TEST WELL CONTRACT AWARDED

A $91,846 contract was awarded on October 26 to Sargent Drilling of Geneva, NE for a 12 inch test well and six observation wells. The work is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. The data from these wells will be used in the design of a collector well that project officials hope will yield at least 16 million gallons a day. Design of the collector well will start this winter, and depending on FY20 funding levels the contract is expected to be awarded in late 2019 or early 2020. Because of construction limitations due to migratory birds, it is anticipated to be a two-year construction project with completion in late 2021.

Lewis & Clark’s wellfield is located southwest of Vermillion at Mulberry Point, which is part of the Frost Game Production Area. This is land owned by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks, to which Lewis & Clark has a permanent easement for its wells. The added capacity from the collector well is needed to address the growing demands of the connected members, as well as provide capacity for the members who will be connected in the future.