Wilson Lake Dam
Critical Relief Well Repairs
Location: Kansas
Partnerships: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Project Type: Relief Wells
Well Depth: 78 ft.
Contract Dewatering Services (CDS) completed two critical infrastructure repair contracts at the Wilson Lake Dam in 2023 and 2025, replacing twelve aging relief wells that were corroding and approaching failure. These wells play a critical role in controlling underseepage pressure. Failure can result in dam instability and flood evacuations of nearby residents.
The dam was originally constructed in 1946, and stands 5,280 feet long, 137 feet tall, and encompasses over 9,000 acres.
Drilling operations were performed at an approximate elevation of 1,460 feet, with the reservoir’s average pool elevation at 1,516 feet—leaving 56 feet of stored water above the work platform. This was a unique and risky location to work in. To prepare, CDS leveraged its experience, creativity, and technical expertise to develop a detailed Drilling and Invasive Program Plan, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviewed and approved.
Through precise planning and disciplined execution, CDS completed the work safely and efficiently, significantly improving the long-term integrity and reliability of the dam.
