RIVERDALE, ND (KXNET) — Senator John Hoeven made a trip to Lake Sakakawea to talk about a big-ticket project to replace a vital piece of the Garrison Dam. Hoeven and supervisors with the Army Corps of Engineers discussed the nearly $2 billion plan to replace the dam's spillway. The dam was finished in 1953, but Hoeven says the spillway suffered some structural wear when engineers released record flows during the 2011 flood. This map shows and tracks all the active North Dakota wildfires The current project would replace the spillway's drainage system and reinforce the concrete overlay in the spillway chute as well as safety-related modifications. "So, this $1.8 billion safety modification project is all about making sure we maintain this great lake for recreation it produces incredible amount of electricity, but ultimately it's about making sure that everyone is always safe downstream," Sen. Hoeven said. Hoeven's office says he has provided nearly $13 million for the project’s design phase to date, and included $32 million in additional PED funding in the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations legislation. Hoeven says the design phase will take about six years to complete. Construction is expected to start in 2029. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW