The Willwood Irrigation District’s Willwood Chute, a three-sided concrete chute installed more than 50 years ago, is failing.

“Over the last handful of years we have seen drastic deterioration of the structure,” said district Manager Travis Moger. “More and more cracks are showing through the concrete. It has gotten bad enough that water is leaking outside of the structure and creates major concerns of life expectancy.”

So, the district is gathering together $1.7 million as its part of a 50-50 match with Wyoming Water Development to fund the project.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has already agreed to chip in $900,000, and recently the Park County commissioners agreed to provide a letter of support for the district in its grant gathering efforts.

“We also have been working with NRCS and their EQIP Program,” Moger said. “We have been granted a good amount of money with the EQIP. Which will help with the funding process drastically.”

It’s needed. The Willwood Chute is around 500 feet in total length from the inlet of structure to the outlet, and Moger said the water could be creating caverns under the structure. He said it’s unknown exactly if or where and what size those could be.

“But left alone long enough it could result in complete failure of the structure,” he said.

— By Zac Taylor