The Bureau of Reclamation will be conducting additional drilling investigations at the Helena Valley Dam from September 13 through approximately September 15, 2006. The planned work is follow-up to investigations conducted at the dam in June 2006. Both investigations are an outcome of work conducted in 2003 as part of Reclamations Safety of Dams program.

As with the June 2006 investigations, no change in reservoir operations or reservoir level is anticipated during these investigations. However, the investigations will involve drilling on the crest of the dam with a truck-mounted drill rig and vehicular traffic across the dam will be restricted during drilling.

Construction of Helena Valley Dam was completed in 1958. The dam is located about eight miles northeast of Helena, Montana, and is operated and maintained by the Helena Valley Irrigation District. Recreation facilities surrounding the reservoir are managed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.