The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg

O.K.'s hankering to do an episode on antifreeze, but also has a strong desire to talk about the Dodson Dam decisions, decisions, decisions. Today it's the Dodson Dam show.

What is The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg?

Greetings and Welcome to The 405 Coffee Break with O.K. Solberg

New episodes tend to air over the local KMMR radio station @ 5 minutes past 4PM each M-F. And have been doing so, nearly every week since Sept 2018.

I'm D.J. Rasmussen, O.K.s friend since junior high, possibly your neighbor & this websites maintainer, whom strives to get each episode's show notes written, the transcript proofed and the audio posted to the internet within a few hours of that days KMMR air time. NOTE: recently been publishing most new releases by 4:30PM.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy the time we can spend together.

OK Solberg:

I wanna again welcome you to The 405 Coffee Break. Guys, get you a cup of coffee, glass iced tea or bottle of water. Let's see what's happening.

OK Solberg:

Spring wheat $6.11 a bushel. At least it's above six. A 550lb steer calf, I'm gonna quote them right where they are, $5.05 a pound. A 100lb fat lamb in Billings are ranged $2.95 to $3.05 a pound. But, guys, there's more, much more.

OK Solberg:

Oh, yes. It's still a little tender. Overexerted my right hip, walking too fast for an old man, but it's getting better little by little. Okay. So what's it gonna be today? You know, I have a hankering to do an episode on antifreeze, but I also have a strong desire to talk about the Dodson Dam decisions, decisions, decisions.

OK Solberg:

So little to do and so much time to do it. No. Wait. Reverse that in the words of Willy Wonka. So what's it gonna be? Antifreeze or the Dodson Dam? Now often, if there's a choice to be made, I look to the bible for guidance. Can you imagine that?

OK Solberg:

And listen to what it says from Deuteronomy 30:19 Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live. Oh, did you hear that choice between life and death? Deuteronomy 30 verse 19.

OK Solberg:

Well, with that being said, I know what today's topic will be. It's gonna be the Dodson Dam for the Dodson Dam gives life. Water from the Milk River drainage comes into canals and helps us grow food, and food gives us life. Besides, when I saw that verse, I knew I didn't wanna talk death.

OK Solberg:

And the topic on antifreeze is that it's poisonous and can cause death. Sure it can.

OK Solberg:

Killed the Kendall's pet raccoon, asked TJ or Brian. So what do you know about the Dodson Dam? Now it is a good topic for this time of year because it's time to irrigate. Now you have to understand that I was a dry lander. Grew up in Harb.

OK Solberg:

All our water came from the sky, not the canal. And nobody takes you aside and says, here, let me explain the purpose of the Dodson Dam. No. They don't. I wish they would, but they don't.

OK Solberg:

You have to pick it up little by little. Well, it's a dam or reservoir. So what is the general purpose of a dam or reservoir? To hold and store water. Now, guys, of course, some big dams are hydroelectric dams, and the water falling turns turbines to generate electricity.

OK Solberg:

Now a dam or reservoir out in the pasture of Phillips County has a primary purpose of holding water, and that water is held so the cattle can drink. Don't wanna haul water. But neither one of those purposes is the purpose of the Dodson Dam. The Dodson Dam is a diversion dam. Now what does diversion mean?

OK Solberg:

Let's look it up. A diversion is the act of turning something aside from its original course, purpose, or intended path. Turning something aside. So here's the deal, plain and simple. The Dodson diversion dam allows water to be diverted to either the North Side of the Milk River or the South Side of the Milk River.

OK Solberg:

That's it. So imagine we're in Trafton Park and we wanna irrigate and we want irrigation water out of the Milk River, so we build a canal. Great. Lots of water for our garden, for trees and flowers. Oh, hallelujah.

OK Solberg:

But now at the same time, Westside Self-service also wants to get water to irrigate their garden. Well, you all know where Tratham Park is, and we all know where Westside Self-service is. Both are relatively close to each other, but the big difference is they're on opposite sides of the Milk River.

OK Solberg:

If we just use the canal we built to water Trafton Park, how are we gonna get it? How are we gonna get that water to Westside Self-service? We can't easily do it. Why? Because the river's in the way. We have to cross the Milk River. Bingo.

OK Solberg:

That's the purpose of the Dodson Dam. The primary purpose of the Dodson Dam, which is a 26' high structure, the purpose is to divert water for irrigation on both sides of the Milk River. Dodson North Canal diverts water on the north side with an initial capacity of 200 cubic feet per second. Dodson South Canal diverts water on the south side of the river with an initial capacity of 500 cubic feet per second. So did you hear the numbers?

OK Solberg:

Northside is a lot smaller. Southside is over twice as large in volume. And now you know the best of the story. Most of you knew it, but some didn't. Now we all know it. And you just thought it was a good place to go fishing.

OK Solberg:

So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.