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GLEN CANYON DAM, Ariz. — Glen Canyon Dam is receiving $8.9 million from the federal government to fund the relining of its four bypass outlets, which have seen increasing use due to low water levels at Lake Powell.
The Bureau of Reclamation announced in a press release issued Tuesday that the project was already underway and will take around a year to complete. The work is being done to ensure "efficient and reliable water deliveries for future generations."
The bypass outlets, or bypass tubes, that are being relined consist of four steel pipelines that allow water to run directly through the dam and downstream without going through the dam's hydropower generators.
According to the press release, the original coal-tar coating that lines the bypass tubes is more than 60 years old, has experienced normal wear and tear and needs to be replaced. An epoxy primer and polysiloxane top coat will be applied by a robotic sprayer to replace the lining.
