The Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission (RDRWC)  is pleased to announce the completion of the Rochester Dam renovation project, a vital water supply to the region.  With the dam preserved, the pool levels have stabilized ensuring over 50,000 residents in Ohio, Butler, Muhlenberg, and Daviess Counties with continued safe drinking water.

“We are elated to see this renovation project come to completion,” explained John Dix, Secretary for RDRWC. “Thanks to the tremendous collaboration of Ohio, Butler, and Muhlenberg counties along with Perdue Inc., Ohio County Water District, Morgantown Utilities, and Butler County Water System, the stability of this dam is secured for the protection of our water supply and the preservation of thousands of jobs in the region. The final phase involved adding a barrier to protect the dam and stabilize original water levels. The Rochester Dam, constructed in the 1830s, has served our region for nearly two centuries.”

On October 1, 2015, the RDRWC entered a twenty-five year management lease with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to preserve the Rochester Dam, enabling RDRWC to protect and preserve the pool level. USACE provided guidance and studies over the years resulting in approved funding from strong partnerships among citizens and government officials.

“We appreciate the continued commitment from our federal, state, and local elected officials for their support to protect our water source for the region,” said Weymouth Martin, Chairman of the RDRWC. “The $4.4 million project would not have been possible without the award of a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The remainder of the project costs were covered by a loan through Kentucky Rural Water Finance Corporation.”

The Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission was formed in 2013 through a collaboration of county and utility leaders serving Ohio, Butler, and Muhlenberg Counties. The mission of the RDRWC is to provide an adequate and dependable supply of water for the region which derives its water supply from Pool 3 of the Green River.

https://www.wbko.com/2021/11/12/rochester-dam-renovations-completed/