The Nichols Dam construction project is "functionally complete" with the exception of one addition that will not take place until next year.

"It's completed on budget and pretty much on schedule," interim Public Utilities Director Jesse Roach said Friday of the $20 million construction project completed by contractor CF Padilla.

The project timeline was slowed down due to the light snowpack year not creating as much urgency for the city to have the reservoir online to store spring runoff, Roach said. It's about two-thirds full.

"We might have had to push it a little harder if there had been a bigger snow year, but it's been a very successful project," he said. "We're very happy with the quality of the work."

The final step in the project is oxygenation of the reservoir; because of dela

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