Bulkhead to plug 2 broken headgates

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Sep 4, 2008 at 9:02 AM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2008 at 9:02 AM MDT

BUTTE - Engineers plan to use a bulkhead to block the Hebgen Dam headgates that are stuck open, allowing the flow of water into the Madison River to quadruple.

Officials with PPL Montana, which owns and operates the dam, said a hydraulic jackhammer and other heavy equipment will be used to cut through two feet of concrete and steel over the gates. A heavy, steel bulkhead will then be lowered into place to block the open gates. That will slow the flow of water and allow workers to repair the headgates.

The headgates failed Sunday afternoon, causing the outflow from the dam to increase from 850 cubic feet per second to more than 3,400 cfs. Campgrounds along the river were evacuated. Mark Lambrecht, PPL regulatory affairs director, says it's still unknown what caused the headgates to break.

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