick County, Colora-do.  Reservoir storage water is diverted from the South Platte River.  The five separate dam embankments were con-structed in the early 1900's, and after 80 years of service, the dams and the outlet works had deteriorated and seepage was excessive. W. W. Wheeler and Associates, Inc. performed investiga-tions to determine the probable cause of the seepage, assess the risk of failure, and identify the most economically feasible repair solutions for the numerous problems.  Wheeler prepared detailed design plans and construction specifi-ca-tions for new toe-drains and sand filters on the downstream slopes to control the seepage and prevent the piping of soil materials for Dam No. 2 and Dam No. 3, the two largest embankments, as well as a toe drain and sand filter blanket on Dam No. 4, a low dam with high foundation leakage.

The original outlet works for Julesburg Reservoir was a cast-in-place concrete outlet works controlled by steel sluice gates.  The out-let works was experiencing severe deterioration of the concrete and a high probability of partial failure.  Critical design consider-ations included the need to keep the reservoir operational for storage and releases during construction, and a desire to prevent game fish release.  Wheeler designed a new outlet structure with control gates to selectively release storage from varying levels in the reservoir, with adjustable and removable screens to contain the fish.  Wheeler prepared design plans and construction specifications for the new outlet works, assisted the District in obtaining a construction loan from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and performed project management functions including bidding, contract administration, processing pay requests, and inspections during critical stages of construction.