Completion Form

2020

The electrical hookup and shed to hold the air compressors was built in the fall of 2018.  This compressor house was located on the north end of the reservoir.  Aerators/mixers were ordered in the spring of 2019 and installed in July.  The aeration system consisted of two GridBee AP7000 mixers that could push an air flow of 15-20 cubic feet of air per minute.

Aerators were installed close to the dam in deep water where they could provide air and circulation to water closest to the outlet.  Aerators were large and heavy (6' high with 60" legs coming off each corner), thus it took DWR's large work boat to assist with the install.  Davis County Search and Rescue also helped with the effort and used SCUBA gear to dive and check for the correct placement of structures underwater.

After structures were successfully placed and turned on, there was a smell of rotten eggs emanating from the bubbles coming to the surface of the water from the aerators.  This was a good sign as it meant water from the bottom layer of the reservoir was being pushed to the surface.  After about one month of operation of the aerators, the rotten eggs smell was no longer present, signifying that the aeration system was successfully aerating and mixing the bottom layer of water in the reservoir as projected.  The smell of rotten eggs came from iron and manganese precipitating out of the water in the former low oxygen environment at the bottom of the reservoir.

Chris Penne

08/29/2019 08:10:18